We are a trusted natural extracts and ingredients manufacturer to the global beverage, flavour, fragrance and consumer goods markets from our bases in the UK, the US and China.
We have been making the world taste better since our foundation in 1886, but this is just the beginning. Committed to continuous improvement, we have deep established roots and a visionary strategic path that drives us forward.
Our people are creative, technically excellent and dedicated - allowing us to develop and supply a range of ready-made or bespoke systems to suit even the most adventurous needs.
Everyone from logistics, people team, finance, operations and research and development to sales, marketing, planning, IT and procurement work together, making us the partner of choice for our international customer base.
Job title: Senior Innovation Scientist
Reporting to: Senior Innovation Manager
Location: Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk
Hours: 40 hours per week
The Opportunity
As a Senior Innovation Scientist, your role within the organisation is to provide customers with competitive solutions which offer a direct benefit and gain new business or grow existing business. By collaborating with the commercial team, you will gain an understanding of the specific customer & industry needs. Customer solutions can be developed through implementing new technologies to make or improve existing products or create new or transformative products. There is also an aspect of business support where you may be tasked with value engineering existing products, recover revenue from waste streams, or support quality and cost improvements. You should have an in-depth understanding of what it takes to successfully commercialize new products and be up to date with the latest food & beverage trends. You also need to be stay on top of relevant research and processing technologies, covering various sectors, and willing to share your knowledge and experience with colleagues. You must be a self-starter, work on projects independently and possess good organisation skills to effectively manage a busy workload/multiple projects.
What it’s like to work here
We’ve been making the world taste better since 1886 and sell over 3000 products in more than 90 countries, but we’re only just getting started. We’re on an exciting journey and have ambitious plans to become the indispensable partner of choice for the world’s leading flavour and fragrance houses, beverage and consumer brands. You can find out more about our exciting organisation here: TREATT | About Treatt the trusted global ingredients manufacturer
On joining Treatt, you’ll become one of over 400 international experts, working together to collectively surprise and delight our customers. Nothing is more important to us than the happiness of our people as without them, we’d never succeed.
We think Treatt’s a great place to work, but don’t just take our word for it:
“Everyone wants your feedback and opinion; it feels like a place of study where nurturing and encouragement are the standard. It is very clear the hard work that goes into providing excellence for customers, but it is also very apparent that managers have the same goals for helping us all to progress.” – Anita, Quality Analyst
“Joining my close and supportive team was the most enjoyable way to gain more skills and increase my knowledge” – Ashley, Distillation Control Team Leader
“Treatt creates an environment to help you be the best you can, with no two days the same and opportunities always available to help you learn and develop. The people and the culture create a fantastic company to be part of” – Rebecca, Customer Service Manager
What you’ll be doing
The responsibilities of this role include but are not limited to:
* Create prototype blends to meet the requirements of customers based on composition, organoleptic assessment, quality, and cost requirements
* Prepare tasting solutions to evaluate the sensory profile of target samples and subsequent prototype blends
* Have an understanding of Treatt ingredients and product portfolios along with global working practices
* Ensure effective and frequent communication with project activity to manager and broader team/stakeholders as appropriate
* Collaborate in Global and cross-functional projects and ensure proper hand-off for assigned tasks
* Use analytical methods including but not restricted to GC, GCMS, Dynamic and Static Headspace, HPLC, Chiral Analysis to evaluate the composition of a target sample
* Conduct basic wet chemistry to analyse prototype samples to ensure they meet the customer's specification
* Have an understanding of Pilot Plant equipment and is able to complete processes unaided. Identify new equipment to purchase and train others in using equipment safely.
* Have commercial, technical, and financial awareness with an understanding of how projects impact the business and ensure sustainability is inherent
* Conduct the development of new products which may have the potential to become commercial items
* Conduct the development of new flavour & fragrance ingredients which may have the potential to become CTB (Creative Toolbox) ingredients
* Design, scope, and carry out projects within Innovation, providing regular documented updates as well as a final summary/report at end of project
* Lead scale-up and validation of Innovation projects to ensure a seamless but very clear transfer to manufacturing and quality systems
* Participate fully in ideations sessions and/or suggest new avenues of research with a view to commercialisation
* Ensure that the working area in the laboratory is maintained in a clean and orderly condition and that any hazard or potential hazard is reported
* Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives (e.g., suggestions on improvements in efficiency, cost cutting, improvements in effectiveness of operations)
* Conduct daily checks on a rotational basis to ensure the working area is maintained to a high level
* Write and review COSHH assessments
* Have a working understanding of IT systems used within the department to fulfil the role. These include JDE, STARS, SDS viewer, MADs, WERCs, Cascade, TIPPs and SharePoint
* Write and review Standard Operating Procedures and Risk Assessments
* Follow change control procedures for setting up new items, amending BOMs & Specifications and issuing Fast Feasibility documents and subsequent Scale-up processes
* Collaborate with 3rd parties for potential partnerships if required
* Have direct communication with customers to gain a better understanding of their requirements throughout the project to reach an optimum solution
* Properly Document all experimentation and write reports to cater to both technical and non-technical audiences.
* Attend customer visits to reinforce technical to technical relationships
* Understand the process and run projects through the stage gate, acting as Scientist and project manager.
* Learn and characterise the tonalities of the Treatt citrus portfolio
* Learn and characterise the tonalities of the CTB (Creative Toolbox), Identifying gaps and provide ideas how these can be overcome.
* Collaborate with Applications to work on customer briefs which require new flavour/ingredient creation
* Support business development managers with customer enquiries
* Keep up to date on the current market flavour trends and competitor products to suggest areas for new product development
* Conduct ongoing literature research on flavour ingredients and reaction chemistry
What we’re looking for
If you have a genuine passion for what you do and want to work in an environment that celebrates progress, teamwork and dedication, you’re what we’re after.
* Masters or PHD in Chemistry, Food Science or Biochemistry. (Or 5+ years Industry experience with B.SC)
* 2 Years’ experience in a similar role
* A minimum of 2-year experience working as an Innovation Scientist Level 2 or similar role.
* Proven experience of handling a range of chemicals used within the F&F industry.
* Proven experience of conducting COSHH assessments and Risk Assessments.
* Proven experience of Analytical and Wet chemistry using a range of testing techniques
* Intermediate computer skills are essential.
* Project management experience.
* Proven experience of research projects.
What we’ll d for you
We offer an excellent package which includes a competitive salary; a generous holiday entitlement as well as the opportunity to purchase additional holiday, we also offer a discretionary annual bonus, BUPA medical and dental schemes, pension scheme with 9% employer contribution, life assurance, group income protection, SAYE schemes and free shares.
With the encouragement and development you need, we help you to become your ultimate you. Beyond building a successful career, we also support the wishes and ambitions of our staff outside of the office in achieving a health work/life balance - the wellbeing of our staff is paramount to us, which we actively promote and support by regularly delivering a variety of wellbeing initiatives and offering responsibility based flexibility. There will also be opportunities to be actively involved in community and charity projects and to take part in numerous subsidized social events.
Polite Notice
We politely request that we are not contacted by any recruitment agencies. We have a preferred supplier list and high volumes of speculative calls from agencies negatively impact upon the efficiency of our business. Please help us to maintain the highest levels of customer service by respecting our wishes.