Flavorist (Alcohol focus)

Symrise•Teterboro, NJ

22h

About The Position

Develop commercially successful flavors for alcoholic beverage applications, including spirits, beer, wine, and ready-to-drink beverages, using GRAS and FDA-approved ingredients and approved technical projects. Work with internal food science groups and support Beverage, Sales, and Marketing teams on customer-driven and proactive development projects across short- and long-term timelines. Apply knowledge of specialty chemicals to create differentiated alcoholic beverage flavor profiles, including flavor modulation, masking, and enhancement. Coordinate development with laboratory technicians and other Flavorists, and lead beverage research and technology and global innovation projects aligned with market trends such as low/no alcohol, craft, and premiumization. Collaborate with teams across regions to serve global customers while taking regional taste preferences and regulatory considerations into account. Oversee first-time production of alcoholic beverage flavors and troubleshoot stability, solubility, and performance challenges in ethanol systems. Train, manage, and/or mentor laboratory technicians in development and evaluation practices. The role requires national and international travel, sensory evaluation involving smelling and tasting flavors, and the ability to manage varied projects and timelines in a fast-paced environment.

Requirements

Bachelor of Science degree or equivalent minimum technical education requirement.
At least 7 years of flavor development or formulation experience.
Knowledge of U.S. and international flavor regulations.
Understanding of raw materials including essential oils, botanical extracts, and specialty aromatic ingredients and their use in flavor development.
Ability to resolve technical problems related to flavor and systems development and cost-reduction initiatives.
Knowledge of flavor production, product applications, market trends, the sales function, laboratory equipment, and a broad customer base.
Good communication, interpersonal, and organizational skills.
Computer literacy.
Strong sensory knowledge.
Ability to work in a fast-paced environment and balance diverse project pipelines and challenging timelines.
Ability to smell and taste flavors; no dietary restrictions.
Sound knowledge of flavor production and understanding of encapsulation technologies.
Complete safety training for chemical laboratories, hazardous waste management, and DOT samples.

Nice To Haves

Previous experience working with global customers.

Responsibilities

Develop flavors for alcoholic beverage applications, including spirits, beer, wine, and RTDs, using GRAS and FDA-approved ingredients.
Work with internal food science groups and support Beverage, Sales, and Marketing on reactive and proactive flavor development projects.
Partner with key alcoholic beverage customers and deliver solutions on short- and long-term timelines.
Apply specialty chemicals to create differentiated flavor profiles, including modulation, masking, and enhancement.
Coordinate flavor development with laboratory technicians and collaborate with Flavorists to meet customer briefs.
Lead beverage projects, particularly alcohol-focused work, in R&T and Global Innovation initiatives, aligned with market trends.
Collaborate with cross-regional teams to support global customers, considering regional taste preferences and regulatory requirements.
Oversee first-time production of alcoholic beverage flavors and troubleshoot stability, solubility, and performance in ethanol systems.
Train, manage, and/or mentor laboratory technicians in alcoholic beverage flavor development and evaluation.
Travel nationally and internationally as needed.
Smell and taste flavors for sensory evaluation.