Ingredient Specialist

Nestle Operational Services Worldwide SA•St. Louis, MO

3d•$70,931 - $102,289

About The Position

The Ingredient Specialist works within the Technical Services group, which supports innovative product and process development in the pet care industry. The role qualifies new raw materials and suppliers, provides technical support to existing suppliers, and identifies and leads ingredient-related and quality improvement projects. The specialist works on fast-paced, multifunctional teams to introduce ingredients and vendors in support of NPPC strategies and to provide technical support to NPPC factories. The position supports development and implementation of ingredients for existing and new products, manages product specifications with factories, and coordinates qualification of raw materials and suppliers. It serves as an ingredient technical resource for Procurement project plans and timelines and provides technical expertise to a range of internal functions. The specialist monitors assigned ingredients, supports product performance through scientific procedures and capability studies, establishes ingredient and process specifications with factory, product development, and quality teams, and uses Purina systems and tools to schedule activities and tests, analyze data, and produce accurate reports. The role requires 30–40% travel.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in food science, animal science, or a related scientific field.
At least 3 years of experience in supply chain, product or ingredient development, environmental sustainability, food science, or a related environment.
Ability to travel 30–40%.

Nice To Haves

Knowledge of grain, soy, plant protein, or fish science.

Responsibilities

Support development and implementation of new and existing ingredients for current and new products.
Work with factories to manage product specifications, including nutritional, regulatory, and analytical requirements; issue specifications to manufacturing plants and maintain them as needed.
Coordinate qualification of new raw materials and suppliers, and serve as ingredient lead for assigned ingredients and raw materials.
Understand raw materials and manufacturing processes and act as a technical resource for Procurement project plans and timelines.
Provide technical expertise to R&D, Legal, Regulatory, Consumer Marketing, Purchasing, QA, CDG, HR, plants, US Management, and other groups in support of business unit objectives.
Keep management and key project members informed about issues, risks, timing, and contingencies relevant to technical and business success.
Monitor and maintain the assigned ingredient portfolio using standardized scientific procedures and capability studies to support product performance.
Work with factory, product development, and quality teams to establish new ingredient and ingredient-process specifications.
Use Purina systems and tools to schedule activities and tests, collect and analyze data, and complete and distribute accurate reports.
Identify and lead ingredient-related and quality improvement projects.
Provide technical support to existing suppliers and NPPC factories.