Ingredient Specialist

Job Location: Hershey PA or 100% Remote

Job Summary/Role Responsibilities:

50% - This role is responsible for managing global ingredient data through the creation, approval, and release process in PLM, ensuring specifications are prioritized and released in accordance with project timelines.

• Ingredient specialists create and maintain ingredient specification data on the ingredient property tree in SAP PDM and ensures compliance to standards throughout the ingredient specification life cycle. This role will establish routing and workflow for ingredient specification approval.
• Working in SQM/Aravo to obtain supplier information to transfers ingredient data (composition, nutrients, allergens, certifications, GMO status, and other relevant data to the SAP PDM property tree to enable creation of labels and nutrition/moisture calculations in recipes.
• This role will coordinate, manage, and control ingredient specifications data with QRC, R&D, and Procurement. Ingredient specialists will generate ingredient specification reports, when specifications are released or when an attribute or text is changed and needs to be reflected on the report. Knowledge of vast ingredient categories is preferred.
• Lead and participate in cross-functional meetings to ensure global data integrity of ingredients.

30% - This role will initiate Master Material requests, updates, and extensions for ingredients and Complex Ingredients. Ingredient specialists will be responsible for maintaining shelf-life data management for ingredients.

• Ingredient Specialists makes changes to ingredient specifications as required via Engineering Record tasks, with coordination with Subject Matter Experts, product development, plants, etc. They will also identify process and system gaps- within PDM, SQM, and other data systems.

20% - Approve regional supplier materials within Supplier Quality Management (SQM) by reviewing Ingredient Information Forms (IIF). Review data for labeling tasks within SQM.

• Ingredient specialists will provide SAP PDM end user training in both individual and group settings. They will provide on-going support to subject matter experts, R&D, Cl, contractors, etc. Maintain training documents, tools, simulations on an on-going basis. International support for regional tasks in PDM may be required.

Position can be remote throughout US.

Must be able to travel to Hershey, PA up to 5 times per year.

Minimum Qualifications:

• BS degree in a technical field such as Food Science Chemistry/Biology/Microbiology
• Minimum 2-5 years minimum Food Manufacturing, Product Lifecycle Management experience
• Understanding of food ingredients/ingredients properties, and ingredient specifications. Understanding of food labeling is a plus
• Excellent business-oriented judgement with the ability to analyze problems, propose resolutions and provide advice that is creative, practical, and legally acceptable while considering the needs/objectives of the business
• Able to work in a dynamic environment with short deadlines
• Demonstrate the ability to be highly collaborative and influential within team and cross-functionally with minimal direction
• Able to make critical business decision
• Functional & Domain Knowledge - Ingredient Categories
• Drive for process excellence combined with systems orientation
• High level of organization and attention to detail
• Ability to work independently and problem solve
• Flexible and comfortable with ambiguity
• Effective communication skills - with a global mindset to understand and adapt to business difference across regions
• Microsoft O365 suite
• SAP / Tool Knowledge