Senior Expert Flavour Science + Team Lead

Join FrieslandCampina as a Senior Expert Flavour Science + Team Lead

Senior Expert Flavour Science + Manager Food Analytics & Functionality

At FrieslandCampina we are seeking a dedicated and experienced flavour scientist with proven experience in leading teams of research specialists and lab technicians in the food industry. This role is based in our Innovation Centre in Wageningen. You will be part of the Leadership Team for R&D department Product & Taste.

What we ask

To become the Flavour Scientist, you are/have:

• MSc working level in (food) chemistry, or related field.
• Minimum 10 years of experience in flavour science / development, preferably in food industry in the field of flavours in dairy products.
• Experience in people line management roles and a passion for making people grow.
• In-depth understanding of chemical pathways in food & beverage systems and how to influence formation of desired taste components and prevention of unwanted off-flavours.
• Hands-on experience with flavour analytics techniques, in-depth understanding of GC-MS instruments (including high resolution mass spectrometry), eagerness to contribute part-time to the execution of tests in our analytical lab.
• Experience with root cause analysis of taste defects in food & beverage industry.
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Strategic thinker with a hands-on, pragmatic approach.
• Passionate about analytical techniques and innovation & renovation of dairy products.
• Strong conviction that R&D knowledge needs to result in business impact.

What we offer

• Unique company culture of Dutch heritage and international presence.
• We offer great work life balance, and competitive salary & benefits package. Competitive pension scheme, holiday allowance of 8% and bonus scheme.
• Diverse training and mentoring programs to help you grow on your own professional journey.
• A friendly and informal working environment, yet professional team members as sparring partners.
• An inspiring and multi-cultural work environment in our Innovation Centre.

Vacancy description

As a senior expert on flavour analytics & flavour science, you understand how to steer intrinsic dairy flavours with recipe and processing adjustments. In our analytical lab you guide and mentor lab technician(s) with flavour analytics techniques and you contribute part-time to the execution of tests. You contribute to innovation & renovation projects, aiming at creation of desired flavour profiles or prevention of off-flavour formation. In close collaboration with sensory experts and panel you demonstrate proof-of-principle for taste improvement.
With your know-how you also act as expert consultant in trouble shooting in diverse RCAs: defining root causes for quality deviations in commercial products or prototypes during R&D projects. This requires us to provide hands-on, fast and flexible response on incoming requests. You will deploy knowledge of our FrieslandCampina processes, recipes and products, steering more quickly towards likely cause of quality defects. If needed, you will steer external support via our network of 3rd party institutes with complementary capabilities. Finally, you provide recommendations for solving/preventing future quality issues.

As a manager you will lead a team of 7 lab technicians and 3 research specialists. The research specialists on food physics and chemical science & analytics provide business support and lead/contribute to mid-term research projects in our Joint Programs. Their job is to provide (mechanistic) understanding in relation to processing, applications and functionality/taste/nutrition.
The lab technicians in your team conduct physical, structural and chemical analyses. Part of the team specialises in physical characterization of food structures, using techniques like e.g. microscopy (CSLM), rheology, DSC and NMR. Other part of the team specialises in analytical determination of product composition (proteins, carbohydrates, fat, flavours and minor components) using techniques like e.g. HPLC, GC-MS and FTIR.

Key responsibilities:

As Flavour Scientist your key responsibilities will be:

• Lead the definition and execution of the flavour research activities of FrieslandCampina (for all business groups).
• Guide and mentor lab technician(s) with flavour analytics techniques.
• Represent the flavour analytics expertise in senior-level discussions and strategic planning. You define and present a roadmap for your field of expertise, including a vision for how science/technology is expected to develop and which activities we should deploy in upcoming years in research and development projects.
• Ensure smooth project execution and alignment with business goals; potential role as project leader.
• Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams including product development, supply chain, procurement and external partners.

As a team leader you:

• Lead and develop people.
• Promote a culture of continuous learning, innovation and teamwork.
• Promote collaboration of your analytical team members with the sensory specialists in our department.
• Act as lab coordinator for the physical & chemical labs.

Staying true to who you really are, that is your starting point at FrieslandCampina. Because it is precisely by embracing our differences that we can grow together. We want to create a working environment that allows all employees to bring their best and authentic selves. If who we are suits you, but you're not sure if you're the best fit for the role, we still encourage you to apply so we can help you find the role that fits you best.

Team Details

Want to work with colleagues from 32 nationalities in R&D who work together intensively in an inspiring environment? Then here is your opportunity. Our Innovation Centre in Wageningen consists of four parts: a large pilot plant with cooling and storage warehouses and three buildings in which the offices and the strictly hygienic laboratories are housed. Pedestrian bridges and atriums connect the different parts with each other. The centre also includes an experience centre, an innovation kitchen and a test bakery. Here, Consumers, Customers and Employees of FrieslandCampina from all over the world can experience our tasty products. In order to accelerate and strengthen our innovation process, we also work together with innovation partners such as Wageningen University & Research Centre, other knowledge institutes, our member dairy farmers, customers and suppliers in the Innovation Centre.

You will be part of the R&D Product & Taste team of about 40 R&D colleagues in the Innovation Centre of Wageningen and Development Centre of Singapore. R&D Product & Taste is an expert team that combines expertise on sensory and consumer behaviour with deep understanding of food physics & chemistry. At Product & Taste, we don’t just support product development for our business groups, we shape it. For optimizing flavour and texture, ensuring product stability and uncovering what truly drives consumer preference, we’re the trusted partner that turns knowledge faster into impact.

Contact

Anke Brink

anke.vandenbrink@frieslandcampina.com