R&D Technologist at Rip Van (hybrid – Spain / France / Italy)

DUPP - Food Executive Search; Barcelona; A distancia; EUR 35.000 - 50.000; Jornada completa

Descripción de la vacante

A rapidly growing snack company is seeking a technically skilled R&D Technologist to oversee product development and co-manufacturer collaborations in Southern Europe and North Africa. This role offers a unique opportunity to contribute to innovative 'Better For You' sweet snacks while driving successful product commercialization. Ideal candidates should have a strong background in food science, excellent communication skills, and readiness to travel.

Formación

• Experience in food product development and commercialization required.
• Willingness to travel 25-30% across Spain, France, and Algeria.
• Fluent in English; additional languages are advantageous.

Responsabilidades

• Act as the primary technical liaison with co-manufacturing partners.
• Lead product scale-ups and manage daily technical communications.
• Ensure products meet quality specifications before shipment.

Conocimientos

Proactive approach

Food safety understanding

Quality standards knowledge

Analytical skills

Cultural adaptability

Educación

BSc / MSc in Food Science or (Bio)Technology

Descripción del empleo

Rip Van ( is a fast-growing, innovation-driven snack company based in New York, founded in 2012. The company specializes in “Better For You” (BFY) sweet snacks with low sugar content. With a fully remote team of around 40 people spread across the U.S., Argentina, and Europe, Rip Van’s team and business are growing further. Their award-winning products are available in over 20,000 locations including Whole Foods, Costco, 7-Eleven, Amazon, and major foodservice GPOs. Rip Van has established nine manufacturing partnerships across four continents and aims to become the world’s leading BFY sweet snack platform.

To accelerate growth, Rip Van is seeking a technically strong and entrepreneurial R&D Technologist to manage co-manufacturer collaboration and ensure successful product commercialization. This role is ideal for a food technologist who thrives in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial, and international environment, enjoys variety and travel, and wants to play a key role in bringing innovative products to market.

Responsibilities

• Act as the primary technical liaison with co-manufacturing partners in Southern Europe and North Africa.
• Lead product scale-ups and technical onboarding at production sites.
• Execute plant trials and oversee the transition from pilot to full-scale production.
• Manage daily communication with co-manufacturers and resolve technical issues.
• Ensure products meet Rip Van’s quality and specifications.
• Coordinate and supervise initial production runs, including approval before shipment.
• Support R&D activities, including ingredient sourcing and formulation improvements.
• Participate in weekly co-manufacturing calls and internal NPD meetings.
• Report to the CEO (U.S. and Europe) and collaborate with the product team.

Qualifications

• BSc / MSc in Food Science, (Bio)Technology, or related field.
• Experience in food product development, plant trials, and commercialization.
• Understanding of manufacturing processes, food safety, and quality standards.
• Proactive, entrepreneurial, and hands-on approach with strong ownership.
• Willingness and ability to travel 25-30% across Algeria, Spain, and France.
• Based in Spain (preferably Barcelona), France, or Italy.
• Fluent in English; additional European language skills are a plus.
• Energetic, results-driven, analytical, flexible, communicative, and culturally adaptable.

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