Commercialization Engineer

MANE is a 5th generation French family-owned business known for innovation and progress in the world of Flavor and Fragrance. As sensation enthusiasts, we strive to provide exceptional moments in people's daily lives through the timeless flavors and fragrances we create. With our passion, creativity, and innovation, "We capture what moves".

The Commercialization Engineer is responsible for managing multiple projects to improve operational efficiency, scale up of new products, implementing capital improvements, supporting plant operations as well as troubleshooting of process upsets and problems. The position's goals are to develop and execute operational improvement projects within the product supply chain, maintain daily interaction with operating groups to drive improvement implementation, track ongoing success against completed tasks, actively lead teams, and provide individual contribution to problem solving efforts on selected projects to improve quality, reduce cost and improve cycle times. This is a highly visible role, requiring frequent interaction across all levels of the organization.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Collaborate with technical and operational colleagues in value streams to discover, clarify and resolve existing and emerging product quality issues related to input factors, including raw materials, manufacturing equipment, operational procedures and work instructions, personnel practices, and environmental circumstances.
• Serve as the process technical contact for all value streams with emphasis on supporting all production batches as needed and driving integration of new processes or products
• Serve as the go-between Operations and R&D in the commercialization and product/process improvement space.
• Champion the cost savings initiatives in the production facilities in the areas of yield improvement, formula design/redesign, and other identified efficiencies related to process improvements.
• Work with production personnel as well as R&D personnel during product / process trials to conduct activities, record data and observations, collect samples, address issues, and provide training.
• Record observations and data associated with trial and production batches to support analysis and determination of next steps to capture and sustain progress for future batches.
• Attend preparation and production of normal and problematic batches to observe operational activities, record data, troubleshoot issues, improve product quality, and suggest time and cost reduction opportunities.
• Generate and execute targeted projects in manufacturing to support existing and new processes and develop and implement associated SOPs and manufacturing instructions.
• Communicate effectively and objectively with personnel across departments in the product / process transfer chain to promote collaborative relationships, particularly with R&D and Operations.
• Adjust work schedule, as needed, to provide technical support during off-shifts
• Actively seek to drive global process alignment across value streams.
• Assist in generation of training materials and assist in providing training on scientific or technical aspects of the process.
• Ensure manufacturing processes are capable of meeting key department KPI's. Interact with and lead teams of Flavorists, Process Chemists, QC, Maintenance, Operations and other relevant personnel to drive process improvements.
• Perform gap assessments against operating standards and own those actions required to close any identified gaps.
• Develop engineering solutions to repetitive failures and all other problems that adversely affect plant operations. These problems include capacity, quality, cost or regulatory compliance issues.
• Provide overall project management for all initiatives using internal or external resources.
• Support the needs of the plant by participating in all strategic initiatives.
• Working in conjunction with the VP of Operations and the VP of Finance, spearhead the development and maintain on a going-forward basis tracking of all yield and efficiency related projects across our commercial product technologies.
• Ensure plant equipment and processes are in compliance with all regulatory requirements including OSHA, EPA and FDA.
• Develop and incorporate key operational benchmarks into work activities, fostering an environment of continuous improvement and root-cause analysis techniques to drive improvements and efficiencies.
• Consistent with MANE's environmental commitments, every employee shall actively participate in relevant education/training based upon corporate and local environmental objectives. Where these objectives are relevant to job-related and job-specific roles and responsibilities, each employee shall adhere to applicable environmental policies and procedures, as well as act on best practices.
• Other duties and responsibilities aligned with business objectives

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

• B.S. in Chemical, Mechanical or Industrial Engineering, or a similar field. MBA is a plus
• 8+ years working as an Engineer in troubleshooting complex processes and equipment
• Strong mechanical aptitude
• Previous direct working knowledge of encapsulation technologies, particularly spray drying & agglomeration
• Strong computer skills & experience with the Microsoft Office suite
• Technical background with experience in flavor/food manufacturing equipment, systems, and processes
• Previous work experience working in or interfacing with R&D/Creative Teams required
• Strong familiarity with OpEx tools such as lean, SPC, 5S, etc. Black Belt or Green Belt training & certification a definite plus

PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS:

• Strong work ethic and ability to work independently.
• Strong leadership, development, mentoring and management skills.
• Strong project management, organizational, communication and interpersonal skills.
• Proven ability to communicate and to present technical topics to all levels of the organization.
• Creative problem solver.
• Organized - strong attention to detail and follow-up.

MANE offers industry leading benefits including a generous PTO plan. Additional benefits include paid holidays, annual year-end shut down, annual and bi-weekly 401(k) contributions, tuition reimbursement, paid parental leave, employee assistance programs and many more.

MANE is known for having a culture that focuses on our employees and their well-being. See for yourself why our employees love working at MANE!

MANE is an equal opportunity employer.