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General
Summary
The
Applications Technologist provides essential support to our customers,
internal and external, in the pursuit of profitable growth for our
customers. Due to the high volume of requests and FONAs customer centric
culture, this position requires urgency, flexibility, and responsiveness.
This
position is primarily responsible for producing and selecting the
appropriate prototype products and flavors to support the customer needs,
assist in prototype formulation, flavor application and building
technical credibility with external customers through project
interaction.
Principal
Accountabilities
Provide
technical support to the business unit group. This technical support
delivers timely and sufficient detailed information to allow for meeting
the customers needs on a daily basis.
Project
Completion
– Utilize basic prototypes to evaluate selected or new flavors based on
knowledge of the project/opportunity/sample request from entry to close
while employing internal procedures to ensure timely completion and communication
of any changes. Modify/create application prototypes to optimize flavor
delivery as needed and within boundaries to meet customer requests.
Develop close outs based on established procedures. Request required
technical sheets to be submitted with the sample. Participate in
marketing initiatives by providing input on feasibility and capabilities
understood for the business unit group. Develop and deliver proactive
segment focused demos or samples to showcase internal technical
competency.
Ingredient
Knowledge
– Continuously improve basic ingredient knowledge and functionality.
Understand the appropriate medium for screening and evaluation of
flavors, develop new mediums as new ingredients/segments are identified;
Actively work with Technology and Innovation to develop an understanding
of pending technologies and how those technologies apply to the business
unit group in order to continuously offer our customers new solutions;
Participate in Center of Excellence Meetings to share knowledge of new ingredients/application
formula and flavor created within a business unit group.
Data
Management
– Maintain documentation of all formulations in formula management system
to allow for continued support of customer needs and maintain a reliable
history of customer activity & support; Maintain other project/sample
request information history and flow of customer-specific information
into formula management system; Utilize best practices in updating
pertinent information regarding samples submitted or flavor descriptions
into the Application Notes section of the formula management system.
Lab
Maintenance – Depending
on the business unit group structure, may provide direction to other
levels or may perform the duties required to support a well stocked and maintained lab area for those tasks
that should be completed daily, weekly and monthly. Maintain own area in
lab organizing new stock etc. Accountable for the scale calibration of
all lab scales on a weekly basis, Perform basic testing (i.e. flashpoint,
specific gravity, brix, temperature measurement, and caliper
measurements); Investigate and recommend new equipment as needed to
better support the market segments.
Reporting
/ Analysis
– Proficient at obtaining necessary project information, including flavor
numbers, usage rates, application, and rating of flavor to allow for
quick reference in future projects, opportunities or sample requests.
Continuously support the development of FlavorUniversity
initiatives for customer specific and general educational presentations;
Identify solutions that can be leveraged across the markets and segments
within the business unit group.
FONA
Culture and Development
- Active participation in sensory panels both formal and informal in
support of customer projects; Begin to build customer intimacy and
technical credibility through project support, presentations, maintaining
technical key contacts, and Flavor Heavens which can be at FONA or at the
customers facility; Actively build technical credibility through
presenting in Flavor University and Speakers Bureau, and participation in
other industry events; Active participation in industry association
relevant to the market segment, professional organizations, or flavor
industry; Actively demonstrate willing, able, growing, future potential,
financially contributing, and commitment to FONA. Continually grow and
develop through continuing education courses and learning opportunities
offered through FONA and outside professional organizations.
Job
Competencies
- Must understand the appropriate
level of urgency based on the needs of the customer and the
alignment with the business unit group goals; must demonstrate
urgency and responsiveness to address customer and business group
needs expeditiously and effectively.
- The ability to work on multiple
projects simultaneously while maintaining the ability to redirect
efforts based upon shifting demands.
- Ability to collaborate and
network with business colleagues to build constructive, proactive
working relationships across the organization.
- Possess analytical skills
to discern/diagnose trends and issues and use past historical
references as a guide.
- Well-organized and exercise
sound judgment in decision-making.
- Software proficiency in
Microsoft Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and Formula Management system. In
absence of knowledge related to one or more of the above software
systems, must demonstrate ability to learn the needed software
system.
- Ability to proficiently and
accurately calculate figures, discounts, interest, commissions,
proportions, percentages, area, circumference and volume (including
algebra and geometry).
- Ability to accurately
perform routine data entry in a proficient manner, and data
management auditing and review.
- Ability to work within
teams in both leadership and supportive roles (project dependent).
- Ability to work
independently with minimal supervision and provide direction to
technicians.
- Ability to communicate
effectively both verbally and in writing.
Position Scope:
Projects
are simple to moderately complex in nature and require close to moderate
supervision, may manage a few simple projects.
Working
Conditions
Typical
lab environment with frequent interaction in an office and occasional
interaction in a manufacturing environment. Need for lifting up to 40
lbs. is helpful to carry out all duties.
Must
understand material and equipment hazards and perform duties in a safe
manner utilizing recognized safe practices and/or appropriate personal
protective equipment. Must promptly notify supervisor of any unsafe acts
or conditions.
Disclaimer
The
above information on this description has been designed to indicate the
general nature and level of work performed by employees within this
classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a
comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities and
qualifications of employees assigned to this job.
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