Formulation Technologist GDC Condiments

Job Details

We are recruiting a Formulation Technologist for the Condiments Global Design Center (GDC), located at HIVE, Wageningen, The Netherlands.

About Foods R&D

Foods is the largest Business Group (BG) in Unilever with global multibillion-dollar brands such as Knorr and Hellmann’s and many strong regional and local brands. Foods R&D develops and delivers superior products and solutions rooted in differentiated science and technology. With our global innovation centre Hive in Wageningen, The Netherlands, and our network of R&D teams across the world, we work closely with many internal and external partners to create market-winning innovations. Increasingly, Digital and Data are central to how we work in R&D, from discovery through product development and deployment. New developments in AI and Data Science will be a crucial differentiator.

About Global Design Center (GDC) Foods - Condiments

The Global Design Centre (GDC) Condiments Innovation team leads the Global R&D program for Condiments and is the key business partner with Global Brand teams to drive and land Global Innovation Big Bets with impact and scale. The GDC Innovation team drives innovation of new product solutions in horizon 1 & 2 spaces to meet unmet consumer needs. We create proprietary technologies, science-based solutions, formulation designs and digitally embedded tools to deliver superior benefits and value to consumers through our products. We also lead the transformation of major product portfolios towards healthier, more sustainable, and flavorful offerings at affordable costs.

Job Purpose

If you are passionate about innovation and new technologies and want to work in a dynamic and diverse team, with a can-do, collective culture, and have the opportunity to develop yourself, this role offers that opportunity.

You will be responsible for developing and implementing new technologies to drive innovation and deliver globally superior products for fast-growing brands. In this role, you will focus on leveraging advanced technology solutions in collaboration with the cross-category design team as well as innovation teams, BUs, SC and relevant functions to ensure successful integration of novel approaches into the product portfolio.

This Formulation Technologist role requires a blend of technical expertise in condiments formulation and processing, along with solid analytical and digital skills for fast and high-quality experimentation at lab and pilot plant scale and thorough reporting of those experiments.

Main Responsibilities

The Formulation Technologist will join the Condiments Global Design Center (GDC) at HIVE in Wageningen, The Netherlands, reporting to Formulation Lead Condiments. The main responsibilities include:

• Formulation development for new Condiments technologies, innovations and renovations, enabling design and delivery of new product chassis in close collaboration with Cluster R&D, Science & Technology, Category Design and Capability teams.
• Independent set up and execution of experimental trials at laboratory and pilot plant scale and possibly support for factory trials.
• Brainstorming for new ideas, both for innovation as well as product and pack optimizations.
• Handling and administrative management of product samples.
• Execution and reporting of routine product analyses and shelf-life tests.
• Organizing tasting sessions and supporting consumer panel evaluations.
• Analysing data, drawing conclusions and reporting results according to agreed standards.
• Team presentations of achievements in internal meetings.
• Responsible for the maintenance of equipment and adhering to working procedures and designing and capturing new work procedures, as needed.
• Responsible for lab and product storage rooms, as needed.
• Ability to train others in working with related equipment and IT systems.

Key Requirements

Technical expertise

• Professional education, minimum HBO level, preferably in Food Technology, Food Science, Product Design, Food Engineering, Processing, or related areas.
• Affinity in food product development; experience on recipe design principles of emulsion-based products is a preference.
• Working knowledge of key processing equipment is preferred, preferably in Condiments/Food processing.
• Working knowledge of general IT tools is required, including structured data capturing in systems like LIMS or ELN, as well as hands-on experience of existing or upcoming software such as PLM, ELN, Minerva and Digital Analytics.
• Experience in developing design of experiments, conducting pilot and factory scale trials, setting up shelf life and stability tests and conducting analytical tests.
• Ability to organize own work agenda and set priorities.
• Ability to work on several sub-projects at the same time and organize this efficiently.
• Working experience within a multinational company and enjoying cultural diversity.
• Excellent team player, good communicator, with fluency in English, both written and spoken.

Physical Effort

The role is a mix of desk-based, laboratory, pilot plant and occasionally factory activities. Occasionally travel will be required to attend trials and supplier qualification. Tasting is part of the daily routine.

Key Competencies

• External orientation/Consumer orientation
• Goal oriented
• Analytical capability
• Team commitment
• Practical creativity