R&D Project Specialist – Feed for Cultivated Protein

Nutreco; Boxmeer; On-site; EUR 52,000 - 68,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

30 vacation days

Hybrid work model

Pension scheme

Learning platforms

Career growth

Job summary

Nutreco is seeking an R&D Project Specialist for Cultivated Protein to translate customer needs into strategic R&D priorities and coordinate cross-functional projects. You will work with the Innovation Lead for Cell Nutrition to advance study design, data analyses, and collaborations, shaping early-stage product development and grant activities.

You will join a growing team in a dynamic, international setting, contributing to the Cultivated Protein field while developing technical expertise,

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in biotechnology, biochemical engineering, or a related field.
• 1–2 years of experience in R&D, project coordination or consultancy.
• Knowledge of Cultivated Protein or the cultivated-protein industry.
• Strong analytical and communication skills.
• Adaptable and entrepreneurial in a growing, early-stage environment.
• Experience or interest in modelling, data science or data management is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Translate customer needs into R&D priorities and attend technical meetings.
• Coordinate innovation projects such as stability studies and data collaborations; manage timelines and resources.
• Support early-stage product development by evaluating new ingredients and contributing to study design.
• Analyse and organise project data to support technical decision-making.
• Take ownership of grant administration and partnerships across work packages.

Skills

Biotechnology

Analytical skills

Communication skills

Entrepreneurial mindset

Data modelling

Education

Master's in biotechnology

Job description

Job Description:

Get ready to Own your place in an emerging industry as an R&D Project Specialist – Cultivated Protein at Nutreco, an SHV company. We develop precision nutrition solutions that help cultivated-protein producers optimise cell growth, performance and scalability in bioprocessing environments. By combining decades of experience in nutrition with innovations in Cultivated Protein, we aim to help make cultivated protein commercially viable at scale.

In this role, you’ll help build on the foundations of the Feed Innovation Roadmap by supporting technical projects, coordinating R&D activities, analysing data and maintaining effective collaboration with internal and external stakeholders. Combining scientific understanding, project coordination and analytical skills, you’ll help translate innovation opportunities into structured programmes.

You’ll join at a stage when the industry, technologies and business models are still evolving. Working across customer collaborations, innovation projects and product development initiatives, you’ll have the opportunity to contribute directly to how we develop feed and build expertise within the Cultivated Protein industry. Own your curiosity. Own your contribution. Own your future.

Why join us

What you’ll do

You’ll work at the connection point between customer needs, scientific opportunities and project execution. Supported by Nutreco’s Innovation Lead for Cell Nutrition, you’ll coordinate technical activities and bring together the people, information and data needed to move innovation projects forward. You will:

• Translate customer needs into R&D priorities attending technical meetings, bringing together insights from different companies and identifying shared challenges in cell culture media.
• Coordinate innovation projects such as stability studies, data collaborations and grant-supported initiatives; ensuring timelines, resources and communication remain aligned.
• Support early-stage product development by helping to evaluate new ingredients, contributing to study design and managing small-scale data projects.
• Analyse and organise project data to support technical decision-making and collaboration.
• Take ownership of grant administration and partnerships, supporting documentation, reporting and coordination across project work packages.

Who we’re looking for

• A Master’s degree in biotechnology, biochemical engineering or a similar field.
• Around one to two years of experience in R&D, project coordination or consultancy.
• Knowledge of Cultivated Protein or the cultivated-protein industry.
• Strong analytical and communication skills.
• An adaptable and entrepreneurial approach, with the confidence to work in a growing, early-stage environment.
• Experience or interest in biological modelling, data science or data management would be an advantage.

Not ticking every box? We hire for potential and mindset too. If the work excites you and you believe you can contribute, we’d still like to hear from you.

What you’ll receive

You’ll join an international and dynamic environment where you can build specialist knowledge in Cultivated Protein while learning from colleagues, customers and partners across different disciplines. As Feed for Cultivated Protein grows, you’ll have the opportunity to broaden your role and contribute to the direction of its innovation programme. In addition, you’ll receive:

• A competitive remuneration package.
• A good pension scheme.
• 30 vacation days and flexibility.
• A hybrid working model, with three days on‑site in Boxmeer or Amersfoort and two days working remotely.
• Access to Nutreco’s learning and development platforms.
• Opportunities to grow within Nutreco and the broader SHV group.

Our organisation:

Nutreco is a global leader in animal nutrition and fish feed. Our advanced nutritional solutions are at the origin of food for millions of consumers worldwide. Quality, innovation and sustainability are guiding principles, embedded in the Nutreco culture from research and raw material procurement to products and services for agriculture and aquaculture. Experience across 100 years brings Nutreco a rich heritage of knowledge and experience for building its future.

Equal Opportunity Employer:

Nutreco is an equal opportunity employer; applicants are considered for all roles without regard to race, color, religious creed, sex, national origin, citizenship status, age, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, marital, parental, military status or any other status protected by applicable local law. Please advise us at any point during the recruitment and selection process if you require accommodation. Nutreco is committed to compliance with all applicable legislation, including providing accommodation for applicants with disabilities.