Sr. Manager - Tea & Botanical Creation/Applications

SUMMARY: The Sr. ManagerTea & Botanical Creation/Applications is responsible for driving growth and commercial success through the creation of winning tea and botanical extract product solutions for customers. This critical role will help the FFP-Taste business achieve its financial goals by working with the Commercial, Operations, Creation/Applications, and Corporate R&D organizations. The role will work closely with FFP-Taste’s Business Development and Sales Teams to bring new product concepts and systems to customers, generate new winnable opportunities, and nurture those opportunities to successful closure with the customer. The Sr. Manager will also ensure excellence in customer project execution by managing sampling, project workflow, and related activities both individually and through their team within the business unit.

Skills, Traits, & Competencies:

• Proven track record in finished beverage product development
• Highly customer-centric. Proven ability to collaborate and partner with customers for growth
• Excellent knowledge of finished tea beverages, types of tea, and tea profiles. Excellent sensory capability.
• Strong presentation skills. Able to clearly present product concepts and supporting data / insights.
• Strong people leadership skills. Adept at managing execution through a team and growing talent.
• Strong project management skills
• Strong analytical, prioritizing, interpersonal, and problem-solving skills.
• Multitasks. Can handle multiple projects with changing priorities and frequent interruptions positively.
• Collaborative. Demonstrates a desire and ability to work well within a team.
• Detail oriented and excellent follow-through skills
• Ability to work under pressure.
• Ability to travel to customers and events in North America, as needed
• Self-motivated with critical attention to detail, deadlines, and reporting.

KEY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Provide technical leadership around the Tea & Botanical extract product line and related systems/solutions. Lead the technical team members supporting the product line.
• Work with Operations and Quality Control to ensure the quality of our finished products meets our customers standards.
• Formulate tea systems for use in food applications including but not limited to RTDs, Food Service items, Sweet goods and Dairy applications
• Develop finished Tea & Botanical beverages / systems for targeted customers
• Act as the FFP Tea & Botanical Technical Lead on customer projects
• Act as Technical expert on Tea & Botanical extracts, systems, and solutions (and associated production processes)
• Design finished products that showcase FFP flavors, ingredients, and technologies, including integrated solution systems, ensuring both their technical and commercial viability for operations.
• Actively participate as technical support to the selling team and develop strategic customer relationships and customer rapport.
• Design new finished products based on market trends for proactive external presentations, tradeshows, and internal meetings.
• Project Management: Manage customer briefs and champion the required actions to meet the project success criteria.
• Participate in work sessions with customers at FFP and at customer locations.
• Stay current with emerging academic and industry technical advancements and trends related to business.
• Maintain knowledge of the client’s strategies, brands, and products.
• Work with other business units to support their application needs.

Requirements

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

• 10 years of lab experience with a Bachelor’s degree in food science or related science; Masters preferred
• 7+ years Cross-Category CPG/Flavor industry experience, with experience in Tea & Botanical extracts

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Ability to maintain a sustained posture in a seated position for prolonged periods of time and operate computer equipment
• Ability to stand for prolonged periods of time and operate laboratory equipment
• Ability to occasionally stoop, kneel, crouch, crawl, climb, or balance
• Ability to lift 25 lbs.

Benefits

• Medical, Dental, Vision, and Prescription Drug Insurance on Day 1
• Health and Wellness Incentives
• 10 Days of PTO
• 10 Paid Company Holidays
• 5 Personal Days
• 401(k)
• Health Savings Account (H.S.A.)
• Long-Term and Short-Term Disability
• Life Insurance
• Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D)
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)