Food Innovation Associate Scientist

ILLES Foods Job Description

Job Title:  Food Innovation Associate Scientist 

Reports To:  Director of Food Innovation 

FLSA: Permanent, Full Time, Exempt, On-Site.
Applicants must be authorized to work in the U.S. without current or future sponsorship.

About Us:
Specializing in custom-crafted culinary solutions—from beverage bases and sauces to marinades and seasonings—ILLES Foods has partnered with food service chains, manufacturers, and retailers across the U.S. since 1927. Our Food Innovation expertise, creativity, and speed to market, combined with a laser focus on customer experience, make us a key partner in product development.  As a family-owned, woman-run business, our growth is fueled by deeply held values: operating with integrity, maintaining intentional curiosity, and strong relationship building through the power of partnership. At ILLES Foods, we strive to be the ingredient that elevates food and enriches the lives of our partners, internal and external.

Job Summary:
The Successful candidate will lead and drive product innovation projects, product renovation projects, and alternate material projects from ideation through commercialization. Key product categories include but are not limited to, seasoning blends, sauces, syrups, marinades and flavors. In this role, you will work closely with customers and internal cross-functional teams (Quality, Operations, Sales, Marketing, Supply Chain, Regulatory). Partner conducts themselves in a manner that is aligned with Illes Foods Core Values: Operate with Integrity, Stay Intentionally Curious, and Believe in the Power of the Partnership.

Key Duties and Responsibilities: 

• Leads product development projects (innovation, renovation, alternate materials) from concept to commercialization

• Experienced in working closely with external customers to achieve product development goals

• Provides leadership to the organization in the areas of food science and R&D

• Designs new products based on targeted flavor profile, texture, color, shelf life and nutritional content while maintaining adherence to government and industry standards

• Develop specifications for finished products with physical, chemical, and sensory properties

• Develops batching instructions for trial and operations

• Make and ship samples to customers

• Coordination of large sample runs and scale up in the plant. Accurately weigh materials and blend them together to make products both liquid and dry.

• Run the QA analytical equipment’s such as pH meter, refractive index, salt and acid titrators and maintain the lab equipment’s.

• Generates and optimizes costs of formulations in collaboration with procurement and finance

• Leads pilot and commercial scale up trials and monitors a minimum of first three commercial productions

• Regularly collaborates with Operations and advises solutions for production issues

• Maintains information regarding ingredient specifications, formulas, processes and analytical data such as quality attributes, yield information, and sensory results

• Support logistics on the verification of ingredients in inventory for maturity or stability for processing, and finished products for safety, quality, and nutritional value

• Collaborative and works well in a team environment, offering support and assistance when needed

• Highly motivated and able to work independently

• Effective in a high paced environment with the ability to multitask and support multiple initiatives

• Follows GMP’s, maintains sanitary conditions, adheres to safe work practices and ensures that product quality is maintained

Preferred Key Skills and Qualifications:

• Ability to identify opportunities for improvement and drive the opportunity to completion 

• Excellent problem-solving skills

• Comfortable working cross functionally and leading project teams

• Excellent organizational and communication (oral and written) skills, proficiency in speaking, comprehending, reading and writing English required

• Excellent mathematical skills and knowledge of, or ability to learn, statistical analysis required

• Computer literacy including competency with Microsoft Office and demonstrated ability to operate complex software programs required

• Working knowledge of government regulations and rules of certification bodies such as Kosher, Halal, Organic, and others as applicable to business

• Able to multitask, work alone with light supervision and in a team environment

• Enjoys working in laboratory and pilot plant

Experience & Education:
Bachelor’s degree in food science or related discipline required.

Working Conditions & Physical Demands:
Taste, smell, and see well enough to discriminate quantity, and quality, of individual flavor components. Physically able to lift 20 pounds. See well enough to read formulas, batch sheets, work requests and work on the computer efficiently and effectively. Ability to hear directions. Ability to drive a vehicle legally and safely in the performance of the job.

What We Offer:
We are a core-value driven, inclusive team that values innovation, growth, and impact. We offer career development, mentorship, competitive pay, and comprehensive benefits—including medical, dental, vision, 401(k) with immediate match, HSA, EAP, life, disability, and more!

Disclaimer:
The job description provides a general overview of the work, not a detailed list of all tasks and skills. Reasonable accommodation is available for individuals with disabilities as required by law. Some requirements may exclude individuals who pose a health or safety risk. Employees must follow job-related instructions and perform additional duties as per federal and state laws. The listed requirements are the minimum needed to perform the job effectively. Employment is "at-will," meaning it can be terminated at any time. ILLES Foods is an Equal Opportunity Employer. (M/F/D/V)