Ohly is one of the leading suppliers of specialty yeast extracts, yeast-based flavors and dried flavors ingredients based on yeast derivatives and spray-dried condiments, focused on quality and great taste, healthy and natural ingredients. Ohly products are in recipes around the world and cover several business areas including savory and sweet (authentic culinary powders, salt reduction, savory and umami taste), fermentation nutrients (yeast extracts, peptone, encapsulated nutrients, and lipid sources), health and nutrition (nutritional and probiotic yeast) and also feed health (pathogen binders, immune booster and semi-essential nutrients).

Ohly is the third largest yeast extract producer in the world with sites in Hamburg, Germany and Boyceville, Wisconsin USA. We develop, produce, and deliver high-quality yeast-based flavours and specialty powders. Ohly is part of the $18bn turnover Associated British Food (ABF) Group. ABF has a broad portfolio of businesses which includes Primark, Ovaltine, Twinings, AB Enzymes, and is the world’s second largest producer of both sugar and baker’s yeast. ABF takes a long-term perspective on investment and performance and stimulates entrepreneurship by giving high degrees of autonomy to operational businesses. This means that decisions are made as close as possible to their point of impact allowing teams the freedom to act, in order to be successfully flexible and fast. ABF invests a great deal in selecting and developing the right people for Ohly and the broader ABF group of companies.

Ohly Americas is looking for a Research & Development Manager to join our team! This position will be responsible for the development of culinary and nutritional powders as well as yeast extracts and derivates (including new processes). This position reports directly to the Global Innovations Director (GID) and will be based in Boyceville, Wisconsin, USA.

Main accountabilities and responsibilities include:

• Supervise Ohly Americas New Product Development (NPD) activities.
• Develop new products according to a global eligibility and priority program as a key member of the Global Innovations Team and in close relationship with the whole Innovation group.
• Scale up from lab to pilot plant scale.
• Maintain a network of strategic raw material suppliers.
• Perform research needed to ensure continuous improvement in quality, maximizing capacity, and minimizing costs of existing products.
• Lead or be a participant in global innovation projects.
• Subject matter expert for any technical question related to current and alternative drying processes.
• Run shelf-like tests and storage tests.
• Support food application and quality control with sensory tests.
• Have a good understanding of costing, legal, and quality constraints.
• Be the direct technical contact to key customers and toll manufacturers.
• Co-develop and monitor annual US NPD budget with the GID.
• Oversee continuous improvement of R&D capabilities in the US including lead for significant upgrade projects.
• Assist and be accountable for the industrial launch of every new product.
• Assist sales and technical sales of technical questions.
• Identify new promising trends.
• Be accountable for work and product safety in R&D pilot plant/lab.
• Actively participate in Ohly SAFE Program.
• Responsible to report food safety problems to personnel with authority to initiate action.
• Manage the US Innovation Team (at least 1 technician + interns).
• Provide appropriate development plans and training including annual performance reviews.
• Member of the Local Leadership Team (LLT).

Professional Experiences & Qualifications:

• Food Processing Engineer, MS in Biochemistry, Biocatalysis, Bioengineering or related field with at least 3-5 years industrial experience.
• Knowledge of spray drying processes.
• Proven experience in lab/pilot plant construction projects.
• Comprehensive verbal and written skills required.
• Creativity, with out-of-the-box way of thinking.
• Mechanical aptitude.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and prioritization skills required.
• Experiences in regulatory compliance.
• Experience in team management.
• Ability to train and coach interns.
• Domestic and international travel on occasion.
• Knowledge of blending, roller drying, agglomeration, packaging, and ultra -filtration highly preferred.
• Skills in the operation of analytical equipment are an asset.

Ohly operates based on our values of doing the right thing for our people, customers, and planet. We are committed to creating a diverse and welcoming workplace that includes colleagues with varied lifestyles, backgrounds, and experiences. We believe that enables us to better meet our values while innovating and delighting our customers throughout our global communities.

If you are an innovative and creative research and development professional interested in joining a global organization, please apply today!