Technical Development Manager of Applications (Bakery, Beverages, Dairy)

Management of all Application functions and personnel with emphasis on evaluating new products in a variety of current and innovative applications of commercial relevance to Ingredient Solutions customers with a goal of demonstrating how Balchem products work in these applications. Provides technical leadership to project leaders, technicians, customers and interdepartmentally personnel. Oversee the Product Development aspect of Inclusions products and business. Works closely with Business Leads, Sales, Manufacturing, and Quality Assurance to accomplish company objectives.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Responsible for safety within the Application Development laboratory. Holds direct reports accountable to safe work practices, with a goal of zero injuries within the lab. Demonstrates behavior of a safety leader.
• Responsible for leading all technical activity of a project evaluating products within applications including new products, current products, and competitive samples within Dairy, Beverages, and Bakery Applications.
• Provide sales with technical expertise needed to work closely with customers. This may include participation in customer presentations to resolve product issues and/or taking customer technical calls.
• Direct applications organization and maintain logical project files documenting results. Coordinate the work of all resources, providing technical mentoring in design and execution of experiments.
• Direct new product development of Inclusions product line and ensure to maintain logical project files documenting new inventions and improvements. Work closely with manufacturing on integrating new formulas into production and assisting with plant scale-up.
• Direct the Project Leaders (Applications Food Technologist, Food Scientist, Sr. Food Tech, Sr. Food Scientist) to use and maintain all lab equipment as necessary. Ensure projects are completed, well documented, and communicate results.
• Initiate and maintain the company formulas in Professional File (Deacom, Genesis, Batch Master) or similar program.
• Provide research support in all marketing efforts, including the expansion of existing product applications and Innovative applications.
• Provide technical leadership to all internal departments. Provide insight on new manufacturing techniques and materials, as required. Provide technical support to help resolve quality issues associated with application.
• Direct technical training and give presentations to customers and other departments within the company as needed. This will include training new employees and preparing new product demonstrations for trade shows and sales meetings.
• Attend technical training seminars and conferences, including the National IFT, as needed, to stay current on new products, processes and health and nutrition trends.
• Review and measure the department accomplishments by using data that can be verified. Effectively lead groups to achieve company goals and objectives. This includes completing projects on time, and communicating results to move projects forward.
• Manage employees within the department to accomplish the above guidelines. Effectively and timely, communicate the progress with monthly reports or frequency as requested.
• Perform other duties as directed by the Director of R&D or other Leaders in the organization.
• Complete Monthly Reports including Resource allocation. Direct resources to the appropriate priority projects as identified.
• Comply with all policies and procedures of the Corporation.

• Bachelors degree in Food Science or related discipline; Master degree preferred
• 10+ years of related technical service/research and development experience, including working directly with sales and customers
• Application Development experience in Dairy, Bakery, and Beverages is necessary
• Must possess a comprehensive knowledge of products, formulations, dairy processing beverages, bakery and current nutritional and health trends
• Familiarity with principals of flavors, dairy chemistry, lipid technology, applications development, including but not limited to Beverages, Bakery and Dairy Industry. Must be able to operate lab equipment
• An understanding of the purpose of each piece of equipment and how it works is required
• Ability to design tests and accurately report results in a manner suitable for presentation to customers and management
• Leadership, problem solving, good communication skills and ability to work independently are all skills for good job performance
• Detail oriented and multi-tasking a must
• Computer skills required

Physical demands and work environment:

• Must be able to work on their feet for extended periods of time
• Will be required to lift equipment and carry large/heavy boxes
• Work environment is typical laboratory setting
• Typical office environment as well