Job Description – Food Application Manager – Flavours

Position: Food Application Manager – Flavours

Department: Applications / R&D;

Location: I-thum tower, tower A, Noida sector 62

Reporting To: Head of Applications / R&D; Head

Experience: 3–5 years

Industry: Flavours & Food Ingredients

Job Summary

New Product Development (NPD)

- Lead flavor development for new product launches from concept stage through to commercial scale-up
- Translate client/marketing briefs into technical flavor development plans — define target taste profile, top notes, base notes, mouthfeel, and aftertaste characteristics
- Develop prototype formulations within defined timelines and present multiple flavor iterations (e.g., 3–5 variants) for internal/client tasting rounds
- Conduct benchmarking studies against competitor products and market references to ensure differentiation and category relevance
- Run masking and modulation trials for functional/active ingredients (bitterness, metallic, chalky, astringent notes) as part of NPD projects
- Optimize flavor dosage/inclusion rates for cost-in-use targets without compromising sensory performance
- Validate flavor stability across the product's shelf life, processing conditions (heat, pH, shear), and packaging format
- Coordinate pilot batch trials and scale-up runs, troubleshooting any flavor drift or inconsistency from lab to production scale
- Maintain an NPD project tracker — timelines, milestones, sample dispatch dates, and approval stages
- Own sensory panel coordination for NPD projects — design tasting protocols, collect/interpret feedback, and iterate formulations accordingly
- Ensure all NPD formulations comply with regulatory and labeling requirements (FSSAI/FEMA/IFRA/target market norms) before finalization
- Prepare technical dossiers for each NPD project — formulation summary, sensory data, stability data, and regulatory compliance notes





Client Management & Client Detailing

- Act as the technical point of contact for client flavor briefs — gather and clarify requirements (taste target, application, cost ceiling, regulatory constraints, launch timeline)
- Prepare and present client-facing documentation: flavor concept decks, tasting note summaries, formulation rationale (without disclosing proprietary composition)
- Organize and lead client tasting sessions (in-person or virtual) — present flavor iterations, capture structured feedback, and align on next steps
- Maintain a client project file for each account — brief history, sample iterations sent, feedback log, approval status, and revision history
- Coordinate sample dispatch to clients — ensure correct formulation version, batch documentation, and COA (Certificate of Analysis) accompany each sample
- Manage client timelines — track brief-to-approval cycle time and proactively flag delays or bottlenecks
- Handle client escalations related to flavor performance (e.g., off-notes reported post-launch, batch-to-batch inconsistency) and coordinate root-cause resolution with the chemist/production team
- Support costing discussions with clients by providing accurate cost-in-use data for proposed flavor systems
- Ensure confidentiality and IP protection of both client briefs and proprietary flavor formulations (NDA compliance)
- Build and maintain relationships with key client stakeholders (R&D;, marketing, procurement contacts)



to support repeat business and long-term account growth

Requirements

- Degree in Food Technology, Flavor Chemistry, Chemistry, or related field
- 3–7+ years of hands-on flavor formulation experience, with demonstrated NPD project ownership (concept to launch)
- Prior experience in a client-facing technical role (flavor house, ingredient supplier, or contract manufacturer background preferred)
- Solid sensory evaluation skills (trained palate, aroma recognition) and experience designing/leading sensory panels
- Working knowledge of masking technology for bitter/metallic/astringent actives
- Familiarity with flavor delivery systems (encapsulation, emulsions, spray-dried flavors)
- Understanding of flavor regulatory compliance (FSSAI/FEMA/IFRA/EU, as applicable to target markets)
- Excellent communication and presentation skills — comfortable presenting technical flavor concepts to non-technical client stakeholders
- Strong project management skills — able to juggle multiple NPD projects/clients simultaneously with competing deadlines
- Proficiency in maintaining structured documentation (project trackers, client files, technical dossiers)

Ideal Candidate Profile

The ideal candidate will be a hands-on flavour application qualified who understands both flavour technology and food formulation.

They should be comfortable working in the application lab, sensory room, customer plant, and commercial environment, and should be able to translate a customer requirement such as “creamy vanilla,” “natural mango,” “long-lasting strawberry,” or “better chicken flavour” into a technically viable flavour solution.

Strong customer-facing skills, practical trial experience, sensory expertise, and commercial thinking are essential for this role.

Pay: ₹30,000.00 - ₹50,000.00 per month

Work Location: In person

📌 Food Application Manager- Flavors (India)
🏢 FFCE
📍 India