Food Applications Assistant

Gold Coast Ingredients, Inc. is a leading manufacturer of food flavors and colors. Development and progress have always been a crucial aspect of the way we do business, as we strive to achieve the perfect synergy between the precision of food science and the craft of artisan flavor making.

Our Applications Laboratory works closely with the Research & Development (R&D) team and customers to test our flavors across a wide variety of food and beverage applications, ensuring products meet customer requirements.

Position Summary

The Applications Assistant supports the Applications Laboratory by preparing, testing, and evaluating food and beverage prototypes. This role focuses on flavor application, product development, documentation, and laboratory organization while collaborating with the R&D and Flavor Creation teams.

Key Responsibilities

• Prepare and evaluate flavors and other ingredients in customer applications to validate product performance, optimize formulations, and troubleshoot flavor or functionality issues.
• Develop new application prototypes to support product development initiatives, with an emphasis on beverage formulations.
• Identify flavor systems that improve product performance by masking undesirable tastes from vitamins, proteins, botanicals, and other functional ingredients.
• Collaborate with Flavorists by providing application feedback and recommendations to enhance flavor performance in specific food and beverage systems.
• Evaluate, document, and maintain accurate records of product testing, including formulations, processing parameters, sensory evaluations, and product attributes.
• Communicate testing results, observations the Applications Manager.
• Maintain inventory of laboratory ingredients, supplies, and consumables.
• Keep accurate and organized laboratory records in accordance with company standards.
• Maintain a clean, safe, and organized work environment while following Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs) and laboratory safety procedures.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Food Science or a related scientific field.
• Laboratory experience within the food or beverage industry.
• Culinary, beverage or food experience a plus
• Strong organizational skills with exceptional attention to detail.
• Excellent time management skills with the ability to prioritize multiple projects.
• Effective verbal and written communication skills.
• Self-motivated, resourceful, creative, and eager to learn.
• Ability to work independently as well as collaboratively in a team environment.

Preferred

• 1-3 years' experience in new product development and formulations in the food industry
• Experience developing or evaluating beverage formulations.
• Knowledge of food ingredients, flavor systems, and sensory evaluation techniques.

Gold Coast Ingredients, Inc. (GCI) is a privately held, wholesale flavor and color manufacturer that has been satisfying taste since 1985. We are capable of serving all types of industries from food and beverage to nutraceutical and oral care. We work with customers to create custom formulations in a variety of forms including powder, spray-dried (encapsulated), freeze-dried, liquid, emulsion, and extracts that are compatible with any requirements.