Scientist Food Flavour Analytics

UNILEVER IS LOOKING FOR A SCIENTIST FOOD FLAVOUR ANALYTICS

Location: Unilever - Hive, Wageningen, the Netherlands   

Local conditions apply

Full-time

Salary indication: 45 K – 62 K  based on experience and background

The applicant must have the right to work in the Netherlands.

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 first consider candidates based in the Netherlands. If you are based outside of the Netherlands and you are interested to apply, please feel free to do so but we can only take your application on if a decision is made to also recruit outside of the Netherlands.

ABOUT UNILEVER

With 3.4 billion people in over 190 countries using our products every day, Unilever is a business that makes a real impact on the world. Work on brands that are loved and improve the lives of our consumers and the communities around us. We are driven by our purpose: to make sustainable living commonplace, and it is our belief that doing business the right way drives superior performance. At the heart of what we do is our people – we believe that when our people work with purpose, we will create a better business and a better world. 

At Unilever, your career will be a unique journey, grounded in our inclusive, collaborative, and flexible working environment. We don’t believe in the ‘one size fits all’ approach and instead we will equip you with the tools you need to shape your own future.

ABOUT NUTRITION R&D

Nutrition is the largest Business Group in Unilever with global multibillion-dollar brands such as Knorr and Hellman’s and many strong regional and local brands. Nutrition BG’s vision is to be a Force for Good in Foods. Nutrition R&D develops and delivers unmissably superior products and solutions that are Boldly Healthier for People and Planet, rooted in differentiated science and technology. With our global innovation centre Hive, in the heart of the Silicon Valley of Food, in Wageningen, The Netherlands, and our network of R&D teams across the world, we work closely with many internal and external partners to create market-winning innovations. Increasingly, Digital and Data are the currency of how we work in R&D, from discovery through product development and deployment. New developments in AI and Data Science will be the crucial differentiator for us to win.

JOB PURPOSE

Unilever is the place where you can bring your purpose to life with the work that you do – creating a better business and a better world. If you are curious, have a hands-on attitude, love food and like to work with advanced analytical equipment then this role is just for you! 

The Scientist Food Flavour Analytics is responsible for executing advanced chromatography and mass spectrometry-based experiments for detailed characterization and quantification of a wide range of food ingredients in an equally wide range of food products, ingredients and raw materials. The main technique focus will be on liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC-MS), but if more appropriate other methods will be used as well, either by yourself, or in collaboration with other analytical scientists. All activities will be performed in agile project-teams where the analytical scientist will collaborate closely with flavor researchers and sensory experts, ensuring frequent mutual assistance with maximum cross-disciplinary synergies and learnings. Team results will be reported in an electronic lab journal, team presentations, in formal research reports, or external scientific publications. 

The overall aim of the work is to deliver consumer-preferred products through full integration of molecular flavour and taste understanding, advanced food preparation methods, sensory expertise and consumer science.

WHAT WILL YOUR MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES BE

• Support Unilever Foods projects through delivery of crucial chemical compositional data and information using LC-MS and related measurement methods.

• Preparing samples for detailed studies aimed at building understanding of food systems including molecular mechanisms for food flavour and taste development.

• Development of state-of-the-art hyphenated chromatographic-MS quantification and identification methods for food-analysis including the appropriate methods for sample preparation.

• Maintain and improve our instrumentation for LC-MS as well as our knowledge in the area of food flavour and aroma species, packaging materials, processing byproducts, protective atmospheres etc.

• Utilizing molecular data to aid the project team in designing novel formulations based on fundamental understanding

• Work according to SHEQ and HAACP standards.

• Coherently report, interpret and discuss experimental series and advise follow up.

• Storage of relevant information in the respective Unilever data management systems for ingredient and product management as Electronic Lab Notebook, LIMS Product Lifecycle Management, etc.

WHAT YOU NEED TO SUCCEED

Experiences & Qualifications

• Proven record of interest in- and passion for advanced analytical methods for food analysis.

• Education at HBO level or Academic level in Analytical Chemistry, in particular chromatography and/or mass spectrometry.

• Working knowledge on food chemistry and food preparation.

• Proven scientific way of thinking and handling (thinks before doing, stepwise and logic approach of problem-solving).  

• Team player who likes to work in multi-disciplinary teams.  

• Hands-on attitude and strong desire to learn new skills. 

• Experience in working with large datasets and automated data-evaluation. 

• Experienced in using Microsoft Tools (Word, Outlook, Excel, PPT, TEAMS), statistical and programming software (e.g. JMP, Python, etc).   

• The position is in an environment where tasting is important. Working knowledge on sensory principles and tasting skills is preferred. 

• Candidates with good tasting ability without dietary restrictions (e.g., due to food allergies) are preferred. 

Skills

• Chemical analysis – In particular chromatography and mass spectrometry 

• Scientific thinking 

• Sensorial analysis

• Reporting 

• Communication 

WHAT IS IN IT FOR YOU?

Unilever 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.

• Informal culture and being the first one trying our new products. 

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

• Home work allowance

• Company laptop and mobile phone

• Green Mobility Policy.   

EXCITED?

Join 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 Unilever. Applications from agencies will not be accepted, nor will fees be paid for unsolicited CVs.

Equal Opportunity Employer: Unilever is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regards to race, color, 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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