Mission (6 months) as R&I Liquid Process Technologist – Liquid Processing team

About the job

Are you ready for a challenging mission which gives the opportunity of connecting with a company-wide network, with high visibility? Then join us for a mission as Liquid Process Technologist in Research & Innovation in Utrecht, the Netherlands.

Starting October 1st

Context, challenges of the Department

The main missions of the R&I Advanced Technologies department are to:

• Create innovative and differentiating technological solutions to meet the needs of consumers and patients in an approach that integrates the OPOH strategic framework. The priorities of this Directorate include:

• Plant-based solutions
• Optimization of milk and dairy ingredients
• Packaging processing
• Development of innovative ingredients
• Development and mastery of technologies and processes allowing rapid innovation and time to market, excellence in execution and optimization of investments
• Simplification of developments through the creation and combination of high value-added technology elements

• Support the Teams of the Zones/CBUs in charge of short-term projects (H1) to find solutions to their problems when high-level expertise is required
• Develop and acquire leading capabilities, standards and systems based on digital tools in good coordination with D2D
• More specifically, the Advanced Technologies - Processes department is in charge of developing new manufacturing processes and technologies to support Danone's growth (liquid product production processes, concentration and centrifugation, extraction and filtration, fermentation / bioprocesses, etc.) as well as to develop a scientific approach to processes.

The position is part of the Advanced Technology Liquid Processing Team, the team of expertise for processes for milk, dairy ingredients and plant based, to support the WWBUs for product design and industrial efficiency.

In these fields, for Dairy, Plant-based and Specialized Nutrition, the Liquid Processing team:

• Delivers innovative and sustainable building blocks, ready to plug solutions for:
• product superiority
• processing efficiency
• microbiologically safe products - optimal heat treatment
• Ensures technical assistance to the WWBUs.

All via optimizing current processes or via introduction of new processes using a deep understanding of the effect each process parameter on the final product characteristics. The findings are captured in Global technological specification.

Your Mission:

• Research, test and optimize new as well as existing technologies for the treatment of liquid or semi-liquid products, with final aim to construct guidelines or global technological specifications for the process requirements
• Work in collaboration with the other experts of the Advanced Techno team as needed to obtain a solution involving the other unit operations and formulation.
• Manage synergies with other R&I and D2D functions (Engineering, Quality, Operations, C&P) to align with priorities and ensure effective ways to work as one team.
• Develop and capitalize the technological expertise of the Liquid Processing team.

The goal is either to obtain a superiority/competitiveness of our products, or a gain in productivity, or the contribution to the launch of a disruptive product innovation.

Main Responsibilities:

• Investigates innovative and unknown technologies at Danone, for all unit operations that concern liquid or semi-liquid products present in our manufacturing processes or necessary for a disruptive innovation.
• Builds collaborative projects with scientific institutes and equipment and technology suppliers to explore Danone's interest in targeted new technologies.
• Validates by internal or external tests, the interest for Danone of the technologies studied.
• In the case of an investment decision in these new technologies, establishes recommendations/guidelines to facilitate their implementation in the regions.
• Protects applications at Danone from new technologies tested, where relevant, with the support of IP and legal teams.
• Provides technical assistance during their implementation (audits, training, on-site support, etc.)
• Responsible for the drafting of WBSO files in his field of activity.
• Manages work packages of a project related to the Liquid team
• Organize pilot plant trials, analyse analytical and process data.
• Participate to the technology network and community of expertise
• Capitalize and formalize the technological know-how for the Advanced technology team.
• Carries out technological watch and technological capitalization on the area of competence of liquid processing technologies

About you

We are looking for an experienced and strong communicator:

• A Master degree in Food Technology, Biotechnology or Chemical Engineering.
• Has a strategic vision on new developments and innovations in the field of liquid and semi-liquid treatment processes in the food industry.
• Knowledge of the processes applicable to dairy products or products of plant origin is an additional asset.
• Good communication and networking skills.
• Able to look critically at the current product development process and challenge the status quo
• Able to anticipate risks and challenges and to proactively propose solutions to key stakeholders.
• Fluency in English (French is beneficial).
• Proactive, flexible, result oriented, problem solving and open minded.

About Danone

At Danone we are committed to our mission “bringing health, through food to as many people as possible”. We are working together to make sure that our brands, like Nutricia and Nutrilon, create real benefits for people, communities and the planet. You will be part of one of the largest Certified B Corps™ in the world. Being B Corp means to be part of a select movement of companies verified to be meeting the highest standards of social and environmental criteria and using business as a force for good.

Our state-of-the-art research and innovation center builds bridges between food and science and is global in reach, founded on over 125 years of experience in life and food science, technology and user experience and is at the forefront of pioneering advances in specialized nutrition.

We Offer

All Danoners receive a complete package of benefits. This includes a competitive salary and yearly bonus, a premium free pension, 30 days of annual leave (with the opportunity to purchase more) and you will receive a monthly health care allowance. In addition, you can get discount on your gym membership, and we offer initiatives focused on nutrition, physical, and mental health. We provide continuous learning opportunities through workshops, online courses and training sessions.

We put people at the center of everything we do. Bring your unique perspective, ambitions and ideas to the table – the impact you could make might surprise you.