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Position Title: Sr. Research Scientist Reports to Title: Sr. R&D Manager Dept / Function: Global Research & Development Location: El Salto, Jalisco * Summary:* Residing at Mexico R&D Center, The Sr. Research Scientist provides the technical guidance on complex projects and executes the product development independently from start to finish. The candidate should be capable of providing technical knowhow in formula development, concept development and processing insights. Experience in confectionery development is required. The primary purpose of this job is the development of product and process for the S&R Business unit. Reporting to Sr. R&D Manager, the candidate will provide project leadership by leveraging knowledge and experience in setting technical goals, timetable, key milestones, assessing manufacturing feasibility, and executing plan to ensure the product requirements are achieved on time and within budget. The candidate will accomplish this by: * Problem solving through application of knowledge and original thinking. * Ensure project execution and technology transfer. * Observe, record, and evaluate experimental data to draw conclusions. * Prepare project reports and presentations. * Support technical capabilities of vendors of ingredient, contract manufacturers and inhouse manufacturing needs, participate in negotiations when technical requirements are involved. * Perform prototyping and development from bench top to pilot plant to full manufacturing scale. * Develops protocols to scale up a product from bench top to manufacturing lines. Documents and communicates accordingly, following the Innovation Stage Gate process. * Collaborates with the Technical community sharing information and taking advantage of the existing knowledge. * Leverages technical vendor capabilities in product design. * Supports product/process optimizations and provides input into the evaluation of contract manufacturing opportunities as needed. * Identifies and suggest the incorporation of technology and processing enablers into product design when needed. Able to bring creativity to new ideas on products and process across the product range. * Delivers the S&R innovation annual pipeline securing technical readiness and successful design of products, demonstrating expertise and resourcefulness. * While championing the consumer, identifies and execute continuous improvement projects. * Ensuring that the R&D Mexico team follows proper procedures across the organization, to document work (Stage gate, QRC regulatory requests, SQM process, PLM, ELN, etc). This role will interact and partner with: * Technical and professional employees within Global R&D * Supply Chain: Manufacturing, Operations, Plant Quality Assurance, Quality and Regulatory Compliance, Procurement, Engineering. * Marketing, Innovation and Consumer Insights * External Vendors The candidate should have the necessary leadership and presentation skills to conduct meetings with all the above, issue updates to management and provide insight to new technology and product development through formulation and application in the lab, pilot plant and factory as needed. * Major duties / responsibilities:* 1. New Product Development 2. Continuous Improvement Program 3. Core Brand Maintenance 4. Knowledege and capabilities Development * Skills and abilities required:* * Solid experience in Confectionery technologies: ingredient functionality, formula development, process platforms and key processing parameters. * Solid experience in Product Development function from benchtop to plant implementation. * Strong knowledge in lab, pilot plant, commissioning and production line start-up of process equipment and systems, and troubleshooting. * Solid knowledge in mass and heat balance and unit operations. * Experience operating plant and, lab and analytical equipment. * Project administration skills: trials plan, technical status reports, presentations, timetables, risk mitigation and trials budget. * Cost optimization of formulas, develop ingredients and product meeting internal/external quality standards, nutritional and regulations restrictions. * Build and maintain successful networking relationships with all the cross functional team (Regional and International) sharing best practices. * Basic Experience in various technical disciplines (Sensory, Experimental Design & Statistic, Product Design, Engineering, Packaging, Nutritional, Food Safety, Quality and Regulatory). * Basic Knowledge in equipment selection and acquisition. * Project administration skills: trials plan, technical status reports, presentations, timetables, risk mitigation and trials budget. * Build and maintain successful networking relationships with all the cross functional team (Regional and International) sharing best practices. * Establish a strong relationship with suppliers to identify ingredients and product trends to enhance product design. * Basic knowledge analyzing competitors to identify potential opportunities for core product optimization. * Leadership skills working as an individual contributor and team player. * Excellent verbal and written communications skills (Fluent communication in Spanish & English). * Possess good computer skills (basic office, statistics, SAP). * Education: * B.S. Food Scientist, Chemist or Engineer. Or Chemical or Biotechnology Engineering * Experience:* 5-7 years of experience in the Food Industry, with experience on product development of Confections (alternatively in chocolate category) #LI-JS1 #LI-Onsite