Customer Master Data Jobs in Chicago, IL (NOW HIRING)

We are a global leader in food & beverage ingredients. Pioneers at heart, we operate at the forefront of consumer trends to provide food & beverage manufacturers with products and ingredients that will delight their consumers. Making a positive impact on people and planet is all part of the delight. With a deep-rooted presence in the countries where our ingredients are grown, we are closer to farmers, enabling better quality, and more reliable, traceable and transparent supply. Supplying products and ingredients at scale is just the start. We add value through our unique, complementary portfolio of natural, delicious and nutritious products. With our fresh thinking, we help our customers unleash the sensory and functional attributes of cocoa, coffee, dairy, nuts and spices so they can create naturally good food & beverage products that meet consumer expectations. And whoever we’re with, whatever we’re doing, we always make it real.

Reporting to the VP Innovation, Head of NA CSC, we are seeking a detail-oriented and systems-savvy Master Data Specialist to bridge between Research & Development (R&D) food product development and Information Technology, ensuring that all ingredient data, recipes, formulations, specifications, and development documentation are accurately captured, structured, and accessible. This role supports the New Product Development (NPD) team by building and maintaining digital systems that organize critical technical information, enabling faster innovation, improved traceability, and better decision‑making across the organization.

This role is critical to ensuring data integrity across systems and supporting cross-functional teams in R&D, Quality, Procurement, and Regulatory Affairs

*Onsite presence 5 days a week is required for this role

The ideal candidate has a strong understanding of food science or culinary product development, combined with the ability to work with data systems, digital tools, and structured documentation. They will function as the “librarian” and process owner for all R&D knowledge assets.

They will have a strong analytical mindset, a proactive approach to problem-solving, and experience working with complex data systems in a cross-functional environment.

Position Responsibilities:

•        Data & Knowledge Management

• Build, maintain, and continuously improve a centralized digital repository for ingredients, recipes, formulations, and process documentation.
• Create standardized naming conventions, metadata structures, and version‑control processes for all R&D documents.
• Ensure all ingredient specifications, COAs, nutritional data, allergen information, and regulatory documents are properly stored and linked.
• Maintain accurate version histories for formulas, prototypes, and scale‑up iterations.
• Partner with IT to configure or optimize PLM, ERP, or R&D data systems.

•        Support for Food Innovation & New Product Development

• Work closely with Food Scientists, Product Developers, and culinary teams to capture formulation changes, prototype notes, sensory results, and scale‑up learnings.
• Assist in documenting new ingredients, technologies, and processes evaluated during product development.
• Ensure all product specifications and development records comply with food safety and regulatory requirements.
• Help translate R&D insights into structured data that can be used by Operations, QA, Regulatory, and Supply Chain.

•        Systems & Technology Integration

• Serve as the R&D team’s point of contact for IT regarding system improvements, data migration, and digital tool adoption.
• Evaluate and recommend digital tools for recipe management, ingredient tracking, and documentation workflows.
• Train R&D staff on proper use of data systems and documentation standards.

•        Cross‑Functional Collaboration

• Collaborate with Marketing, Operations, QA, Regulatory, and Procurement to ensure data accuracy and alignment across departments.
• Support handoff of finalized formulas and specifications to manufacturing and commercialization teams.
• Work with suppliers to collect and maintain up‑to‑date ingredient documentation.

•        Ingredient and Recipe Documentation:

• Maintain and update ingredient and recipe records in systems such as Specright, SAP, Plex, and Genesis.
• Ensure completeness and accuracy of data including processing steps, part divisions, and scale-up readiness 

•        Specifications and COAs:

• Create and manage product and ingredient specifications, including nutritional and allergen information.
• Coordinate and validate Certificates of Analysis (COAs) from suppliers and internal labs.

•        Nutrition Calculation:

• Support nutrition labeling by calculating values based on ingredient data and recipe formulations.
• Ensure compliance with regional and global regulatory requirements.

•        3rd Party Ingredient Data Management:

• Collaborate with Supply Chain and external partners to gather and validate data for non-ofi ingredients 
• Ensure timely integration of third-party data into internal systems.

•        System Support and Data Governance:

• Serve as a subject matter expert for master data systems, supporting users and troubleshooting issues.
• Participate in data governance initiatives, including defining “done” criteria for data readiness and managing data lifecycle 

•        Cross-functional Collaboration:

• Work closely with Innovation, Quality, Procurement, and IT teams to align data needs and ensure consistency.
• Support new product development (NPD) by enabling fast and accurate access to ingredient and recipe data 

•          Perform other duties as assigned.

Position Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Data Management, or related field.
• 3+ years of experience in master data management, preferably in the food or CPG industry.
• Proficiency in data systems such as Specright, SAP, Plex, Genesis.
• Strong analytical skills and attention to detail.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills.
• Demonstrated ability to manage complex datasets and ensure data accuracy across multiple platforms.
• Experience supporting cross-functional teams including R&D, Quality, Procurement, and Regulatory Affairs.
• Familiarity with product lifecycle management (PLM) and specification systems.
• Ability to proactively identify data issues and implement corrective actions.
• Comfortable working in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment with shifting priorities.
• Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.

ofi provides employees with a comprehensive & competitive benefits package that is designed to support your career, health, and future. A Rewarding Career Awaits!    

The pay for this role ranges from $79,000 - $105,000 annually and is based on the position responsibilities and geographic location. Actual pay within this range may be determined based on the candidate's experience, qualifications, and/or other determining factors.  

Performance-based Bonuses: Discretionary bonus rewarding company performance as well as your contributions and impact, for eligible roles. 

Comprehensive & Affordable Benefits: Coverage for you (and your eligible dependents) with plans designed for peace of mind and savings for the future. 

A Culture of Well-being: Paid Volunteer time off, access to events, resources, and learning opportunities that inspire a physical, social, emot