Mission (6 months) as R&I Compactification Scientist process technologist – Liquid Processing team

Danone; Utrecht; On-site; EUR 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Annual bonus

Premium pension

30 days leave with option to buy more

Health care allowance

Job summary

Danone Research & Innovation in Utrecht seeks a Compactification Scientist process technologist to drive liquid processing innovations for high-protein products. You will lead development across process steps, working with global teams to optimize technology and manufacturing efficiency.

The role emphasizes collaboration, technical leadership, and implementation of new processes, ensuring alignment with Danone's growth and sustainability goals. A 6-month assignment starting mid-November.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in Food Technology, Biotechnology or Chemical Engineering.
• Fluent English; strong communication and networking skills.
• Strategic vision on new developments and innovations in liquid/semi-liquid processing in the food industry.
• Ability to anticipate risks and provide proactive solutions to stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Develop and optimize processes for high-protein liquid and semi-liquid products.
• Collaborate with other experts to solve problems involving other unit operations and formulation.
• Align with cross-functional teams (Engineering, Quality, Operations, C&P) to implement priorities as one team.
• Develop and capitalize the technological expertise of the separation and concentration team.
• Draft guidelines and training for regions during new technologies investments.
• Organize pilot plant trials and analyze data to support technology decisions.
• Protect new technologies with IP/legal support and participate in technology networks.

Skills

Strong communicator

Fluent English

Education

Master's degree in Food Technology, Biotechnology or Chemical Engineering

Job description

Research & Innovation

Are you ready for a challenging mission with high visibility and the opportunity to connect with a company-wide network? Join Danone Research & Innovation in Utrecht, the Netherlands, for a 6-month mission as Compactification Scientist process technologist – Liquid Processing team.

Starting November 15.

Context, challenges of the Department

The main missions of the R&I Advanced Technologies department are to:

• Create innovative and differentiating technological solutions to meet the needs of consumers and patients in an approach that integrates the OPOH strategic framework. The priorities of this Directorate include:

• Plant-based solutions
• Optimization of milk and dairy ingredients
• Packaging processing
• Development of innovative ingredients
• Development and mastery of technologies and processes allowing rapid innovation and time to market, excellence in execution and optimization of investments
• Simplification of developments through the creation and combination of high value-added technology elements

• Support the Teams of the Zones/CBUs in charge of short-term projects (H1) to find solutions to their problems when high-level expertise is required
• Develop and acquire leading capabilities, standards and systems based on digital tools in good coordination with D2D
• More specifically, the Advanced Technologies - Processes department is in charge of developing new manufacturing processes and technologies to support Danone's growth (liquid product production processes, concentration and centrifugation, extraction and filtration, fermentation / bioprocesses, etc.) as well as developing a scientific approach to processes.

The position is part of the Advanced Technology Liquid Processing Team, the team of expertise for processes for milk, dairy ingredients and plant based, supporting the WWBUs for product design and industrial efficiency.

In these fields, for Dairy, Plant-based and Specialized Nutrition, the Liquid Processing team delivers innovative and sustainable building blocks, ready-to-plug solutions for:

• High in protein products with product superiority
• Processing efficiency
• Microbiologically safe products with optimal heat treatment

All via optimizing current processes or introducing new processes using a deep understanding of the effect of each process parameter on the final product characteristics. The findings are captured in Global technological specification.

The team also ensures technical assistance to the WWBUs.

Your Mission

• Develop and optimize processes enabling and optimizing the production of high in protein, liquid and semi-liquid products.
• Work in collaboration with the other experts of the Advanced Techno team as needed to obtain a solution involving the other unit operations and formulation.
• Manage synergies with other R&I and D2D functions (Engineering, Quality, Operations, C&P) to align with priorities and ensure effective ways of working as one team.
• Develop and capitalize the technological expertise of the separation and concentration team.

The goal is either to obtain superiority and competitiveness of products, gain productivity, or contribute to the launch of a disruptive product innovation.

Main Responsibilities

• Investigate innovative and unknown technologies at Danone for all unit operations that concern the development of liquid or semi-liquid high in protein products present in manufacturing processes or necessary for a disruptive innovation.
• Work in close collaboration with other departments within Danone.
• Validate, through internal or external tests, the interest for Danone of the technologies studied.
• In the case of an investment decision in these new technologies, establish recommendations and guidelines to facilitate their implementation in the regions through the writing of GTS and the organization of training for Danone teams.
• Protect applications at Danone from new technologies tested, where relevant, with the support of IP and legal teams.
• Provide technical assistance during implementation, including audits, training, and on-site support.
• Be responsible for the drafting of WBSO files in this field of activity.
• Manage work packages of a project related to the Liquid team.
• Organize pilot plant trials and analyze analytical and process data.
• Participate in the technology network and community of expertise.
• Capitalize and formalize the technological know-how for the Advanced Technology team.
• Carry out technological watch and technological capitalization in the area of competence of liquid processing technologies.

About you

We are looking for an experienced and strong communicator

• A Master degree in Food Technology, Biotechnology or Chemical Engineering.
• Has a strategic vision on new developments and innovations in the field of liquid and semi-liquid treatment processes in the food industry.
• Knowledge of the processes applicable to dairy products or products of plant origin is an additional asset.
• Good communication and networking skills.
• Able to look critically at the current product development process and challenge the status quo.
• Able to anticipate risks and challenges and proactively propose solutions to key stakeholders.
• Fluency in English (French is beneficial).
• Proactive, flexible, result oriented, problem solving and open minded.

About Danone

At Danone we are committed to our mission “bringing health, through food to as many people as possible”. We work together to make sure that our brands, like Nutricia and Nutrilon, create real benefits for people, communities and the planet. You will be part of one of the largest Certified B Corps™ in the world. Being B Corp means being part of a select movement of companies verified to be meeting high standards of social and environmental criteria and using business as a force for good.

Our research and innovation center builds bridges between food and science and is global in reach, founded on extensive experience in life and food science, technology and user experience, and is at the forefront of pioneering advances in specialized nutrition.

We Offer

All Danoners receive a complete package of benefits. This includes a competitive salary and yearly bonus, a premium free pension, 30 days of annual leave with the opportunity to purchase more, and a monthly health care allowance. In addition, you can get discount on your gym membership, and we offer initiatives focused on nutrition, physical, and mental health. We provide continuous learning opportunities through workshops, online courses and training sessions.