Scientist II, Innovation

McCormick & Company•Hunt Valley, MD

1d•Onsite

About The Position

McCormick & Company is seeking a full-time Scientist II, Innovation to work at its Technical Innovation Center in Hunt Valley, Maryland. The role leads basic research and development of new flavor-related technologies for McCormick’s model food system technology platform. It involves initiating and managing research projects from conceptual experiments through process and technology demonstrations, applying the scientific method, and reporting findings and recommendations in confidential reports and external or academic materials such as scientific papers, invention disclosures, patent applications, and customer presentations. The Scientist II supports development and evaluation of flavor ingredients in existing and new model food systems. The role requires understanding pilot- and commercial-scale equipment and processes, outlining scale-up and demonstration processes, and selecting prototype flavor products to meet internal and external customer needs. It also supports prototype formulation and flavor application, builds technical credibility with customers through project interaction and reporting, and may supervise associate scientists, technicians, and research assistants.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree with 5–10 years of experience, master’s degree with 3 years of experience, or Ph.D. with 1 year of experience in biology, chemistry, chemical engineering, food science, or a related discipline.
Extensive knowledge of food ingredients and technologies for food, pharmaceutical, and beverage applications.
Extensive knowledge of ingredients used for taste modification and flavor interactions across products such as grains, proteins, beverages, confections, and pharmaceuticals.
Extensive knowledge of scientific experimentation, statistical data analysis, and scientific writing, including publications, invention disclosures, patent applications, industrial journal reviews, and seminar literature.
Skill in sensory science, including conducting small-group discrimination, descriptive, and affective tests.
General understanding of data science and development of statistical projection and machine-learning models.
Knowledge of bench-top process scale-up and pilot-scale processing.
Experience with customer-focused technology development and project management for technology transfer and commercialization.
Experience with new-product commercialization and strategic business planning, including pre-incubation and ideation, technical feasibility studies, cost modeling and ROI analysis, SWOT and market analysis, value propositions, and commercialization document drafting.
Interpersonal communication and research management skills, including experience interfacing with industry peers to develop open-innovation and industry-relevant technologies.
Ability to communicate effectively in writing and orally with customers, interdepartmental groups, and business leaders.
Intellectual curiosity, self-starting behavior, collaboration, and the ability to influence others in a leadership role.
Excellent communication, presentation, and report-writing skills.
Ability to interpret data, solve complex problems with incomplete information, manage risk, and make critical decisions.
Project management and collaboration skills, including the ability to seek advice, teach, influence, and negotiate across the organization.
Excellent written and verbal communication and computer skills, including the ability to prepare presentations on technical topics and R&D capabilities.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor of Science and 5 years of experience working for a food company.
Master’s or Ph.D. in Food Science/Technology, Food Engineering, Chemistry, or a related field.

Responsibilities

Develop flavor systems and model food systems.
Plan and lead projects, define and assess project requirements, and design experiments.
Investigate and assess new ingredients and technologies.
Provide support for model food system evaluation to the Optify team.
Communicate project status to stakeholders and R&I teammates.
Supervise, instruct, and train employees as needed.
Conduct research and report findings, conclusions, and recommendations.
Outline scale-up and demonstration processes and select prototype flavor products to support customer needs.
Support prototype formulation and flavor application, and build technical credibility with external customers through project interaction and reporting.