Manager, Analytical Characterization & Texture Science- Sugar Reduction

Ingredion is looking for a Manager, Sugar Reduction, Analytical Characterization and Texture Science to join our team. Reporting directly to the Director, the Business Scientist will be responsible for shaping, evolving and driving sugar reduction solutions within Ingredion’s analytical characterization and texture science function, which includes supporting new ingredient discovery and enabling an interconnected Global Center of Excellence to enable growth. 

This role is a key partner for global and regional stakeholders, including Applications, Process Technology, Operations, Quality, Safety and Regulatory functions as well as Go To Market teams. Influencing strategy, incorporating stakeholder needs, and developing a stakeholder centric and empowering way of working within the Innovation Community is the key deliverable for this role. Leadership of sugar reduction sub-function includes global analytical testing in support of R&D efforts, regulatory compliance, product quality and customer testing issues including method evaluation, method development, equipment evaluation and qualification, training, and maintenance of capabilities to ensure effective use of resources. Additionally, this role will partake in building capability in analytical structure-function as a component of developing a global Texture strategy, enabling core value propositions for our customers and establishing Ingredion as an externally recognized thought leader. The role will work closely with other global technical functions, including regional technical teams, global specialty platforms and our regional Go to Market Teams to create a sustainable competitive advantage in the marketplace.

Core Responsibilities:

• Lead the analytical and texture science sugar reduction team, ensuring close partnership with internal and external stakeholders, development and empowerment of the team, and continued evolution to remain current with best practices.
• Aid the functional Director with the development of a comprehensive and cohesive Food Texture Science strategy that articulates how Ingredion’s Food Texture Science capabilities can create value and enable growth for our customers.
• Work closely in collaboration with the regional technical and business teams towards a multi-year business plan and effectively allocate resources to deliver on priority growth projects and new business opportunities.
• Promote strong collaboration with teams within and outside Analytical Characterization & Texture Science function, which in turn helps establish Ingredion as an externally recognized thought leader.
• Protect our current and go-to-market businesses, by leading the sugar reduction team to provide analytical support that ensures compliance with all quality, regulatory, safety requirements.
• Steer team towards an active, well aligned, interconnected and highly synergistic Analytical Characterization & Texture Science community of subject matter experts, leveraging analytical science to drive structure-function understanding.
• Elevate capabilities of our Analytical and Food Texture Science sugar reduction function to create a sustainable competitive advantage for Ingredion. Identify capability gaps and future needs and execute a plan to develop and grow the team to meet the organization’s future needs.
• Work with our Open Innovation function and other functions to identify new technologies and partnerships to strengthen our competitive advantage. Develop new ingredient discovery /evaluation protocols that enable miniaturization and speed to results.

Qualified candidates will have:

• PhD/MS degree or equivalent industry experience in Materials Science, Food Science, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering or related fields with 8+ years of broad technical, experience. 
• Experience with ingredient manufacturers or consumer goods manufacturing companies Direct Consumer Products Company experience a plus.
• Analytical and texture experience and ingredient Structure-Function understanding across broad Food & Beverage categories.
• Specific technical knowledge with sweeteners and functional nutritional ingredients.
• Strong business acumen and awareness of key financial drivers / economic conditions of the industry.
• Demonstrated project management skills to manage, prioritize and provide direction on key customer and new product innovation projects. 
• Demonstrated experience in data management, digital and emerging / AI technologies
• Proven ability to lead, grow, coach, enable and empower team leaders and talented technical professionals.
• Exceptional at gathering, recording and interpreting complex and ambiguous experimental data
• Ability to embrace change and adapt to shifting priorities and changing customer and consumer needs

Ingredion provides accommodations to job applicants with disabilities throughout the hiring process. If a job applicant requires an accommodation during the application process or through the selection process, we will work with the applicant to meet the job applicant's accommodation needs. 

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We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. Ingredion seeks to provide a work environment that is free from harassment and discrimination. We will not tolerate any form of discrimination based on race, color, religion, age, gender, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, ancestry, handicap or disability—mental or physical—marital status, sexual orientation, veteran status, disability resulting from military service, or any other classification protected by law (“protected classifications”). We are committed to establishing and maintaining a work environment where everyone is treated with dignity and respect.

Relocation Available:

Yes, Within Country