ADM

Senior Scientist CD&D Bakery Color - Erlanger, KY

ADM$90K — $120K *
Food & Beverages
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree or higher in Food Science, Chemistry, or a related field
  • 5-10+ years in food applications with a focus on bakery and/or cereal systems
  • Expertise in color application, stability, and troubleshooting
  • Experience with natural colors and FD&C replacement strategies preferred
  • Deep understanding of bakery and cereal formulation, processing technologies, and color chemistry principles

Responsibilities

  • Design and execute experiments evaluating color performance in bakery and cereal systems
  • Assess color stability under critical conditions like moisture levels and thermal processing
  • Generate actionable insights to inform formulation recommendations
  • Act as the go-to expert for color applications in bakery and cereal
  • Lead troubleshooting for color consistency and degradation challenges
  • Partner with customers' R&D teams to support transitioning to natural colors
  • Identify gaps in color portfolio and collaborate on new solutions

Benefits

  • Opportunity to innovate in the fast-evolving natural colors space
  • Engagement in hands-on experimental design and product development
  • Collaboration with cross-functional teams for full-spectrum project support
  • Leadership role influencing industry standards and practices
  • Professional growth through technical expertise and customer-facing opportunities
Full Job Description
Job Description

Senior Scientist, CD&D Bakery Color - Erlanger, KY

Position Overview:
The CD&D Colors Application Scientist (Bakery & Cereal) serves as a technical subject matter expert in color application across bakery and cereal systems, delivering innovative, scalable solutions that meet evolving regulatory, consumer, and customer demands.
This role focuses on natural color performance across bakery and cereal platforms (e.g., cakes, cookies, icings, fillings, extruded cereals, coated cereals, bars), translating color science into robust, commercially viable applications.
The ideal candidate combines expertise in bakery and cereal formulation and processing with deep knowledge of color chemistry to address stability, shade and performance challenges in complex thermal and low-moisture systems.

Key Responsibilities:
  • Application Development & Technical Expertise
    • Design and execute experiments evaluating color performance n bakery and cereal systems (high vs. low moisture, baked vs. extruded, dough vs. coating applications).
    • Assess color stability under critical conditions, including
      • Water activity and moisture migration)
      • Thermal processing (baking, extrusion)
      • Ingredient interactions and shelf-life stability
      • Storage conditions and oxidation
    • Evaluate color interactions with ingredients such as flours, sugars, fats, proteins, leavening systems and inclusions
    • Generate actionable technical insights to guide formulation recommendations and optimize performance
  • Subject Matter Leadership - Bakery & Cereal
    • Act as the go-to expert for bakery and cereal color applications across CD&D and commercial teams.
    • Lead troubleshooting for complex challenges, including:
      • Color degradation under high heat processing
      • Variability due to Maillard browning and base matrix color
      • Shade consistency across scale-up and production
    • Develop and maintain best practices and application guidelines for internal and external stakeholders.
  • Customer Collaboration & Commercialization
    • Partner directly with customers' R&D teams to deliver Concept-through-Commercialization support, particularly in transitioning to Natural Colors
    • Translate technical findings into clear, concise customer-ready recommendations.
    • Support customer engagements, including pilot and plant trials, lab work and technical presentations.
    • Enable commercial success through fit-for-purpose color solutions that meet cost, performance and regulatory needs.
  • Innovation & Portfolio Development
    • Identify gaps and emerging needs in the bakery & cereal color portfolio (i.e. clean label, heat-stable colors, etc).
    • Collaborate with Color and Product Development teams to:
      • Develop new bakery- and cereal-ready color solutions
      • Enhance stability in demanding conditions (i.e. high heat, low moisture, etc)
    • Contribute to innovation pipelines aligned to key trends and customer needs (i.e. better-for-you baked goods, protein-enriched products, snack and cereal innovation, etc)
  • Cross-Functional Partnership
    • Work closely with internal CD&D, Regulatory, Marketing and Commercial teams to ensure alignment between technical abilities and commercial strategy.
    • Contribute to the development of technical training materials and best-practice guides for color use.
Qualifications
  • Bachelor's or higher in Food Science, Chemistry or related field.
  • 5-10+ years in food applications, with strong focus on bakery and/or cereal systems
  • Demonstrated expertise in color application, stability and troubleshooting
  • Experience with natural colors and FD&C replacement strategies strongly preferred
  • Deep knowledge of:
  • Bakery and cereal formulation and processing technologies
  • Color chemistry and stability principles
  • Ingredient interactions in complex, low-moisture systems
  • Hands-on experience with:
  • Bench and pilot-scale baking and/or extrusion systems
  • Analytical and sensory evaluation of color performance
Key Competencies
  • Strong problem-solving and experimental design capability
  • Customer-facing communication skills (executive and technical audiences)
  • Ability to translate technical insights into commercial impact
  • Collaborative mindset across global teams
Success Profile
  • Recognized internally and externally as a bakery & cereal color expert
  • Drives high win rates through technically differentiated solutions
  • Accelerates customer conversions to natural colors
  • Demonstrates strong linkage between technical delivery and revenue generation

