Specialized Nutrition (SN) R&I Director - Fuel for Growth Liquid

Danone Nutricia Research builds bridges between science and food. Our Research Centre for Specialized Nutrition, located in the Utrecht Science Park in the Netherlands is a state of the art Life Science innovation center for the development of new product concepts but also the on-going improvement of our existing range for Specialized Nutrition (SN). We create formulas that provide clinically substantiated health benefits to vulnerable consumers - infants, toddlers, elderly and patients. 

By bringing together employees from different backgrounds, with complementary scientific and technological expertise, we have been able to build a creative, high-spirit powerhouse to spur our innovation. With over 600 employees, the Utrecht R&I centre delivers evidence-based specialised nutrition to infants, pregnant women, patients and the elderly.

Find more about us:  www.nutriciaresearch.com

The Fuel for Growth – Liquid team is part of the Innovation Design and Development Center (IDDC) and plays an instrumental role in maintaining and improving our Specialized Nutrition Liquid product range. This dynamic team highly contributes to the success of our SN brands on the market place. 

We are currently seeking for the director who will be in charge of this pivotal team. 

The SN strategic imperative is to double Adult business NS and to continue double digit growth on Paeds and Core Milk. Significant CAPEX has been granted to 4 new Supply Points to expand our liquid capacity. The R&I Fuel-for-Growth team plays a pivotal role in securing and expanding our SN business.

Your profile: 

As a dedicated professional with a passion for driving continuous improvement, you thrive in dynamic environments and possess a proven ability to lead and inspire teams towards excellence. Your track record of strategic thinking and problem-solving reflects your commitment to achieve impactful results 

Your expertise: 

You have experience in Specialized Nutrition Product Development – or similar industry (e.g pharma), ideally coupled with a deep Technical Expertise in sterilized Liquid products and a good knowledge of factories environment. 

You have the ability to navigate in complex situations in a challenging environment. 

You have experience in inspiring and leading teams through transformation   

Your vision: 

As an accomplished visionary you have consistently demonstrated your ability to envision and actualize strategies that lead to sustainable growth.  

You have proven to adapt within a fast changing environment and embark teams behind an unified vision 

Your leadership: 

You have a track record of building high performing teams, fostering collaboration, motivation and inclusivity. You are leading by example and have a hands-on approach. 

Your leadership skills combined with a keen eye for optimizing processes will position you as the ideal candidate for this role. 

This position is a critical strategic position for the SN growth 

In this position you will be reporting into the Senior Director IDDC Liquid and you will have the following accountabilities and responsibilities: 

• Co-design Operational Strategy for Business Continuity plan 
• Lead R&I Transformation toward the SN R&I Liquid regionalization (Organization + Governance) with an increased accountability throughout a more complex manufacturing network Complexity management: 2 EU supply points (ZTM being most complex SP in SN), 13 COMMAN, developing 3 new SP outside EU (EDP factories) - managing and maintaining 360 recipes 
• Lead and deliver the Fuel-for-Growth projects cross categories, partnering mainly with Operations, Quality and Food Safety, Procurement (C&P) and Regulatory teams – as well as a high variety of stakeholders within the company 
• Drive Technical Capability build-up program for the Fuel-for-Growth Liquid team 
• Deliver ambitious target on Productivity  
• Coach and Develop Talents in the team, building compelling organization design and governance; drive adaptation where relevant. 
• The successful job holder will have 4 direct reports and a total team of 18 people. Some of the team members are located in Supply Points across Europe.  

If you are a visionary, strategic leader with a solid technical background, and with a passion for steering teams toward excellence, you are definitely the candidate we are looking for.

ABOUT US

 Working here you’ll need to enjoy a fast-pace, complexity and it can get a little challenging. But it’s packed with opportunities. You’ll work with some of the best-known brands in the world, such as Evian, Nutricia, Activia and Nutrilon and we absolutely guarantee that you can just be yourself. Be innovative and entrepreneurial and the impact you could make might just amaze you. Join our movement for a healthier world. One Planet One Health BY YOU.

We are proud to be an equal employer. We are convinced our differences make the difference and that an inclusive working environment will drive our growth as a business, as teams and as individuals. We will therefore consider all applicants for employment* fostering an inclusive working culture that is accessible for all.