12 month Junior Research Scientist Level Industrial Placement

ASR Group is the world’s largest refiner and marketer of cane sugar, with an annual production capacity of more than 6 million tons of sugar. The company produces a full line of grocery, industrial, food service and specialty sweetener products. Across North America, ASR Group owns and operates six sugar refineries, located in Louisiana, New York, California, Maryland, Canada and Mexico. In the European Union, the company owns and operates sugar refineries in England, Portugal. ASR Group also owns and operates mills in Mexico and Belize. The company’s brand portfolio includes the leading brands Domino®, C&H®, Redpath®, Tate & Lyle®, Lyle’s® and Sidul®.

POSITION SCOPE

Reporting to the EU NPD Research Manager, the Junior NPD Scientist works within the New Product Development Team and supports new and existing product development projects. The role involves laboratory work and maintaining the NPD Laboratory in compliance with GLP/GMP rules and regulations.

EDUCATION & SKILL SET

• On track to achieve an expected “A” Level / HND / BTEC / Degree results educated in a science/engineering subjects (or in a Food/Nutrition related subjects)
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, specifically Excel, Word, PowerPoint and Outlook; SAP systems etc..
• Some knowledge of product development and processes.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
• Ability to work under supervision, unsupervised and prioritise the workload to meet project objectives.
• Adaptable and able to work under pressure to meet tight deadlines.
• Strong organisational skills
• Driven individual who is willing to learn and progress their career within NPD.
• Comfortable presenting to their NPD colleagues.

EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS

• Entry-level role, so no prior salaried NPD work experience is required. However, experience in product development at university/summer internship is preferred but not essential.
• Passion for new product development and design. (Focus on sugar or beverage based development desired but not essential).
• Interest in building a career within the Food or FMCG Industry.
• Basic knowledge of food manufacturing, from ingredients & packaging materials to processing, as part of a university course.

ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES

• Collects samples and prepare products for testing and trial runs.
• Designs and executes basic experiments to test a hypothesis.
• Develops and implements experiments while preserving a safe and accident free laboratory environment.
• Supports scale-up of Product trials at our EU sites (including co-packers).
• Working with Research. Scientist 2 and NPD Managers to support trial planning by completing and circulating trial request forms, booking time in manufacturing and ordering trial materials to arrive on site.
• Attends trials, takes measurements during the trial, coordinates inputs from other functions, and produces a final trial report for circulation to key stakeholders.
• Determines the materials and formulations costs for a given finished good.
• Produces bench scale samples to support Product development.
• Execute sensory & consumer testing - qual & quant.
• Performs analytical testing to support project work and factory technical support projects.
• Produces reports that detail methodology and conclusions/recommendations (includes sensory testing, shelf life testing and simple laboratory analysis, e.g. moisture, pH, BRIX).
• Support Sales and Marketing by producing and sending customer samples on time.
• Plays a key role in maintaining the laboratory & storerooms to the appropriate hygiene and housekeeping standards.
• Maintains the service/calibration records of all lab equipment, including training and repairs.
• Maintain stocks of critical raw materials and samples.
• Creates and maintains Lab SOPs and ensures documentation alignment with the global NPD teams & R&T.
• Applies logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems and proactively address issues.
• Keeps manager informed both verbally and in writing of issues within assigned area of responsibility; escalates issues beyond the scope of authority as needed

ESSENTIAL CAPABILITIES

• Analytical Thinking & Decision Making – Identifies and understands trends and/or issues; connects data points through analysis to arrive at a logical conclusion.
• Effective Communication – Expresses ideas and information clearly and concisely by tailoring one's message to fit the interests and needs of the audience.
• Establishes Trust – Gaining the confidence and faith of others by actions and words that promote being honest, forthcoming, integrious and vulnerable.
• Teamwork & Collaboration – Creates a climate that fosters a commitment to a common vision and shared values that promote cooperation and working together through trust and support of others.
• Adaptability/Flexibility – Maintaining effectiveness in varying environments and with different tasks, responsibilities, and people.
• Self-Development – Seeks feedback on one’s strengths and weaknesses and initiates activities to increase or enhance their knowledge, skills, and proficiency in order to perform more effectively or enhance their career.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY

• This role has no supervisory responsibility.

TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS

• Less than 5% travel for business meetings; travel frequency will be minimal and will be based on business needs.

At Tate & Lyle Sugars, the group's values are the cornerstone of our success.

Leadership - our goal is to be the leader in every arena in which we compete. Teamwork - our strength is magnified when we work together. Integrity - honesty and trust are the foundation of our success.Service - we know that the people and communities in which we operate are crucial partners to our success. Sustainability - the member companies of ASR Group are committed to sustainable agricultural and business practices.