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.

REF:110025BR

About ADM

Archer Daniels Midland Company offers food ingredients, animal feeds and feed ingredients, biofuels, and other products. ADM transforms natural products into a complete portfolio of ingredients and flavors for foods and beverages, supplements, nutrition for pets and livestock, and more. It was formed in 1902 and headquartered in Chicago, Illinois.

ADM Careers

There has never been a more exciting time to explore the job opportunities at ADM, a global leader in nutrition and agricultural processing. As a company committed to growth, innovation, and sustainability, ADM offers a unique platform for professionals to advance their careers in a dynamic and supportive environment. Work You’ll Do Join ADM’s industry-leading team to help address some of the most pressing challenges of our time, from food production to sustainable energy. At ADM, you can transform industries and foster a healthier future, leveraging our global scale and deep industry expertise. Lead with Innovation and Leadership At ADM, you are positioned to lead at the nexus of agricultural expertise and cutting-edge innovation. Our leadership in the market is driven by our commitment to innovation and diversity, ensuring that we meet global demands sustainably and efficiently. Engage with a Global Team Collaborate with over 33,000 dedicated professionals around the world who are united in their passion for delivering results and making a meaningful impact. ADM’s culture fosters a collaborative and inclusive workplace where diverse ideas lead to extraordinary outcomes. Introducing the ADM Professional Growth Pathways We are dedicated to nurturing the professional growth of our employees through unmatched training, leadership development programs, and diversity training. ADM’s commitment to professional development ensures that your career is future-proof, allowing you to evolve with the industry and our company. Do Meaningful Work Engage in work that matters with a team that values innovation and practical solutions. At ADM, your efforts contribute directly to creating a more secure and sustainable world, from improving global food supply chains to pioneering new bio-solutions. Be Part of a Great Team Experience the power of teamwork at ADM, where our collaborative environment is enhanced by diverse perspectives and a shared commitment to excellence. Our team’s unparalleled capabilities in agribusiness drive our ability to meet the needs of a growing world. Explore Career Opportunities From internships to full-time positions, ADM offers a variety of entry points for individuals at all stages of their careers. Whether you’re refining your skills or ready to lead, find the position that matches your career ambitions at ADM. Stay Connected Join Our Team Search open positions that match your skills and interests. We look for passionate, curious, and solution-driven team players who are ready to make a difference. SEARCH ADM JOBS Keep Up to Date Stay informed with career tips, insider perspectives, and industry-leading insights you can put to use today—all from the people who work here. READ CAREERS BLOG Job Alert Emails Customize your subscription to receive job alerts, the latest news, and insider tips tailored to your preferences. Discover the exciting and rewarding career opportunities that await you at ADM.
Learn more about ADM
Size
41,000 employees
Market Cap
$52 billion
Industry
Net Income
$1.7 billion
Founded
1902
5 Year Trend
+6.5%
Revenue
$64.3 billion
NASDAQ

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