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Manager Carbohydrate Ingredients - Decatur, IL
Decatur, IL, USA
USD 104,100-177k / year
Posted on Sep 11, 2026
Manager Carbohydrate Ingredients - Decatur, IL
Decatur
IL - Illinois
Research & Development
Job Description
Manager Carbohydrate Ingredients - Decatur, IL
This 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 Summary
We 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 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
- 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
ADM requires the successful completion of a background check.
REF:112815BR
Base pay offered may vary depending on multiple individualized factors, including market location, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. Hourly and salaried non-exempt employees will also be paid overtime pay when working qualifying overtime hours.
If hired, employees will be in an “at-will position” and the Company reserves the right to modify base pay (as well as any other discretionary payment or compensation program) at any time, including for reasons related to individual performance, Company or individual department/team performance, and market factors.
The pay range for this position is expected to be between:
$104,100.00 - $177,000.00
Salaried Incentive Plan
The total compensation package for this position will also include annual bonus
Benefits and Perks
Enriching the quality of life for the world begins by taking care of our colleagues. In addition to competitive pay, we support your diverse needs with a comprehensive total rewards package to enhance your well-being, including:
- Physical wellness – medical/Rx, dental, vision and on-site wellness center access or gym reimbursement (as applicable).
- Financial wellness – flexible spending accounts, health savings account, 401(k) with matching contributions and cash balance plan, discounted employee stock purchasing program, life insurance, disability, workers’ compensation, legal assistance, identity theft protection.
- Mental and social wellness – Employee Assistance Program (EAP), Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) and Colleague Giving Programs (ADM Cares).
- Paid time off including paid holidays.
- Adoption assistance and paid maternity and parental leave.
- Tuition assistance.
- Company-sponsored training and development resources, such as LinkedIn Learning, language training and mentoring programs.
#IncludingYou
Diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging are cornerstones of ADM’s efforts to continue innovating, driving growth, and delivering outstanding performance. We are committed to attracting and retaining a diverse workforce and create welcoming, truly inclusive work environments — environments that enable every ADM colleague to feel comfortable on the job, make meaningful contributions to our success, and grow their career. We respect and value the unique backgrounds and experiences that each person can bring to ADM because we know that diversity of perspectives makes us better, together.
We welcome everyone to apply. We are committed to ensuring all qualified applicants receive consideration for employment regardless of race, color, ethnicity, disability, religion, national origin, language, gender, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, sexual orientation, age, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law
About ADM
At ADM, we unlock the power of nature to provide access to nutrition worldwide. With industry-advancing innovations, a complete portfolio of ingredients and solutions to meet any taste, and a commitment to sustainability, we give customers an edge in solving the nutritional challenges of today and tomorrow. We’re a global leader in human and animal nutrition and the world’s premier agricultural origination and processing company. Our breadth, depth, insights, facilities and logistical expertise give us unparalleled capabilities to meet needs for food, beverages, health and wellness, and more. From the seed of the idea to the outcome of the solution, we enrich the quality of life the world over. Learn more at www.adm.com.
Req/Job ID
112815BR
#LI-Onsite
Ref ID
#LI-DR3