Associate Specialist

Main Purpose of the role

We are looking for a new colleague who will join our Group R&D Hard Boiled Candy, Lollipop and Tabs team.

The new colleague will be responsible to drive NPD, Technology Platforms, Value Engineering and Technological support activies of low/medium complexity, under the supervision of the Group R&D Manager, from formulation development to industrial line start up, ensuring expected consumer product experience and on time delivery.

What you will do

• Participate in new product and process development of the assigned category, in compliance with Group & Local strategies during the whole Stage & Gate process from lab till post launch;
• Design recipes with the supervision of Group R&D HBC/Tablet Manager. Make sure that new products are aligned with Group R&D policies regarding ingredients, claims and nutritional contents. Make sure to consider industrial process & machines implications when designing a new product, as well as shelf life stability in the defined packaging format;
• Cooperate to innovate or to improve quality and cost of edible part, also keeping contacts with external suppliers for identifying new ingredients opportunities;
• Lead the laboratory activities of the assigned category, for new recipes or improvement of existing ones; prepare experiments plan, recipes and procedures; record accurately experimental objectives, methods, results and conclusions;
• Contribute to design new manufacturing line or upgrade/improve the existing, in close cooperation with R&D Manager, Group Engineering and PEC (Process Excellence Center), starting with process flow chart drafting
• Initiate ideas or participate actively to projects to reduce waste, increase quality and efficiency and monitor execution of existing processes
• Support manufacturing locations in new industrial line startup or production transfers.
• Support PEC with information and brainstorming sessions to optimize new /existing processes
• Prepare technical reports and presentations for internal discussions with stakeholders
• Contribute to build up-to-date knowledge and technology scouting in the areas of raw materials, process equipment and sensory to continuously improve self and teams' technical know-how
• Contribute to define technical solutions aimed to sustain the breakthrough innovation pipeline in accordance with company long term strategy
• Participate in smooth running of projects (plan-execution) and interaction with other departments / stakeholders and monitor the process. Ensure R&D Products Innovation deliverables are executed correctly and on time

Our Perfect Candidate

• Preferable a degree in Food Technology or Food Engineering or other scientific education;
• Minimum 3 years of experience in FMCG, preferable in confectionery product and process.
• Know-how of raw materials and its functions
• Know-how of relevant technological processes and equipments
• Attitude to work in laboratory and with machines
• Ability to gather and analyse process and quality data with statistical software; digital and statistical/data analysis capabilities.
• Ability to work on multiple projects, prioritize, monitor the progress by using PvM software
• Collaborate in cross functional projects with a variety of stakeholders
• Good project management skills (Plan & Time)
• Preferable Lean manufacturing (green belt)
• Good English level
• Travelling abroad for support / trials / start up 

The position offers a gross annual salary starting from 40,000€. Additional compensation and company benefits may also apply and will be discussed and defined during the selection process and on an individual basis.

Here in Perfetti Van Melle there is a culture of respect and valorization of diversity.

Therefore, applications, recruiting processes and development paths in the company are opportunities open to all people without any type of discrimination.