R&D Manager – New Technologies The Vegetarian Butcher

THE VEGETARIAN BUTCHER IS LOOKING FOR AN R&D MANAGER – NEW TECHNOLOGIES

Location: HIVE, Unilever Wageningen

Local conditions apply

Full-time

Travel: approximately 5%

For the recruitment of this position, we would like to emphasize that local conditions apply to the position and for this vacancy in principle we will consider candidates based in the set locations. If you are based outside of these locations and you are interested to apply, please feel free to do so but at this stage we will not take your application forward. We will only consider your application if a decision is made to also recruit outside of the set locations.

ABOUT THE VEGETARIAN BUTCHER

Meat to please you! At the Vegetarian Butcher we’re looking for new ‘meat on the block’ to join us in the biggest food revolution of all times.

On October 4th (world animal day) 2010 Jaap Korteweg, 9th generation farmer and meat lover, founded The Vegetarian Butcher. Together with a devoted team of chefs and scientists he created innovative and sustainable meat successors directly from beans and legumes.  Great tasting meat products, perfect imeatations in flavor, texture and juiciness, but without the use of the animal.

We sacrifice nothing! This was the start of our mission: to become the biggest butcher in the world.

At our core we are the purpose-driven rebels who want to be the first and the best on the plant-based meat-market. We try to make our mission a reality through Craftmanship, Human(e) Connections, Entrepreneurship, Rebelliousness, Humour, Passion, Optimism, Sustainability and Pioneering.

When Unilever acquired the company at the end of 2018, they joined in on this mission and committed to accelerate the biggest food revolution of all time. Since then the company is scaling-up fast. In this journey we are travelling (and expanding) at the speed of light and therefore we are looking for a P&I Specialist who has the passion to change the world!

ABOUT THE ROLE:

Since vegetable protein-based meat replacements are a relatively new territory in food science, the R&D department will play a pivotal role in the years to come. The TVB R&D team is looking for a food scientist to create and/or renovate meat replacement products.

The team is currently driving project delivery for different types of meat replacement products, such as chicken chunks, hamburgers, chicken nuggets, cold cuts, and sausages. As a member of the TVB R&D team, the product developer will be involved in new innovations, renovations, and 5S-related projects.

It is important that the position will be filled in by a person who is highly passionate in creating delicious products and at the same time with appreciation for the industrial recipe creation. 

In this role, you will work together in a team with a technical project leader, process technologist, digital, marketing, supply chain, and procurement.

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES OF YOUR “CHOP” TO BE DONE:

New Tech lead

• Definition of R&D program within The Butcher team to resolve overarching / general product development challenges to benefit the Butcher product portfolio. Lead execution of this program.

• Definition of technical solutions that require a longer-term science and technology program to deliver the future innovation pipeline of The Vegetarian Butcher.

• Lead capability building with in the global R&D community of the butcher, making sure that the developers and process technologists are up-to-speed with all latest insights. This includes connecting the various butcher’s teams across the globe.

• Represent the Butcher’s science expertise externally and lead the collaboration with external partners/academia/suppliers.

Patent lead

• Responsible for formulating and executing patent strategies across project portfolio and new technology developments.

• Define and lead execution of research required to file patents.

Project troubleshooting & technical investigations

• Lead root-cause analysis and systematic screening of solutions for product design. emergencies or complex challenges that require a mix of development work and scientific understanding/measurements.

• Development and implementation of product chassis.

Team

• Responsible for people management and university students to deliver the scientific program

KEY REQUIREMENTS FOR THIS 'CHOP':

• Thorough understanding of the product and process design principles of plant-based meat products and experience as developer in innovation or renovation projects in plant-based meat products.

• Great communication skills and ‘people-connector.’

• Great network in external plant-based protein science world.

• Experience in people management: resource planning, people development, and capability development.

• Fluency in English (written and spoken) .

WHAT ARE WE LOOKING FOR IN ALL BUTCHERS:

• In essence: you are humble yet rebellious, entrepreneurial, energetic and fun! 

• Pro-active mindset.

• Teamwork, easily connecting with others and effective cross-functional collaborator.

• Analytical, critical & structured thinker.

• Good communication skills (written & verbal) and being fluent in English.

• Ability to work in a multi-functional, multi-cultural environment.

• You embrace change, are curious, learn rapidly and easily adapt your ways of working.

• Good stamina, stress-management and self-care discipline; you love a challenge and enjoy riding this dynamic roller-coaster we call The Vegetarian Butcher.

• You understand and live our mission fully; so when you’re on the job, you are a Vegetarian Butcher!

WHAT DOES THE VEGETARIAN BUTCHER OFFER?

It is the place where you can be yourself and bring your purpose to life with the work that you do – creating a better business and a better world. We offer an exciting & dynamic work environment where you can make things happen. Furthermore, we offer some great reward and benefits!

• Attractive total remuneration package; excellent company pension, bonus, share scheme.

• Flexible cross-disciplinary career opportunities and a wealth of training opportunities & wellbeing resources whenever and wherever.

• Plenty of company-paid holidays to further ensure your work-life balance is maintained.

• We encourage an inclusive culture, which comes to life with interchangeable public holidays, paid paternity leave of 6 weeks and our transgender policy.

• Under the Hybrid Working principles, you will be expected to spend a minimum of 40%-60% in the office or at customers, suppliers or partners to connect and collaborate.  For the time you work from home, we will ensure you are well equipped. 

• Informal culture

• Company laptop and mobile phone

• My Fitness Plan (reduction on your Fitness Subscription).

• Home work allowance

• Green Mobility Policy   

• Contribute to the greatest mission: saving animals every day!

EXCITED?

Join The Vegetarian Butcher/Unilever and our team! To apply, you must do so online. Please do not forget to upload your CV and a motivation letter.  Your application will be reviewed against our requirements and we will be in touch shortly after the closing date to provide you with an update on the status of your application.

Looking forward to meeting you! 

Please note this is a Direct Search led by The Vegetarian Butcher/Unilever. Applications from agencies will not be accepted, nor will fees be paid for unsolicited CVs.

Equal Opportunity Employer: The Vegetarian Butcher/Unilever is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regards to race, color, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, disability, age, parenthood, pregnancy or any other basis protected by applicable law, and will not be discriminated against. 

By highlighting the gender diversity at the workplace, Unilever encourages women equally men to apply. If you look for a job after a long career break or after any type of leave, do not hesitate to apply.

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