Pet Food Senior Scientist

Requisition ID : 497873  

Job Description

This role is a scientist who is going to work on petfood science (cats and dogs). The person will build in vitro lab models, which reflect the functionality in the animal. Initially the work will be focused on existing IFF ingredients in particular enzymes but also betaine, probiotics, postbiotics, prebiotics, and phytogenic. It will also be an important task to read literature, including patent literature to identify new opportunities for application of IFF ingredients into the petfood industry, but also to help build mode of action understanding. The role will help translate basic science findings to solve unmet health, nutrition and welfare needs in the pet food industry.
The role will be part of a global team including vets and nutritionists all working on petfood.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES & TASKS 

The selected candidate will:
• Be an integral part of a diverse global team of scientists and application specialists who together will charter an R&D petfood strategy to support and build a petfood business based on the existing IFF portfolio of ingredients. 
• Establish in vitro lab models, which reflect the functionality in the animal on a molecular level.
• Work directly on application of primarily enzymes to improve nutrition, health, or welfare of pets.
• Participate in project work on application of probiotics, postbiotics, prebiotics for pets.
• Translate petfood customers unmet needs into scientific questions, which can be answered. 
• Read literature, including patent literature to identify new opportunities for application of IFF ingredients into the petfood industry, but also to help build mode of action understanding.
• Work with collaborative teams in an industrial R&D environment that values creativity and ingenuity
• Independently establish and manage internal and external collaborations with respect to professional and cultural differences to advance project goals. This will include working with CROs and academic collaborators.
• Perform as an entrepreneur with a creative mind and the dedication needed for aiming at scientific excellence.
• Review data and analytical results, prepare reports and visuals and communicate them to internal and external users, including customers.
• Maintains an up-to-date awareness of all R&D activities in the area through literature review and industry and academic networking. 
• Shows creative and original thinking in developing innovative solutions for the petfood industry.

Job Requirements

• Ph.D. in biochemistry or related subject with 0–3-year research experience, preferably in an industry research lab. 
• Preferably experience with petfood. Pet physiology, pet health or related scientific field.
• Interested in understanding the functionality of ingredients in petfood application.
• Demonstrated innovative and creative skills in the way to achieve a new goal set.
• Shows creative and original thinking in developing innovative solutions for the petfood industry.
• Motivated to play a role in developing new products for the global petfood industry.
• Methodical, systematic, and accurate approach, with attention to detail and able to achieve deadlines with complex or new issues.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate at all levels, externally and internally, including good presentation skills, reports, and scientific writing.
• Maintains an up-to-date awareness of all R&D activities in the area through literature review and industry and academic networking. 
• Able to link customer value to product specification or product supporting service to be developed.
• Working level understanding of statistics. 

PERSONAL COMPETENCIES

• Passion at bench. Demonstrated ability to start new research area up. 
• Capable of working under pressure.
• Team player and self-motivated with excellent interpersonal and communication skills on all hierarchy levels. 
• Good writing and presentation skills. Ability to engage an audience.
• Innovative, positive and creative in the way to achieve a new goal set.
• Methodical, systematic, and accurate approach, with attention to detail
• Achieve deadlines.
• Able to work in a multi-cultural global environment.

We are a global leader in taste, scent and nutrition, offering our customers a broader range of natural solutions and accelerating our growth strategy. At IFF, we believe that your uniqueness unleashes our potential. We value the diverse mosaic of the ethnicity, national origin, race, age, sex or veteran status. We strive for an inclusive workplace that allows each of our colleagues to bring their authentic self to work regardless of their religion, gender identity & expression, sexual orientation, or disability.