Application Scientist

Nielsen Massey Vanillas I•Waukegan, IL

3d•Onsite

About The Position

Nielsen-Massey is a leader in the specialty foods world, specifically in the production and marketing of the world’s finest vanillas and flavors. The company operates a branded consumer goods business (CPG/B2C) as well as a business-to-business (B2B) ingredient and flavor business. The portfolio includes various forms of pure and natural vanilla ingredients, extracts, pastes, and powders plus other flavor extracts to include lemon, almond, chocolate, coffee, peppermint, and rosewater to wholesale, culinary, and industrial customers throughout the world. The global headquarters and state-of-the-art production facility are in Waukegan, Illinois, with an additional plant in the Netherlands. The brand is well established with culinary professionals and big branded players as the premiere vanilla brand in the marketplace while the next phase of growth will come from expanding the brand to a broader base of consumers via an aggressive retail and eCommerce strategy as well as diversifying and expanding the ingredient and flavor business. Nielsen-Massey Vanillas (NMV) was founded in 1907 and is still owned by three members of the Nielsen family, who work as senior executives at the company. The fiduciary Board is composed of independent directors as well as the three family shareholders. The four independent members all have CEO experience in a variety of industries, including CPG, eCommerce, and Industrial/ Manufacturing. The Company is committed to sustaining the plants, people and communities that supply their ingredients. Since 1907, NMV has demonstrated its commitment to civic and social responsibility. The company’s Community Relations initiatives encompass three main objectives: building relationships with the communities in which they live and work; showing their commitment through financial contributions to charities in support of education, youth, veterans, and the environment, actively promoting volunteer service among their employees -- and demonstrating as a team that they make a difference. NMV supports approximately 18 organizations that represent their mission-driven values. They published their first annual “Sustainability and Corporate Social Responsibilities Report” in 2018. Some past ESG programs include the funding of a new Malagasy school and the construction of a solar-powered water pump in the Madagascar Village that grows Nielsen-Massey’s fair-trade vanilla. In 2009, The Nielsen-Massey Foundation was created with a mission to assist disadvantaged children and adults with education and leadership development, especially in the field of culinary arts. The Foundation also considers requests for assistance in the development of sustainable environmental practices or for programs benefiting people in countries of need. The Foundation’s board of directors consists of Craig, Beth and Matt Nielsen, third-generation owners of Nielsen-Massey Vanillas, and their mother, Camilla. Throughout its more than 115-year history as a family business, NMV is proudly and fully committed to the ethical way it conducts business, including how employees and customers are treated. As a company, NMV remains committed to honesty and integrity, as well as openness and respect for the rights and interests of its employees. Employees are “treated like family” with generous health care benefits.

Requirements

BA/BS degree in technical sciences (Microbiology, Chemistry, Food Science, Nutrition, or similar) and 7-10 years of experience in Food R&D.
Experience working with different food products on a bench top, including but not limited to frozen desserts, baked goods, beverages, etc.
Proficient in general lab practices.
Must be able to taste and smell chemicals, flavors and food products.
Understands USDA/FDA guidelines, Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) and HACCP food safety practices.
Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals.
Ability to author routine reports and correspondence.
Ability to speak effectively before groups of customers or employees of the organization.
Should have knowledge of: Database Software (Access); Manufacturing Software; Spreadsheet Software (Excel); Contract Management Systems; Inventory Software; Order Processing Systems; Project Management Software; Word Processing Software (Word); Electronic Mail Software (Outlook); Presentation Software (PowerPoint); and Publisher software.
Must be punctual and prompt in meeting all requirements of performance, including, but not limited to, attendance standards and work deadlines; beginning and ending assignments on time; and scheduled work breaks; where applicable.

Nice To Haves

Experience in a family or privately held business.

Responsibilities

Manage and execute application development projects using vanilla extracts, ensuring timely completion and clear communication of progress to internal stakeholders (R&D, Sales, Marketing, Operations, and leadership) and external customers.
Develop and optimize food and beverage applications (e.g., baked goods, dairy, confections, beverages) to demonstrate performance and versatility of vanilla extracts in customer-relevant systems.
Formulate, test, and refine applications to meet customer requirements, processing conditions, and target sensory profiles.
Evaluate and troubleshoot application performance, including flavor impact, stability, and compatibility within different product matrices.
Conduct and participate in lab bench evaluations to assess application performance, consistency, and overall quality.
Support customer projects by providing application guidance, prototypes, and technical recommendations.
Collaborate cross-functionally with teams including Quality, Regulatory, Supply Chain, Sales, Marketing, and Operations to ensure successful application development and commercialization.
Interface with customers through technical discussions, presentations, and in-person or virtual working sessions to support application development and problem-solving.
Travel approximately 10–25% to support customer visits, co-packer trials, and industry events.