Food R&D Specialist – Chilled Dairy Innovation
Location: Wageningen, Netherlands (Hybrid – 2 days WFH)
Type: Full-time, 38 hrs/week
Contract: 9-months + extension (1-year assignment)
Language: English only – no Dutch required
Are you ready to shape the future of indulgent, healthy dairy products enjoyed across Europe?
Our client is looking for a hands-on and creative Product Development Specialist to join their Chilled Dairy Innovation Team. You’ll work on delicious, consumer-loved products like yoghurts, drinking yoghurts, high-protein dairy, and desserts — for both in-house brands and high-profile private labels.
About Our Client
Our client is a leading global player in the dairy industry, known for producing high-quality, nutritious, and indulgent products enjoyed by millions of consumers across Europe and beyond. With a purpose-driven culture centered on sustainability and innovation, they are committed to nourishing people in a way that supports both nature and society.
The Chilled Dairy Development Team is based in Wageningen, the Netherlands, and is part of a larger international R&D organization. The team focuses on creating and improving products like yoghurts, drinking yoghurts, quark, Greek-style dairy, and desserts – always aiming to combine great taste with nutritional value.
What you’ll do:
- Lead and support new product development – from concept to launch
- Improve existing products through recipe renovation, ingredient changes, or production transfers
- Perform lab, pilot, and factory trials and translate results into clear reports
- Collaborate closely with Marketing, QA, Supply Chain, Procurement, R&D, and external partners
- Ensure product stability, compliance, nutritional targets, and taste excellence
- Occasionally travel to production sites (approx. once per quarter)
What we’re looking for:
- Relevant education background in Food Technology, Dairy Technology, Physical Chemistry, or similar
- 2+ in food product development (ideally dairy or fermented products)
- Strong communicator in English – written and verbal
- Hands-on, organized, analytical, and proactive mindset
- Familiarity with SAP is a plus
- Experience working in international environments is a bonus
Why apply?
- Work with a diverse, international team
- Shape iconic and innovative dairy products
- Contribute to healthier and tastier choices for millions of consumers
- Hybrid flexibility and a collaborative R&D culture
- Make a visible impact in a high-responsibility role
Interested?
Apply now to bring your dairy development skills to a role where innovation meets impact.
Let’s create the next generation of chilled dairy experiences — together.
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