RDA Senior Scientist

About Kerry

About the role

The position involves innovative development and creation of Kerry’s Technology system in terms of Bakery in various customer applications. Working in partnership with customers to develop innovative products as well as renovating current products. New products are to be tailored to customer-specific needs. All development work is to be delivered in terms of Taste, Functionality, Nutrition, and Cost, and candidates must also demonstrate strong technical sales capability to effectively translate innovation into commercial success with customers

Key responsibilities

• Focus to be given in creating desired solution as per customer brief and developing winning products when compared to competition.
• Working in partnership with customers and Kerry cross functional team to deliver products from concept to launch, in the time frames agreed with customers.
• Support the R&D Manager with the day to day running of the R&D team and where required assist with organizing and running team meetings, project management and training for team members.
• Develop innovative solutions to help grow customer and Kerry’s market within cost parameters, manufacturing capability whilst ensuring all new products are legal within country of use.
• Create value added products with a point of difference from our competitors continuing to lead in the market through manufacture process and ingredient knowledge.
• Provide our customers with the best available products through developing an understanding the market, manufacturing capabilities, ingredient restrictions etc.
• Maintain awareness of developments across Kerry and building these into new developments providing USP’s for customers.
• Ensure Kerry Taste and Nutrition is at the heart of all concept development.
• Carry out competitor & product awareness analysis – including sensory product evaluations, benchmarking and carrying out own retail reviews as required.
• Build relationships with key personnel within allocated accounts via visits, presentations and attending trials in customer premise when required.
• Coordinating launches of new products & running trials at customer’s manufacturing sites.
• Reporting back on customer visits via business agreed tools.
• Work on cost optimization projects to improve profitability whenever business demands.
• Make use of experience around the Technical Centre & other Kerry sites where relevant to ensure best results are achieved.
• Undertake any training as agreed and directed by the Company.

Qualifications and skills

• B.Tech or M.Sc. in Food Science/Technology or equivalent qualifications.
• Min 7 years hands on experience in development of Bakery or related Applications.
• Understanding customer requirements & market trends across Bakery customers.
• Ability to independently plan and execute technical work programmes to deliver agreed strategic business plans and solutions
• Ability to interface with other business functions, especially sales, R&D, and senior management
• Hands ON experience in operation of lab equipment’s, Pilot Plants and Biscuit lines.
• A team player with an ability to work in a matrix organization
• Soft skills-Desired:
• Requires excellent interpersonal and rapport-building skills, with the ability to communicate effectively to all levels of the business.
• Able to demonstrate skills at prioritizing their work, and strong time management to enable managing a variety of projects, juggling priorities, and managing a variety of projects/briefs.