Hydrocolloids are a class of polymers widely used in food, personal care and industrial applications. This role offers an exciting opportunity to develop hydrocolloid solutions for the food and beverage industry.
Key Responsibilities:
* Design and conduct lab- and pilot scale experiments to develop applications in food and beverage products
* Apply knowledge of hydrocolloids to solve technical challenges in food formulation and processing
* Contribute to projects in non-food applications as needed, supporting cross-sector innovation
* Manage assigned projects, timelines, tasks, resources and reporting to ensure timely delivery of results
* Conduct external collaborations and research programs, ensuring scientific and business objectives are met
* Act as a domain expert, contributing to mid-term strategy development through specialized knowledge in hydrocolloids and biopolymers
* Serve as a technical expert in direct interactions with key customers, providing guidance on hydrocolloid selection, formulation, and troubleshooting
* Lead technical presentations, product demonstrations, and training sessions for customers and partners
* Gather market feedback and translate market needs into actionable R&D projects and solutions
* Mentor and coach junior scientists, fostering a culture of scientific excellence and continuous learning
* Support teams through complex technical challenges and experimental design related to hydrocolloids
* Represent the company at key customer level on complex projects
* Work closely with strategic project managers on the project definition and coordinates product launches from the application development perspective
* Represent the company in external scientific forums, building the company's visibility and network within the hydrocolloids community
The ideal candidate should have:
* PhD or Master's degree in Food Science, Material Science, Biochemistry, Chemical Engineering, or related field
* Minimum 10 years of experience in hydrocolloids in industrial R&D settings with hands-on experience on applications
* Proven track record of scientific innovation, including patents, publications, and/or product development
* Deep expertise in the physical chemistry of hydrocolloids, rheology, formulation, and application development
* Experience managing complex projects and external collaborations
* Familiarity with regulatory frameworks, industrial-scale processes, and market requirements in relevant industries
* Excellent communication and presentation skills, capable of influencing both scientific and business stakeholders
* Result-driven
* Entrepreneurial mindset with resilience in navigating uncertainty and ambiguity
* Highly collaborative, adaptable, and proactive in driving cross-functional alignment
* Fluent spoken, written English; German and/or French are a plus
In this role, you will be working at the forefront of hydrocolloid research and development, collaborating with experts across various disciplines to create innovative solutions that meet customer needs.