Technical sales specialist, nutrition

As a Technical Sales Specialist (Nutrition) in China, you are part of our APAC Application & Technical Services Team.

This role takes charge of full-cycle technical service, formula development support, technical optimization, and commercialization application of functional foods of nutritional products.

It requires in-depth expertise in the core characteristics and application properties of the T&L product portfolio, and in fortified gummies, nutritional oral liquids, probiotic powders, and meal replacement powders.

The position is critical to comprehensively integrate downstream customer demands, market trends, food regulatory requirements, and production feasibility into daily technical service practices, continuously providing innovative, cost-effective, and compliant technical solutions, and driving product differentiation, technical iteration, and sustained market competitiveness for the company’s nutrition category business.

About You
We’re looking to recruit a Technical Sales Specialist (Nutrition) in China, reporting to the Snr Technical Sales Manager (Nutrition & Distribution) based in Shanghai.

About Us
At Tate & Lyle, our purpose is simple: Transforming Lives Through the Science of Food. With more than 165 years of ingredient innovation, we partner with leading food and beverage brands to create healthier, tastier and more sustainable products enjoyed by millions of people every day. Combining expertise in sweetening, mouthfeel and fortification, we help customers win on taste, nutrition and performance while making a positive impact on society and the planet. With approximately 5,000 colleagues across 75 locations in 38 countries, we're united by a shared commitment to innovation, collaboration and growth. Read on to learn how this opportunity can contribute to our purpose while helping shape the future of food.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Nutritional Product Technical Service & Support
  Conduct in-depth professional application research on the physical, chemical, functional, and application characteristics of nutritional products, focusing on fortified gummies, nutritional oral liquids, probiotic powders, and meal replacement powders.
  Provide comprehensive technical support and ingredient application solutions for B2B customers.
  Conduct ongoing customer technical troubleshooting, quickly identify and resolve product application problems, formula adaptation issues, and process bottlenecks (e.g., gummy syneresis, melting, taste-masking, active ingredient degradation, etc.).
  Dig out and summarize the core value proposition of our nutritional products, including functional advantages, application differentiation, and efficacy characteristics, to support sales promotion and customer project landing.
• Market Demand-oriented Technical Solution Development
  Continuously track global and Greater China functional food market trends, end-customer demands and competitor product dynamics, covering beverages, dairy, bakery, meal replacement and health food applications.
  Continuously track global functional food market trends, end-customer demands, and competitor product dynamics, covering confectionery, beverages, dairy, bakery, and health food applications.
  Convert market pain points and personalized customer requirements into clear technical directions and feasible product application plans.
  Carry out customized formula development support and technical iteration to launch differentiated nutritional products.
• End-customer Production Process Optimization & Industrialization Promotion
  Follow up bench tests, pilot trials, and mass production verification, and solve technical and process bottlenecks during industrial transformation.
• Project Management & Technical Documentation Management
  Manage end-to-end technical service projects, including project initiation, scheme formulation, progress tracking, phased review, and result delivery.
  Standardize and archive technical data, test reports, formula parameters, process documents, and technical manuals.
  Maintain standardized experimental records, accurate data documentation, and timely technical report sorting.
• Technical Project Work Initiation & Execution
  Initiate technical projects by defining clear objectives, scope, timeline and resource requirements.
  Independently deliver customer and internal R&D projects on time per agreed deliverables.
  Proactively communicate with customers and sales teams on trial progress, key findings and technical risks.
  Maintain standardized experimental records, accurate data documentation and timely technical report sorting.
• Customer Innovation & Concept Development Support
  Support customer innovation events and concept promotion to expand technical cooperation and business opportunities.
  Convert professional technology into practical, customer-oriented solutions by matching science with market needs.
  Develop innovative product concepts and prototype solutions aligned with company strategy and customer demands.

Location
This role is assigned to our China office located in Shanghai, Xuhui District

What You’ll have
Bachelor’s degree or above in Food Science and Engineering, Food Technology, Bioengineering, Nutrition, or other related fields. Master’s degree or above is highly preferred
Minimum 5 to 10 years of R&D or technical service experience in the functional food, dietary supplement, or nutritional ingredient industry. Candidates with a minimum of 3 years of specific experience in Fortified Gummies (in R&D, production, or technical service) with successful fortified gummy development, troubleshooting, and industrialization experience are highly prioritized.
In-depth understanding of product characteristics, functional mechanisms, and application scenarios of nutritional products, especially fortified gummies, oral liquids, probiotic powders, and meal replacements.
Capable of independent formula development support, product performance testing, technical problem analysis, and process optimization.
Market-driven technical service mindset.
Strong regulatory compliance awareness.
Excellent technology industrialization capability.
Effective cross-team collaboration skills.
Continuous technical innovation and problem-solving capabilities.
Familiar with domestic and international food ingredient regulations, industry standards, and quality management systems.
Possess strong market insight and the ability to convert market demands into executable technical solutions.
Excellent cross-functional communication and coordination capabilities.
Rigorous work attitude, clear logical thinking, capable of independently undertaking and delivering technical service projects.
Proficient in reading and comprehending English technical documents and global regulatory standards. Skilled in Office software and experimental data analysis tools.

Travel Requirement:
Approximately 10–20% (innovation workshops, pilot trials, customer co-creation)

What We Can Offer
Base salary with 13th month bonus + Sales Incentive Plan
High-end Insurance coverage
Hybrid working arrangements
Flexible benefits
LinkedIn Learning
Membership in Employee Resource Groups (Professional Women’s Network, LGBTQ+, Black Employee Network, Veterans’, Mental Health)
Mental health and well-being support via Mental Health First Aiders & Employee Assistance Program
Local volunteering opportunities (where applicable)

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Tate & Lyle is an equal opportunity employer, committed to the strength of an inclusive workforce.