Researcher

Enza Zaden; Almería; On-site; EUR 35,000 - 52,000; Full time

Job summary

Enza Zaden is seeking a Post Harvest & Consumer Researcher to lead post-harvest quality assessments and consumer research for vegetable crops. The role focuses on translating market needs into robust testing and actionable insights, supporting breeding, product positioning and customer value propositions.

You will work within an international team in Murcia/Almería, collaborating across regions and functions to ensure research is scientifically sound and practically applicable.

Qualifications

• University degree, preferably an MSc, in Food Science, Biochemistry, Plant Science, Plant Biotechnology, Sensory or Consumer Science, or another relevant agri-food or life science discipline.
• Relevant experience in post-harvest research, food quality, sensory evaluation, consumer research, product research or a related research environment.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to interpret complex data and translate findings into practical recommendations.
• Strategic judgement and the ability to assess which activities have the highest impact and added value for Enza Zaden’s product and market priorities.
• A proactive mindset: you anticipate needs, identify opportunities for improvement and connect technical insights with business opportunities.
• Strong collaboration and communication skills, with the ability to connect effectively with multidisciplinary and multicultural teams across the organisation.
• Confidence and credibility in engaging with customers, with the ability to listen actively, understand customer challenges and translate post-harvest expertise into relevant services, insights and partnership opportunities.
• The confidence to take ownership, make well-founded decisions and ensure progress in a fast-paced, international environment.
• Fluent written and spoken English; knowledge of Spanish is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Designing, coordinating and interpreting post-harvest quality assessments on vegetable crops, including shelf life, texture, taste, colour, visual quality and other relevant product performance parameters.
• Initiating and leading sensory and consumer research activities that generate insights into consumer needs, preferences and perceptions of Enza Zaden products.
• Translating research findings into clear recommendations that support breeding decisions, product positioning, portfolio development and customer-facing value propositions.
• Assessing the relevance and impact of research requests and prioritising activities according to their contribution to Enza Zaden’s commercial and strategic objectives.
• Developing and improving protocols, methodologies and reporting standards for post-harvest testing, sensory evaluation and consumer research.
• Analysing data, identifying patterns and translating technical results into concise reports, presentations and practical recommendations for internal and external stakeholders.
• Staying up to date with scientific and market developments in post-harvest physiology, food science, sensory science, consumer research and relevant analytical methods, and translating these developments into practical applications.
• Building strong connections with colleagues across regions and functions, including breeding, product management, portfolio management, marketing, sales, laboratories, universities and research partners.
• Engaging confidently with customers and contributing to building customer partnerships from a post-harvest perspective by understanding their needs and requirements and providing research-based services and insights that help address them.

Skills

Post-harvest research

Sensory evaluation

Consumer research

Data analysis

Cross-functional teamwork

Project management

Scientific writing

English communication

Education

MSc in Food Science / Biochemistry / Plant Science or related

Job description

Post Harvest & Consumer Research Researcher

Are you an experienced, proactive researcher with a strong scientific foundation, analytical judgement and commercial mindset—ready to translate post-harvest and consumer insights into meaningful product value?

This is why you want to join us as PH & CR Researcher at Enza Zaden

• You take ownership of post-harvest and consumer research activities that help strengthen Enza Zaden’s product value proposition across crops and markets.
• You translate market, customer and stakeholder needs into relevant research questions, robust testing approaches and actionable insights for breeding, product management, marketing and sales.
• You contribute to international, multidisciplinary projects and help prioritise activities based on their strategic relevance, business impact and added value.

Make a difference by …

• Designing, coordinating and interpreting post-harvest quality assessments on vegetable crops, including shelf life, texture, taste, colour, visual quality and other relevant product performance parameters.
• Initiating and leading sensory and consumer research activities that generate insights into consumer needs, preferences and perceptions of Enza Zaden products.
• Translating research findings into clear recommendations that support breeding decisions, product positioning, portfolio development and customer-facing value propositions.
• Assessing the relevance and impact of research requests and prioritising activities according to their contribution to Enza Zaden’s commercial and strategic objectives.
• Developing and improving protocols, methodologies and reporting standards for post-harvest testing, sensory evaluation and consumer research.
• Analysing data, identifying patterns and translating technical results into concise reports, presentations and practical recommendations for internal and external stakeholders.
• Staying up to date with scientific and market developments in post-harvest physiology, food science, sensory science, consumer research and relevant analytical methods, and translating these developments into practical applications.
• Building strong connections with colleagues across regions and functions, including breeding, product management, portfolio management, marketing, sales, laboratories, universities and research partners.
• Engaging confidently with customers and contributing to building customer partnerships from a post-harvest perspective by understanding their needs and requirements and providing research-based services and insights that help address them.

Post Harvest & Consumer Research team

You’ll be part of the Post Harvest & Consumer Research team, within the Marketing department of Enza Zaden. In Spain, the team consists of three members: two lab technicians, one based in Almeria and one in Murcia, and you as the Researcher. The two lab technicians will report to you. The role is based mainly in Murcia, with regular activities and collaboration in Almeria. This international team supports the development and validation of innovative vegetable traits by combining technical lab research, sensory evaluation, consumer understanding and market-driven insights. Working closely with colleagues across regions and functions, you help ensure that our research is scientifically sound, practically applicable and commercially meaningful. You will report to the manager of the Post Harvest & Consumer Research team.

What You Bring As a Future Colleague

• A university degree, preferably an MSc, in Food Science, Biochemistry, Plant Science, Plant Biotechnology, Sensory or Consumer Science, or another relevant agri-food or life science discipline.
• Relevant experience in post-harvest research, food quality, sensory evaluation, consumer research, product research or a related research environment.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to interpret complex data and translate findings into practical recommendations.
• Strategic judgement and the ability to assess which activities have the highest impact and added value for Enza Zaden’s product and market priorities.
• A proactive mindset: you anticipate needs, identify opportunities for improvement and connect technical insights with business opportunities.
• Strong collaboration and communication skills, with the ability to connect effectively with multidisciplinary and multicultural teams across the organisation.
• Confidence and credibility in engaging with customers, with the ability to listen actively, understand customer challenges and translate post-harvest expertise into relevant services, insights and partnership opportunities.
• The confidence to take ownership, make well-founded decisions and ensure progress in a fast-paced, international environment.
• Fluent written and spoken English; knowledge of Spanish is a plus.

Your proactive and connecting approach helps us turn post-harvest and consumer research into insights that support stronger products, clearer value propositions and better decisions across the vegetable value chain.