Innovation & Application Centre Lead (Nutrition)

Brenntag; Leeds; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Brenntag invites applications for a senior role based at the Leeds Innovation & Application Centre to drive technical growth, innovation, and business development for the Nutrition distribution business across the UK & Ireland.

You will lead a 2–3 person technical team, engage in ingredient evaluation, application development, and close collaboration with Product Managers and Commercial teams to identify and deliver technical opportunities that accelerate business growth.

Responsibilities

• Manages a pipeline of technical projects supporting Brenntag's Nutrition distribution across the UK & Ireland and selected EMEA initiatives.
• Evaluates ingredients from strategic suppliers through analytical assessments, functional testing, and application development activities.
• Supports commercial teams with customer projects, technical recommendations, presentations, troubleshooting, and customer visits.
• Leads and develops a high-performing team of 2-3 technical professionals, fostering technical excellence, collaboration, and continuous learning.
• Maintains a hands-on approach by actively participating in laboratory activities, ingredient evaluations, application trials, and customer projects alongside the team.
• Oversees the operations of the Leeds Innovation & Application Centre, ensuring efficient resource utilization, high safety standards, and regulatory compliance.
• Plans, executes, documents, and reports technical and application activities using company systems and procedures.
• Builds strong technical partnerships with strategic suppliers, supporting ingredient evaluations, joint development activities, and innovation initiatives.
• Collaborates closely with Product Managers and Commercial teams to identify technical opportunities and support business growth.
• Manages the annual CAPEX budget for the Leeds I&AC, driving investments in safety, efficiency, and capabilities.
• Actively participates in the EMEA Application & Innovation Network, sharing best practices and contributing to cross-regional projects and initiatives.

Job description

Brenntag invites applications for a senior role based at the Leeds Innovation & Application Centre to drive technical growth, innovation, and business development for the Nutrition distribution business across the UK & Ireland.

You will lead a 2–3 person technical team, engage in ingredient evaluation, application development, and close collaboration with Product Managers and Commercial teams to identify and deliver technical opportunities that accelerate business growth.