Team Lead Product Development

TT Exchange Rates; Netherlands; Hybrid; EUR 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

End-year bonus 4.5%

25 vacation days

5 ADV days

Hybrid work

Job summary

SVZ, part of Döhler GmbH, seeks a Team Lead Product Development to drive product technology and food development. You will bridge Sales and Production, translate customer needs into P&PD actions, and lead multi-country scale-up efforts with a hands-on, collaborative leadership style.

You will oversee lab and pilot work, guide NPD projects, and coordinate with plants in Belgium, Poland, and Spain while nurturing a growth-driven team culture.

Qualifications

• Bachelor degree in Food Technology, Process Technology, Product Development or similar
• At least 4–5 years of professional experience in product or process development in the (B2B) Food business
• Experience in multidisciplinary projects (Sales, R&D, Purchase, Finance)
• Practical experience in a pilot environment is an advantage
• Knowledge in quality assurance (theoretical and/or practical)
• Willingness to travel internationally 10–20%
• Fluent in Dutch and English
• Experience in leading people/teams
• International mindset
• Effective communication across levels
• Hands-on, can-do mentality
• Strong analytical and conceptual thinking
• Customer- and result-oriented
• Team player, proactive and creative in sustainable solutions

Responsibilities

• Develop products and processes on lab and pilot scale and support upscaling through factories
• Work in the lab and pilot plant in Rijkevorsel, Belgium
• Provide technical answers to customer questions
• Coordinate technical support between SVZ and key customers
• Follow up on customer-related multi-disciplinary projects
• Optimize key work streams and manage NPD projects
• Supervise scale-up projects in Poland and Spain
• Lead innovation projects with and for customers, together with Sales
• Motivate and manage the team effectively

Skills

Leadership

Team management

Multidisciplinary collaboration

Dutch language

English language

Travel readiness

Education

Bachelor in Food Technology/Process Technology/Product Development

Tools

Pilot plant equipment

Job description

Job Title: Team Lead Product Development

Posting Start Date: 4/8/26

Drawing on more than 150 years of expertise across the agro-supply chain, our collective knowledge and close collaboration with our partner farmers, customers and suppliers makes us the go-to fruit and vegetable ingredients supplier for leading food and beverage manufacturers across the globe.

For the department Product & Process Development in Breda/Rijkevorsel, we are looking for a cooperative teamlead producttechnology with passion for food, processes and business. Ready for the next step in your foodcareer?

Team Lead Product Technology & Food Development

Skilled, approachable leader with focus on customers in change and innovation processes

Your tasks and responsibilities

You are the connecting factor between the sales and production department, with your strong experience in product technology and your commercial feeling you know how to make a perfect translation towards the P&PD team (Process & Product Development), which you in turn can work with. In addition, your tasks and responsibilities are as follows:

• Develop products & processes on lab and pilot scale and support/execute upscaling throughout their factories
• Working regularly in the laboratory and in the pilot plant in Rijkevorsel, Belgium
• Provide answers to all relevant technical questions from customers
• Responsible for technical support between SVZ and key-customers
• Follow up customer related multi-disciplinary projects
• Optimizing key-work streams and coordinating & executing technical (NPD) projects
• You supervise scale up projects of new products in the factories in Poland and Spain
• Lead (Initiate, coordinate and execute) innovation projects with- and for customers, closely with Sales
• You know how to motivate and manage your team well

What do you bring with you?

• Bachelor degree in Food Technology, Process Technology, Product Development or similar
• At least 4-5 years professional experience within product or process development in the (B2B) Food business
• Experience with working in multidisciplinary projects (e.g. Sales, R&D, Purchase, Finance)
• Practical experience in a pilot environment is an advantage
• Theoretical and/or experience-based knowledge in quality assurance
• Willingness to travel (international) 10-20% of the time (e.g. plants in Belgium, Poland, Spain)
• Fluent in Dutch and English
• Experience in leading people/teams
• An international mindset
• Able to communicate well and convince at all levels
• Hands-on and a can-do mentality
• Good conceptual intellectual level and able to analyze problems
• Customer- and result-oriented
• Team player, pro-active and creative in sustainable solutions

What do we have to offer?

SVZ offers you an all-round position at a growing international company, part of Döhler Gmbh, that invests in sustainability and its people. You will be part of a professional team, with attention for initiative and personal development.

At SVZ we offer you a pleasant working environment, a hybrid form of working in a nice office to meet nice colleagues.

• good compensation package with an end-years payment (4.5% of a years-salary)
• 25 vacation days
• 5 ADV days
• possibility of a hybrid way of working