RDA Senior Technologist II

About Kerry

Kerry is the world's leading taste and nutrition company for the food, beverage and pharmaceutical industries. Every day we partner with customers to create healthier, tastier and more sustainable products that are consumed by billions of people across the world. Our vision is to be our customers' most valued partner, creating a world of sustainable nutrition. A career with Kerry offers you an opportunity to shape the future of food while providing you opportunities to explore and grow in a truly global environment.

About the role

We are looking for a RD&A Senior Technologist working within the Meat and Meat alternatives team for our location in Mozzo, Italy.

Key responsibilities

• To lead, manage and deliver the designated Development & Application activities,  related to key allocated Meat and Meat alternatives projects in South Europe.  
• Develop, validate, and prepare application samples if required for both internal and external customers, ensuring that all products developed are appropriate to the specific application requested by customer, cost competitive and, comply with customer brief and with necessary legal and compositional requirements.  
• Lead R&D contacts in key customers building strong relationships with customer´s  R&D team and provide excellent service in concepts and sample delivery, product presentation and technical support. 
• Partner closely with sales team to ensure seamless execution on customer requirements and identify new opportunities. 
• Manage and assists customers with technical issues that may arise. Interact and troubleshoots with customers on application concerns. 
• Develop innovative solutions to help grow customer and Kerry’s market within cost parameters, manufacturing capability whilst ensuring all new products are legal within country of use. 
• Bringing constant innovation to the customer & market in line with customer-specific requirements (CIU, Regulatory, accepted/banned materials, taste preferences etc.) 
• Expanding the opportunity pipeline with the customer(s) and market by ensuring Kerry is top-of-mind in the customers’ R&D Organisation and increasing customers’ understanding of Kerry’s value adding selling proposition. 
• Pro-active management of the pipeline with the customer(s) and internally through organisation and taking the lead in internal project calls with all stakeholders (EUM, Sales, Regulatory, Finance, Supply Chain, …), as well as external customer project calls 
• Has technical understanding of key customer types, their manufacturing processes and recipes, NPD systems and finished products, brand, and development standards. 

Qualifications and skills

• BSc in Food Science or equivalent . 
• Minimum of 7 years of product development, preferable from a company working with processed meat, poultry, fish, meat alternative or prepared meals or from ingredient company working on those areas. 
• Language skills: Fluent in Italian and English, also desirable French and/or Spanish
• Significant experience in meat finished product application/ingredient manufacturing/processing. 
• Good knowledge of meat industry associated product categories such as process aids and functional ingredients. 
• Ability to independently plan and execute technical work to deliver agreed strategic business plans and solutions managing relevant stakeholders.  
• Experience in customer presentations and customer driven technical support. 
• Ability to work under pressure to ensure deadlines are met. 
• Ability to work as part of a team, Self-motivated and organised 
• Strong project management skills 
• Competent IT skills. 
• Able to travel to customers or Kerry sites if required (20 to 50% of the time)