Flavor Chemist

This position seeks a visionary Flavor Chemist with a passion for innovation and a keen interest in leveraging Artificial Intelligence (A.I.) to accelerate and broaden Synergy's pioneering efforts to integrate A.I. into our flavor selection, creation, and optimization processes. This is non-traditional role for a flavor chemist where expertise, innovation, and creativity must be combined with collaborative drive and curiosity to enable success. The position serves as the technical lead for a disruptive platform focused on transforming the industry's approach to flavor creation, library curation, and delivery to customers.

The ideal candidate will have a passion for exploring and implementing cutting-edge technology that blends traditional flavor development with modern data analytical tools. The individual will work closely with our flavor creation, product development, sensory, innovation, and external A.I. technology partners to evaluate and characterize the current library of flavors, develop new methodologies for flavor curation, identify novel creation needs, and enhance successful prediction models. Expertise in flavor creation, flavor compounds/raw materials, flavor production formats, and knowledge of commercial metrics/KPIs is essential. The successful candidate will take an active role in leading, training, and mentoring junior team members. This role reports to the Director of the platform.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Technical Lead for all flavor-based aspects associated with the integration of A.I. technologies into flavor selection, creation, and library evolution and development
• Develop and supervise design-of-experiment pathways that permit target flavor development related to the AI platform
• Develop and diagnostically evaluate both technically- and commercially-relevant metrics and KPIs that form the basis of continuous improvement recommendations.
• Day-to-day supervision (and potentially direct leadership) of a technical team (2-4 people) dedicated to the A.I. platform
• Ensure execution of daily evaluation work including:
  • Descriptive analysis of flavors in a variety of applications.
  • Oversight of necessary applications to be used in flavor evaluation.
  • Consultation for any flavor-specific questions or concerns as related to selection or creation parameters.
  • Identify potential new integration process needs.
• Provide global thought leadership and recommendations serving current and future A.I. strategic planning
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including A.I. engineers, flavor chemists, and applications technologists to design and implement enhanced creation and product selection interfaces.
• Oversee the creation and maintenance of a comprehensive flavor and aroma compound database, for use by A.I. algorithms to guide creation and maintenance of maximally effective flavor libraries.
• Represent the Synergy face of cutting-edge flavor innovation expertise in flavor chemistry and A.I. related fields.
• Develop and refine A.I. models for predicting consumer flavor preferences and trends, contributing to the successful selection and creation of market-leading products.
• Mentor and develop team members, fostering a culture of innovation, collaboration, and continuous learning.
• Deliver global leadership, communication, and visibility around Synergy's A.I. platform.
• Available for periodic travel up to 15% of the time.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE/QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's or advanced degree in Chemistry, Food Science, or a related field; strong focus on flavor chemistry.
• Sweet or Savory Flavor Chemist experience level
• Minimum of ten years of experience in flavor creation, compounding, production and use in finished products
• Extensive experience and understanding of flavor formula compounding and production methods.
• Proven experience and understanding of sensory evaluation language and methods used for flavors and applications.
• Experience with A.I., machine learning, and data analysis (preferred).
• Excellent communication skills, capable of conveying complex concepts to a diverse audience.
• Familiarity with regulatory requirements and industry standards related to food and flavor safety.
• Exhibits acumen to understand related partner functions including Operations, Quality, Regulatory, Procurement and Business Development.

Personal Characteristics

• Curious, entrepreneurial, courageous, and exploring
• Obvious leadership qualities featuring trust, collaboration, accountability, and team-first/team-building
• Abilities range from effective execution of detail-oriented tactics to strategic, enterprise-wide thought-leadership
• Desire to lead and influence featuring data-driven decision-making