Senior Development Specialist

Senior Development Specialist

The Senior Development Specialist is part of the Proteins development team of FrieslandCampina Ingredients and oversees complex development projects, coordinating cross-functional teams to ensure successful implementation of new products and processes. With a strong foundation in food science or food technology, the specialist possesses extensive expertise in dairy proteins, combining both theoretical knowledge and practical experience. Acting as a project manager, you collaborate effectively with various R&D groups and departments such as supply chain and product management, delivering pragmatic and economically viable solutions. This role also requires providing hands-on support when necessary. Ultimately, the Development Specialist plays a key role in advancing dairy protein innovations from laboratory research to full-scale factory production, enhancing the valorization of dairy streams.

What we ask

• Master’s degree in Food Science or Dairy Technology, or a related field with more than 7 years of experience.
• Demonstrated experience in milk protein development and functionality, particularly within the context of dairy proteins and a B2B innovation environment.
• Proven project management capabilities.
• Proficiency in experimental design, data analysis, and reporting.
• Experience with leading and organizing pilot and factory trials.
• Knowledge of food safety and risk assessment.
• Understands how other disciplines operate on a high level (way of working), e.g. (segment) marketing, product group management, sales, supply chain.
• Basic knowledge of nomenclature of marketing, sales, QA/RA, nutrition, finance, process technology.
• Effective and excellent verbal and written communication skills in English.
• Resilient and problem solver.
• Digitally savvy.

What we offer

At FrieslandCampina you work on strong, globally loved brands enjoyed by millions every day, like Friso, Campina, Chocomel and Frisian Flag. As a farmer-owned cooperative, we combine an international environment with a clear social and sustainable purpose. We support your growth through training, coaching and internal career opportunities. With trust and autonomy, you can make real impact.

Employment benefits:

• Salary between €4,550 and €6,000 gross per month (full-time), depending on experience and fit for the role.
• A work week of 32 to 38 hours, a 5% year-end allowance, 10% company bonus (company performance-based), 8% holiday allowance and a pension scheme.
• Hybrid working with flexible working hours, a train card and/or €0.23 per km (max. 30 km one way).
• 200 hours of annual leave, with the option to buy or sell up to 40 hours.
• A laptop, phone and home office equipment to support flexible working.
• Wellbeing and inclusion initiatives, such as health support, employee assistance programs and diversity initiatives.
• Extras at the head office, such as milk and cheese during lunch, fresh fruit and barista coffee.

Vacancy description

In this position, your tasks and responsibilities include:

• Manage multiple projects, ensuring thorough documentation and alignment with all relevant stakeholders.
• Work closely with cross-functional teams, including R&D, quality assurance/RA, marketing, product group management, and production, to drive product development initiatives.
• Assume full responsibility for the clearance, validation, and implementation of new products and processes.
• Develop resource and budget plans for projects, delivering results within agreed timelines, budgets, and quality standards in collaboration with the team.
• Independently set up, plan, execute, analyze, and report on experiments, ensuring thorough documentation and data integrity.
• Keep protein product and process know how up to date by making use of knowledge management systems and SAP-PLM together with other disciplines (specification management, process technology, supply chain) including recipe and specification development.
• Develop and maintain internal relations and initiates, develops and maintains external relations at a tactical level.
• Stay up to date of trends and advancements in the organization, industry, and science, contributing to continuo