Food Science Technical Specialist
Job Description
Job Description
Seeking a Food Science Technical Specialist for a fast -growing ingredient distributor supplying the supplement, nutraceutical, and functional food industries. Core categories include collagen, gelatin, plant proteins, dietary fiber, sweeteners, and hydrocolloids.
We're looking for a food scientist, chemist, or QA/QC professional who wants to put their lab background to work on the technical side of the ingredient business. You'll be the scientific resource for customers, suppliers, and our Sales and Quality teams. You'll interpret analytical data, verify CoAs and lab reports, build product specifications and nutritional documentation, and evaluate ingredients for functionality and compliance. Sample evaluation and coordinating lab testing are part of the role as needed.
Key Responsibilities:
- Review supplier CoAs, analytical lab reports, and nutrition data for scientific accuracy and internal consistency. Examples: moisture and water activity that don't agree, protein or fiber values that don't reconcile, results out of spec.
- Create and maintain product specifications and technical data sheets from supplier specs and analytical results
- Prepare nutritional, allergen, regulatory, and country-of-origin statements, and complete customer technical questionnaires
- Evaluate new and alternate ingredients for functionality, composition, and compliance against internal and customer requirements
- Coordinate lab testing and sample evaluation, including third-party labs when needed
- Answer customer questions on ingredient chemistry, functionality, applications, nutrition, and shelf-life and storage
- Work with Quality on supplier approval, product release, and issues that need further review
- Work directly with suppliers to resolve technical discrepancies and get corrected documentation
Required Experience:
- Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Chemistry, Biochemistry, Nutrition, Biology, or a related science
- 5+ years in food ingredients, nutraceuticals, dietary supplements, or food/supplement QA/QC
- Comfortable reading and critically evaluating CoAs, analytical methods, and lab results
- Working knowledge of FDA regulations, GMP, food safety, and ingredient compliance
- Experience writing product specifications or technical documentation
- Clear technical writing for customer-facing correspondence
Nice to Have:
- Lab experience in a food, supplement, or ingredient QC, R&D, or analytical setting
- Familiarity with USP, AOAC, or other compendial and standard methods
- Formulation, product development, or ingredient application experience
- Hands-on experience with collagen, gelatin, plant or whey proteins, dietary fibers (inulin, FOS, PHGG), polyols, high-intensity sweeteners, or hydrocolloids
- Beverage, sports nutrition, or dietary supplement background
\nCompany Description
Real People. Real Connections. Real Results.
That's the Messina Talent Advantage.
For more than 40 years, Messina's Talent practice has continuously evolved to meet the needs of our clients. We not only help our clients fill roles and build their teams, but we also help them better understand their workforce and develop strategic talent initiatives that drive value for their organizations.
Messina Talent Advisors, a Messina Group Company, has the network, proven processes, and all the latest technologies to connect the right candidates with the right jobs - faster.
Company Description
Real People. Real Connections. Real Results.\r\n\r\nThat's the Messina Talent Advantage.\r\n\r\nFor more than 40 years, Messina's Talent practice has continuously evolved to meet the needs of our clients. We not only help our clients fill roles and build their teams, but we also help them better understand their workforce and develop strategic talent initiatives that drive value for their organizations.\r\n\r\nMessina Talent Advisors, a Messina Group Company, has the network, proven processes, and all the latest technologies to connect the right candidates with the right jobs - faster.