Senior Clinical Study Researcher

Research & Innovation

As Senior Clinical Study Researcher, you will provide scientific and methodological clinical expertise across different phases of our research and innovation projects.

• Netherlands
• Utrecht
• On-site
• Permanent Full-Time

About the job

With your solid experience in clinical study methodology and strong scientific skills, you will translate business needs into relevant and fit-for-purpose evidence plans. Your work will cover study design, protocol development, statistical analysis planning, interpretation and reporting of study results, in accordance with applicable legislation and Standard Operating Procedures.

You will work in close collaboration with scientists, Clinical Study Managers, Data Managers, Statisticians, cross-functional business teams and other stakeholders across Danone to ensure the right data is collected.

In this role, you will combine scientific rigour with strong business acumen. You will actively build your understanding of the medical nutrition category, our product portfolio and the commercial context. Working with cross-functional partners, you will identify evidence needs and help shape evidence strategies that support meaningful innovation, differentiation and business impact.

Key Responsibilities

• Shape fit-for-purpose evidence plans. Build a strong understanding of medical nutrition science and the business, including category dynamics, portfolio priorities and stakeholder needs. Use these insights to co-create evidence plans with scientific, medical, regulatory, marketing and other business partners.
• Drive clinical research methodology. Provide methodological and scientific support throughout all phases of clinical studies, evaluate study hypotheses, assess protocol feasibility and contribute to investigator selection. As part of multidisciplinary teams, you will help drive methodological decisions while safeguarding the scientific quality of your studies.
• Identify the right evidence-generation approach. Determine and apply the most appropriate approach for the business question, combining traditional clinical studies with innovative study designs, evidence synthesis, real-world evidence and existing internal or external data sources where relevant.
• Interpret and communicate scientific evidence. Interpret study results and write clinical study reports, abstracts and manuscripts. You will liaise with doctors, scientists and healthcare professionals and build internal and external networks with Key Opinion Leaders, investigators, experts and other relevant stakeholders.
• Strengthen clinical research capability. Supervise and mentor other and new Clinical Study Researchers, while monitoring emerging clinical evidence and study designs in medical nutrition and bringing relevant external developments and perspectives into Danone.

About you

You are passionate about making a difference to health and bringing strong clinical evidence to products and services. With significant experience in clinical research and a thorough scientific understanding of study methodology, clinical research and scientific literature, you are comfortable translating complex scientific questions into relevant evidence approaches.

Scientific rigour comes naturally to you, alongside the curiosity to understand the medical nutrition business, its strategic priorities and commercial context. You are able to balance scientific quality and clinical study design with feasibility, timelines and business relevance.

A pragmatic and adaptable mindset helps you navigate changing business needs, while your precision, analytical thinking and collaborative approach enable you to solve complex challenges and work effectively with a broad range of stakeholders.

Must-haves

• A university degree and/or PhD in life sciences or a related scientific discipline, combined with strong experience in international clinical research within an academic setting, the pharmaceutical or biopharmaceutical industry, or another relevant research environment.
• Thorough scientific knowledge of study methodology and clinical research, including the interpretation and application of scientific literature and data, with the ability to monitor emerging clinical evidence and study designs in medical nutrition and bring relevant external insights into Danone.
• Knowledge of ICH-GCP guidelines, applicable clinical research legislation and medical writing, with excellent written and spoken English for developing protocols, study documents, papers and reports, as well as delivering presentations.
• Strong medical nutrition science and business acumen and curiosity, with the ability to understand strategic and commercial priorities and connect them to relevant evidence opportunities.
• Ability to balance scientific and medical nutrition insights, clinical study design and quality, feasibility, timelines and business relevance, supported by strong analytical, organisational and communication skills.

Nice-to-haves

• Expertise or previous experience within the medical nutrition field.
• Hands-on experience with a range of research designs and evidence-generation methods, including interventional and observational studies, pragmatic or decentralised approaches, systematic reviews and meta-analyses, real-world evidence and real-world data, and secondary analyses of existing datasets or other relevant data sources.
• Demonstrated experience building a network of Key Opinion Leaders, investigators and experts within a relevant scientific or therapeutic area.
• Experience supervising or mentoring other Clinical Study Researchers or scientific colleagues.

About Danone

Our state-of-the-art research and innovation center builds bridges between food and science and is global in reach 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.