Senior Product & Process R&D Specialist Dairy Alternatives

Location: Wageningen, Netherlands

Hybrid

About the position

We are looking for a technically strong and hands-on Senior Product & Process R&D Specialist to lead the assessment, validation, and onboarding of copackers from a processing, packaging and technology capability perspective. This role is critical in ensuring our external manufacturing partners meet the required standards for process robustness, scalability, and innovation readiness.

You will:

• Lead capability and technology assessments of potential and existing copackers, focusing on processing & packaging equipment, automation level, technical know-how, and innovation potential.

• Define and execute process validation protocols, including factory trials, scale-up runs, and performance qualification.

• Collaborate with Engineering, Quality, Procurement, Regulatory and Product & Packaging Development to ensure copackers are aligned with technical and operational requirements.

• Drive technology adaptation from internal development to external manufacturing, ensuring process integrity and product consistency.

• Identify and mitigate risks related to process variability, equipment limitations, and operational constraints.

• Support continuous improvement initiatives with copackers, leveraging data and technical insights to optimize performance.

• Maintain detailed documentation of validation activities, capability assessments, and technical onboarding.

So, what does it take to be successful in this role?

• MSc or PhD in Process Engineering, Food Technology, Chemical Engineering, or related field.

• Bachelor’s degree in Packaging engineering, materials science, or a related field is a plus

• 5 years of experience in process development, scale-up, and external manufacturing, preferably in the food or FMCG sector.

• Experience in dairy industry is a plus (Fermented products, cream cheese, creme fraiche)

• Strong expertise in processing technologies, factory validation, and copacker capability evaluation.

• Experience with product development is a plus, especially in translating product requirements into process specifications.

• Experience with packaging development and packaging materials is a plus

• Excellent analytical, project management, and stakeholder engagement skills.

• Willingness to travel internationally to support copacker onboarding and validation

• A results-driven attitude, with a focus on delivering practical, measurable outcomes

What’s next

If this position sounds interesting, please hit the apply button now! The deadline to apply is March 24th.

We understand your resume might not be up to date and recommend that you apply with what you have or your LinkedIn Profile. Flora Food Group is dedicated to building an inclusive and diverse workplace, we understand that you might not meet all the requirements stated in the description, but we encourage you to apply anyway. You might be the right candidate for this role or other roles. 

Flora Food Group is an employer committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace and equal opportunities for all. We recruit based only on values, qualifications, performance, skills, behaviours, experience, and knowledge. We ensure job advertisements are free from unintentional bias.

No personal characteristics should be a barrier to joining Flora Food Group. We prohibit discrimination and harassment based on race, color, sex, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, or other personal characteristics.