Research Scientist III

International Vitamin Corporation•Greenville, SC

About The Position

Research Scientist III Gummies, Flavor Science & Sensory will serve as a senior technical expert responsible for driving innovation, product development, and technical excellence across gummy dosage forms, flavor systems, taste modulation, and sensory evaluation. This role will lead the development of differentiated, consumer-preferred gummy products across vitamins, minerals, supplements, functional ingredients, and wellness platforms. The Principal Scientist will lead and/or partner closely with Product Development, Process Development, Quality, Regulatory, Manufacturing, Marketing, Procurement, and external partners to deliver products that meet consumer expectations, technical requirements, cost targets, manufacturability, and regulatory standards. The ideal candidate brings deep expertise in gummy formulation, hydrocolloid systems, flavor chemistry, sweetener systems, masking technologies, sensory science, ingredient interactions, stability, and scale-up from concept through commercialization.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in food science, Chemistry, Pharmaceutical Science, Flavor Chemistry, Sensory Science, Chemical Engineering, Nutrition Science, or related field.
10+ years of relevant R&D experience in gummies, confectionery, dietary supplements, functional foods, OTC, nutraceuticals, or consumer health products.
Deep technical expertise in gummy formulation, hydrocolloid systems, flavor development, taste masking, sweetener systems, and sensory evaluation.
Experience taking products from concept through formulation, pilot scale, validation, commercialization, and post-launch optimization.
Strong understanding of ingredient functionality, active stability, moisture control, texture development, flavor release, and shelf-life performance.
Experience working directly with manufacturing teams, contract manufacturers, suppliers, flavor houses, and cross-functional business teams.

Nice To Haves

Advanced degree preferred: M.S. or Ph.D. in Food Science, Flavor Science, Sensory Science, Pharmaceutical Science, or related technical discipline.
Experience with VMS products, including multivitamins, minerals, botanicals, probiotics, sleep, energy, beauty, immunity, digestive health, and children’s supplements.
Experience with sugar-free, reduced-sugar, vegan, gelatin-free, pectin-based, clean-label, natural color, or natural flavor gummy platforms.
Knowledge of sensory testing methods, consumer research design, and data interpretation.
Experience with DOE, statistical analysis, formulation optimization, and technical problem solving.
Familiarity with dietary supplement regulations, 21 CFR Part 111, food GMPs, labeling requirements, and stability protocols.
Experience presenting technical concepts to senior leaders, customers, and commercial teams.

Responsibilities

Lead formulation development for gummies, chews, and related confectionery-based supplement formats.
Develop robust gummy formulations using pectin, gelatin, starch, carrageenan, or other hydrocolloid systems.
Optimize texture, chew, bite, elasticity, flavor release, appearance, stability, and consumer acceptability.
Formulate with vitamins, minerals, botanicals, probiotics, amino acids, functional actives, and challenging ingredients with taste, stability, or processing limitations.
Evaluate ingredient compatibility, active stability, moisture migration, pH impact, water activity, gel strength, and shelf-life performance.
Provide technical leadership for new product development, reformulation, cost optimization, trouble shooting, and product improvement initiatives.
Lead flavor development and optimization for gummy and chewable dosage forms.
Develop flavor systems that deliver strong consumer appeal while managing off-notes from vitamins, minerals, botanicals, APIs, and functional ingredients.
Apply taste masking, bitterness suppression, sweetness optimization, acid balance, aroma enhancement, and flavor release strategies.
Partner with flavor houses and ingredient suppliers to identify best-in-class flavor, sweetener, acidulant, color, and masking technologies.
Design and interpret sensory studies, including preference testing, descriptive analysis, difference testing, and consumer acceptance testing.
Translate sensory insights into practical formulation improvements and product design recommendations.
Identify emerging trends in gummies, functional confectionery, sensory science, delivery systems, natural flavors, clean-label ingredients, sugar reduction, and advanced taste modulation.
Build internal technical capability in gummy science, flavor development, and sensory methodology.
Develop technical roadmaps for improving gummy platforms, speed-to-market, quality, sensory performance, and cost efficiency.
Evaluate new technologies, suppliers, and external innovation partners.
Represent R&D in customer meetings, technical presentations, innovation workshops, and supplier discussions.
Poses no direct threat to the health or safety of himself/herself, of others, or to property. Defined as a significant risk of substantial harm that cannot be eliminated or reduced to an acceptable level by reasonable accommodation.
Requires regular attendance to perform essential element as contained herein between the assigned start and end times for work unless requested by management to fulfill a specific assigned duty to support manufacturing.
Performs job tasks as needed to support manufacturing requiring technical expertise or insight.