What are the responsibilities and job description for the Expert Scientist, Product Development position at Ferrara Candy Company, Inc.?
For more than 115 years, Ferrara has created sugar confections that enable moments of sweetness, celebration, and connection for candy lovers of all generations. Today, the company is the #1 sugar confectioner in the United States. Ferrara boasts a passionate team of nearly 9,000 employees creating and delivering hundreds of products sold under 20 popular brands like Brach’s®, NERDS®, SweeTARTS®, Laffy Taffy®, and Trolli® to more than 66 million U.S. households annually and popular Dori snacking products under brands such as Dori, Gomets, Pettiz, and Yogurte 100 in Brazil. Additionally, Jelly Belly, known world-wide for its confections, was acquired in November of 2023.
Expert Scientist, Product Development
- Lead product development for technically complex projects from concept development to industrial commercialization execution with executional excellence and on-time delivery
- Provide technical leadership and guidance to technical development teams to create robust technical development plans, including contingency plans and technical risk management
- Guide and coach junior developers in organization on project management, technical development and technical planning from master product development expertise
- Act as subject matter expert for technical expertise & product development, both within R&D and cross-functionally, to advise on technology strategy and technical problem solving
- Partner and work closely with Marketing, Insights, Supply Chain, Operations, Quality Engineering, Packaging functions, etc. toward delivering on innovation strategic plan.
- Understands and demonstrates the Company’s core values.
- Work autonomously, leveraging a self-starter mentality, and ability to bring definition and direction to highly ambiguous situations.
- Product development capability, with proven track record of delivering results across all phases of product development project cycle from concept development to commercial industrial execution
- Technology understanding in both ingredient technology and process technology in consumer packaged foods (ideally candy confections) and ability to apply to product development
- Technical problem solving in applying knowledge of ingredient & process technology to novel problems to bring forward technically sound solutions that effectively manage risks
- Experience in new product development innovation, including ability to translate innovation concepts into prototypes and then effectively scale-up for commercialization
- Ability to effectively coach and mentor junior developers, guiding them toward sound technical approach and technical planning
- Very strong interpersonal skills with ability to influence with integrity through persuasive communication to win support at more senior levels within R&D, Operations and Supply Chain, Marketing and to build effective relationships with a wide range of stakeholders.
- Good technical, analytical, and communication skills; ability to interpret data and distil into useful and actionable information.
- Self-starter, self-motivating: able to balance competing priorities without losing momentum and manage uncertainty and complexity in fast evolving CPG environments.
- Ability to create and use networks to actively seek and take advantage of ideas, best practices, and solutions
- BS in Food Science or related field required, Master’s preferred
- Experience in development of CPG food products (specifically commercialization) and/or developing strategies for innovation pipelines
- Experience in Sugar Confections preferred
- Experienced product development, with at least 10 years (ideally 15 ) across a range of types of Innovations for long-term with new technologies to close-in line extensions.
- Experience in all phases of product development from concept development to scale-up to commercialization execution
- Strong record of successful delivery of key deliverables against tight timelines
- Comfortable working with ambiguity and succeeding despite challenges
Ferrara’s success in industry-leading innovation has been driven by deep consumer insights, strong retailer co-creation and partnerships, and a dedication to diversity of thought, experience, and people. A privately held company, Ferrara has its global headquarters in Chicago and an operational network of more than 27 locations in North America, Brazil, and China that includes manufacturing, distribution, sales, and R&D facilities. Ferrara is a privately held Ferrero related company. Learn more at www.ferrara.com or www.linkedin.com/company/ferrara-.
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY
We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. In order to provide equal employment and advancement opportunities to all qualified applicants and employees, employment decisions and opportunities at Ferrara will be based on merit, qualifications, and abilities, without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, marital or civil union status, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, age, military or veteran status, disability, handicap, genetic information, pregnancy (childbirth or related medical condition), or on any other basis prohibited by law. This policy governs all aspects of employment, including selection, job assignment, compensation, discipline, termination, and access to benefits and training.
Nearest Major Market: Chicago
Salary : $99,600 - $139,000
