Research & Innovation Lead

Fynde Global Recruitment; Tilburg; Vor Ort; EUR 90.000 - 130.000; Vollzeit

Benefits dieser Stelle

Competitive remuneration package

Flexible working arrangements

30 days annual leave

Ongoing professional development and国际

Zusammenfassung

Fynde Global Recruitment has partnered with an internationally established organisation focused on innovative packaging solutions and sustainable product innovation. The Research & Innovation Lead will shape the technology roadmap, lead a specialist team and drive exploration from concept to commercial validation.

You will work across research, engineering, sustainability and commercial teams, coordinating with partners worldwide to identify breakthrough opportunities and translate them into

Qualifikationen

• Technically accomplished research and innovation professional with leadership capability.
• Ability to translate research into commercially viable innovations.
• Experience in materials science, packaging technologies or related fields.
• Strong ability to manage cross-functional teams and external partnerships.
• Fluency in English; willingness to travel internationally.

Aufgaben

• Lead and develop a researchers team, fostering curiosity and excellence.
• Establish structured research methodologies and best practices.
• Drive exploration of emerging technologies and sustainable packaging.
• Translate discoveries into practical, scalable packaging solutions.
• Set research strategies aligned with business objectives and stakeholder needs.
• Hands-on involvement in selected programs, including design and testing.

Kenntnisse

Leadership

Commercial awareness

Mentoring

Cross-functional collaboration

Strategic thinking

Communication skills

Stakeholder management

Hands-on leadership

International collaboration

Travel willingness

Ausbildung

BSc/MSc/PhD in Materials Science

Engineering or Chemistry background

Packaging technology or product innovation

Jobbeschreibung

Research & Innovation Lead

The Opportunity

Fynde Global Recruitment has partnered with an internationally established, innovation-driven organisation specialising in the development of innovative packaging solutions, advanced material technologies and sustainable product innovations for global consumer markets.

Recognised for its commitment to research, technical excellence and forward-thinking product development, the business continues to invest in emerging technologies, next‑generation packaging concepts and environmentally responsible solutions that address evolving consumer needs and commercial opportunities.

As part of its continued investment in research and innovation, we are seeking an experienced Research & Innovation Lead to play a pivotal role in shaping the organisation's future technology and product development roadmap.

This is an exciting opportunity for a scientifically minded, commercially aware leader who combines technical expertise with creativity, strategic thinking and a passion for translating research into commercially viable innovations.

The Role

Reporting directly to the Director of Research & Innovation, you will lead and develop a specialist research team while remaining actively involved in the exploration, development and validation of new technologies, materials and innovative packaging concepts.

Working within a highly collaborative, multidisciplinary environment, you will bring together scientific research, engineering, sustainability, consumer insights and commercial considerations to identify opportunities for breakthrough innovation.

The position offers a unique balance of people leadership, hands‑on research and strategic innovation, with significant exposure to international stakeholders, external research institutions and technology partners.

Key Responsibilities

Research Leadership & Team Development

• Lead, mentor and develop a team of researchers, fostering a culture of scientific curiosity, creativity and technical excellence.
• Establish structured research methodologies, experimental protocols and best practices to strengthen research capabilities.
• Encourage cross-functional collaboration between research, engineering, product development, design and commercial teams.
• Identify opportunities for professional development, technical training and continuous improvement.
• Promote a holistic approach to innovation, ensuring scientific research is supported by commercial understanding, sustainability considerations and market insights.

Innovation & Technology Development

• Identify, explore and evaluate emerging technologies, advanced materials and sustainable packaging innovations.
• Drive research initiatives from early‑stage concept development through experimentation, technical validation and feasibility assessment.
• Translate scientific discoveries and market insights into practical, scalable and commercially viable packaging and product solutions.
• Contribute to the development of short-, medium- and long‑term research strategies aligned with wider business objectives.
• Take an active, hands‑on role in selected research programmes, including experimental design, testing and performance evaluation.
• Explore opportunities to improve product functionality, material performance, sustainability and overall user experience.

Strategic Research & Collaboration

• Monitor developments in materials science, packaging sustainability, emerging technologies and consumer product innovation.
• Conduct technical benchmarking, competitor analysis, patent reviews and scientific literature assessments.
• Build and maintain relationships with universities, research institutions, technology providers and external innovation partners.
• Evaluate research opportunities based on technical feasibility, commercial potential, sustainability and end‑user value.
• Work closely with senior R&I stakeholders to prioritise projects, allocate resources and communicate research findings.
• Support the identification and development of new research opportunities that contribute to the organisation's long‑term innovation strategy.

Your Background

We are interested in speaking with technically accomplished research and innovation professionals who can demonstrate a combination of scientific expertise, leadership capability and commercial awareness.

The ideal candidate will bring:

• A bachelor's degree, master's degree or PhD in Materials Science, Engineering, Chemistry, Packaging Technology, Product Innovation or a related scientific discipline.
• Approximately 8 years or more of relevant experience within research, innovation, advanced materials, packaging development or related technical environments.
• Proven experience leading, mentoring or developing technical or scientific teams.
• A strong understanding of experimental research methodologies, technical validation and the development of innovative product concepts.
• Exposure to sustainable packaging, material technologies, circular economy principles or environmentally responsible product development.
• Experience within packaging, consumer goods, personal care, FMCG or other innovation‑led manufacturing sectors would be advantageous.
• A creative, analytical and commercially minded approach, with the ability to connect scientific research with tangible business opportunities.
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills, with the confidence to collaborate across international and multidisciplinary teams.
• A proactive, hands‑on leadership style and a genuine enthusiasm for scientific exploration and innovation.
• Fluency in English, both written and spoken.
• Willingness to undertake occasional international travel.

Candidates should be based within a reasonable commuting distance of Tilburg or be open to relocating to the region.

What's on Offer?

• The opportunity to take a leading role within an internationally established, innovation-focused organisation.
• Significant influence over future research initiatives, emerging technologies and next‑generation packaging solutions.
• A highly collaborative, international environment with access to multidisciplinary expertise.
• The opportunity to lead and develop a specialist research team while maintaining direct involvement in technical innovation.
• Competitive remuneration package, including a performance‑related bonus.
• Flexible working arrangements.
• 30 days' annual leave.
• Company pension and additional benefits.
• Ongoing professional development and international collaboration opportunities.