Senior Chemist Product Development - CP Kelco

Position Summary

In this role you will work on new product development projects in support of the company’s vision and growth strategy.  This is a hands-on lab-based role; responsibilities include discovering and developing new solutions and systems for application in food, beverages, personal care, consumer and industrial products to fuel future growth.

The position requires a strong inclination to have a holistic view on the development value chain - from raw material to final application - of nature-based materials (products) by applying state of the art extraction and fermentation technologies, and the application of knowledge in physical properties, as well as data analysis and interpretation.

Projects are typically long-term and aim to problem solve (e.g. trouble-shooting, ideation, process optimization), to develop a deep understanding of ingredient structure-function effects in a wide variety of applications, and to find innovative applications for novel CP Kelco products. 

Projects will involve evaluation, optimization, and understanding of the science and technology behind CP Kelco solutions within the context of developing novel products and processes for desired functionalities in finished applications. This role requires working with and learning from other R&D functions within CP Kelco, as well as Marketing, Commercial and Operations. 

Principal Duties & Responsibilities

• Work on high levels of technical complexity, and participate in technical project teams comprising team members from different geographies and functions.
• Conceive new ideas and develop scalable methods to produce new products as well as novel derivatives of existing products using chemical, enzymatic or physical modifications driven by market and customer need.
• Characterize and evaluate performance of new materials employing state of the art methods in polymer, physical and/or analytical chemistry including development of performance test methods.
• Design and execute well-planned experiments, interpret complex data and propose innovative solutions.  Document experimental results and conclusions completely, in a well-organized fashion and in a timely manner.
• Identify and analyze new opportunities, anticipate risks and potential mitigation, and make recommendations.
• Proactively solve problems and issues requiring advanced level of technical knowledge and consideration of other disciplines.
• Influence and train others including providing input to solve challenges, and to create new technical capabilities.
• Escalate issues to management if projects are not on track or to discuss disconnects and misalignments.
• Understand patent landscape within a specific field, and proactively seek patenting opportunities whenever applicable.
• Represent CP Kelco’s external image including presenting at scientific meetings, industry conferences, trade shows, and with customers and partners.

Requirements

• Master's level degree or PhD in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering or a related technical field. Bachelor's Degree is suitable if you have more years of experience.
• Preference is someone who understands fermentation science, protein and carbohydrate chemistry. 
• 4-7 years’ hands-on experience working with carbohydrate and protein chemistry in the position within food ingredients, pharmaceutical, chemical or related industry.
• Experience in analytical and physical chemistry of carbohydrate polymers and proteins, is a plus.
• Expertise in the characterization of carbohydrate polymers and/or proteins, including physical property measurements (rheology, thermal analysis, solution properties, etc.) and compositional methods (NMR, IC, HPLC, GPC/MALLS, ICP, etc.)
• Experience in lab-scale process development of novel polymers and proteins including extraction, fermentation and chemical, enzymatic and physical modification techniques.
• Experience in the use of polysaccharides and proteins in food, beverage, personal care and household care formulations.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills to effectively influence inside and outside the organization at all levels, and among diverse teams.
• Critical, creative thinker and idea generator with ability to convert ideas to proof-of-concept, inspire others to do the same.
• Skilled in project management, especially in outlining initial scoping and proof-of-concept stages.
• Business acumen; customer and market orientation.  Able to translate commercial needs into technical programs and business opportunities, and drive to execution.
• Ability to evaluate risk and recommend path forward. 
• Able to handle ambiguity, adapt to changing environments, overcome challenges, and set priorities.
• Future thinking with a “whole systems” view.

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