Job DescriptionManager Carbohydrate Ingredients - Decatur, ILThis is an exempt level position.
ADM has an opening for a Group Manager, Food Ingredients at our Corporate Research Center located in Decatur, IL. The position reports directly to the Group Director and supports research and development activities across food ingredient systems, including sweeteners, starches, milling, flour functionality, and baking applications.
Position SummaryWe are seeking an experienced and collaborative technical leader to manage, mentor, and develop a team of scientists responsible for food-focused research and application development. This team supports innovation, product development, customer solutions, and technical service across two key areas:
- Sweeteners and starches for food and beverage applications, including ingredient functionality, formulation support, process interactions, and customer-driven solutions
- Milling and baking technologies, primarily focused on wheat-to-flour-to-bread product systems, flour quality, dough performance, and finished baked goods applications
The successful candidate will provide technical leadership, people management, resource planning, project prioritization, and safety oversight for scientists working across laboratory, pilot-scale, and application development activities. Technical expertise is desired in food science, carbohydrate chemistry, starch and sweetener functionality, cereal science, milling, flour characterization, dough rheology, baking performance, and food ingredient applications.
The Group Manager will be an integral member of the broader Research & Development organization and will collaborate with technical leaders, scientists, applications teams, process development groups, quality teams, operations stakeholders, and commercial colleagues to advance ADM's food ingredient technologies and grain-based solutions.
Job Responsibilities- Perform all job functions in accordance with company safety guidelines and act as a functional safety leader for the Food Ingredients Science team
- Lead, mentor, and develop a team of scientists supporting research, product development, applications, analytical testing, and technical service activities
- Collaborate with Group Managers, Technical Managers, Research Scientists, Commercial Teams, Operations, Quality, and Manufacturing stakeholders to align technical work with business priorities
- Prioritize team resources across multiple projects, customer requests, technology platforms, and strategic initiatives
- Develop and maintain a long-term capability plan for the team, including staffing, technical expertise, equipment, analytical tools, application capabilities, and pilot-scale support needs
- Ensure laboratories, equipment, instrumentation, and pilot-scale assets are maintained in proper working order and aligned with current and future research and application needs
- Oversee scientific activities supporting product development, process development, application testing, customer troubleshooting, formulation support, and technology transfer
- Interface with Technical Managers, Commercial Teams, Customer Support, Operations, and Quality stakeholders to advance ADM technologies toward commercial success
- Ensure scientists, technicians, contract employees, and other coworkers follow ADM laboratory standards, safety practices, food safety expectations, and documentation requirements
- Participate in and lead safety reviews, risk assessments, management of change activities, food safety assessments, and continuous improvement efforts
- Foster a culture of collaboration, accountability, technical excellence, scientific curiosity, continuous improvement, and uncompromising commitment to safety
Skills and Proficiencies- Ph.D. or MS in food science, cereal science, chemistry, chemical engineering, biochemistry, grain science, agricultural engineering, or a related physical science or engineering discipline with at least 5 years of relevant managerial experience
- Advanced degree supplement: Ph.D. + 5 years, MS + 8 years
- Previous management, supervision, and/or mentoring experience is preferred
- Demonstrated experience leading scientists, technical teams, or project teams supporting research, applications, product development, analytical, or pilot-scale activities
- Technical knowledge in one or more of the following areas is preferred: starch chemistry, sweeteners, carbohydrate functionality, hydrocolloids, food ingredient systems, cereal science, milling, flour quality, dough rheology, baking applications, texture analysis, shelf-life evaluation, or food product development
- Experience guiding team members and technical projects that contributed to product development, customer support, process development, application development, or commercial success
- Strong leadership skills with the ability to encourage open collaboration, promote constructive feedback, manage competing priorities, and motivate a diverse group of scientists and technical professionals
- Knowledge of laboratory safety, food safety, chemical hygiene, hazardous material handling, allergen control, sanitation practices, and hazard communication requirements and procedures
- Solid understanding of data analysis tools, statistical software, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams, and Microsoft Office applications
- Ability to function independently while interacting effectively with ADM management, facility management, research teams, commercial teams, operations stakeholders, quality teams, customers, external collaborators, and contract employees
- Effective written and verbal communication skills with the ability to engage colleagues across research, applications, operations, commercial groups, and external organizations
- Uncompromising commitment to safety
Excited about this role but don't think you meet every requirement listed? We encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this role or another one of our openings.
ADM requires the successful completion of a background check.
REF:112815BR
