Senior Cocoa & Chocolate Scientist
Location: London
Protea Recruitment is delighted to be partnered exclusively with a global FMCG business to recruit a Senior Cocoa & Chocolate Scientist to join a highly innovative global R&D and technology function.
This is a unique opportunity to join a business investing heavily in breakthrough innovation, sustainability and future-focused product development across confectionery and baked categories.
The successful candidate will play a key role in building technical expertise around cocoa materials and chocolate technologies, translating scientific understanding into commercially scalable products and innovative solutions.
This is not a traditional NPD role. The position sits within a global innovation team focused on long-term technology platforms, ingredient innovation and sustainable cocoa solutions.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead the development and optimisation of cocoa blends and chocolate systems across confectionery and baked applications
- Build and share technical expertise around cocoa processing methods, materials science and emerging technologies
- Support breakthrough innovation projects focused on sustainability, functionality and product performance
- Lead bench development, pilot plant trials and factory scale-up activities
- Provide technical solutions to product and processing challenges
- Collaborate closely with procurement, sensory, supply chain, quality and commercial teams
- Work with external suppliers and technology partners to identify new opportunities and best practices
- Support the development of proprietary technologies and patentable innovation opportunities
- Manage technical project plans and support delivery of long-term innovation roadmaps
About You
We are keen to speak with candidates who have experience within chocolate, confectionery, cocoa ingredients or related food technology environments.
Experience & Skills Required
- Strong technical understanding of cocoa and chocolate technologies
- Experience working within confectionery, chocolate or ingredient-led FMCG environments
- Knowledge of chocolate processing, formulation and scale-up
- Hands-on pilot plant and factory trial experience
- Strong problem-solving and technical troubleshooting capability
- Experience working cross-functionally within fast-paced innovation environments
- Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills
- Passion for innovation, sustainability and emerging food technologies
This is an exciting opportunity to join a forward-thinking business working on transformational innovation projects with genuine global impact.
For a confidential discussion, please apply or contact Protea Recruitment directly.
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