Research and Development Internship 26' - Product Development Chef (Hive)

Are you ready to kick-start your career at one of the world’s most iconic companies?

HIVE is Unilever’s Foods Innovation Centre and home to the product innovations of some of the world's favorite food brands like Knorr and Hellmann's.

As an intern in the Research and Development Department in the Hive, your ideas will drive impact, and your creativity will take center stage.

The team will provide you with opportunities to develop your skills in developing a comprehensive understanding of chefmanship within product development, focusing on culinary skills, digital skills, and tasting skills. You will gain hands-on experience in supporting tastings and culinary preparations linked to R&D innovations, and creating culinary briefs, concepts, and claims.

This isn’t just about learning – it’s about leading! Here’s what your journey will look like:

• Create culinary briefs of new products based on business partner inputs, culinary insights, cooking methods, and habits.
• Provide input for the generation of concepts, claims, and selling stories.
• Support various tastings and culinary preparations linked to R&D innovations.
• Prepare for tastings, showcasing UL innovations, and participate in organized tastings, contributing to shelf-life tests.
• Support culinary benchmarking, creative, and approval sessions in line with the recipe approval process.
• Provide culinary guidance and practical support to product developers.
• Define attributes such as taste, smell, and mouthfeel in tastings, applied to various technologies (dry, fresh, sterilized, pasteurized).

You’re the perfect fit if:

• You’re available for 5 to 6 months starting August-September 2026 (minimum 32 hours/week).
• You are enrolled (3rd or 4th year) in a Bachelor or Master program in Food Technology, Food Processing, or Culinary Arts.
• You are fluent in English and Dutch (spoken and written).
• You demonstrate basic culinary skills (handling knives, kitchen equipment, service).
• You have a great passion for food.
• You utilize basic digital skills (Windows, phone apps, camera handling, video and photo).
• You apply basic tasting skills (decode and describe what you are tasting).
• You maintain safety and hygiene standards.

Why you’ll love working with us?

• Travel reimbursement (if you don’t have a student travel card).
• Fun and engaging intern programs – onboarding, events, and activities with fellow interns.
• Access to extensive training programs for personal and professional growth.
• A flexible working environment tailored to your success.
• A behind-the-scenes experience at one of the world’s largest and most innovative FMCG companies.