R&D Pet Food Wet Application Senior Specialist

This opportunity is located within our AFB International business, the global science and technology leader in pet food palatability. We develop and produce a full range of liquid and dry palatability enhancers using high-quality ingredients proven to optimize companion animal response and consumption.

Job Description

AFB International is a global science and technology leader in pet food palatability, developing and producing a full range of liquid and dry palatability enhancers. As expert in pet food, AFB International is partner with pet food manufacturers to create better-tasting dog and cat foods, treats and supplements, meeting the specific needs of the pets and pet owners they serve. The company is part of Ensign-Bickford Industries, Inc. (EBI), a privately-owned high technology conglomerate, and has offices and/or production facilities in the USA (global HQ), Europe, Latin America, Mexico, Australia and China.

As our CTI Wet Application Manager, you will be part of the R&D customer facing team, also known as Customer Technical Insights (CTI) team, where you will have the chance to apply your scientific and technical knowledge in wet pet food to grow our wet application palatants business. With your relevant scientific knowledge you will give guidance and support to Sales and Marketing colleagues as well as external customers in order to improve their business and to maximize collaboration opportunities. Also, you will be leading or collaborating through projects with the Science & Technology team to find solutions that meet the needs of our customers, have the opportunity to present at conferences and join our Sales colleagues when visiting customers and be the R&D backbone for our wet pet application related activities. In this role, you will report to the Head of Customer Technical Insights of your region.

Your opportunity within AFB International

The CTI teams in North America, Europe, Asia Pacific and Latin America, even if regional, they have an international scope. The responsibility of the team is to think and execute against the broader global strategy while engaging other technical and non-technical functions (marketing, sales, quality, R&D) to leverage existing expertise to maximize the change of success of projects, to bring new insights to the final customers and to translate customer roadmaps in potential new technology developments. Focusing on local customers this team can execute flawlessly to achieve both financial and market share objectives.

Your experience should demonstrate:

• Knowledge in wet pet food manufacturing, ingredients and process conditions

• Technical lead on highly complex projects to identify solutions, deliver innovation and renovation portfolio, as well as optimization/improvement projects.

• Ability to work directly with customers, on an as requested basis, to understand back of house operations, customer requests and needs, and solve technical challenges.

• Partner with Marketing and/or Sales to leverage and translate consumer insight into project pipelines.

Key Responsibilities

• Development & introduction of new product and processes in pilot plant, factories and external parties aiming at fine tuning wet pet food palatant solutions in final application (kibble, chunk, gravy, gels).

• Leverage knowhow from Science & Technology to build insights and identify opportunities to grow the palatants portfolio for wet pet food applications.

• Provide technical support through customer interactions, on-site customer training, and handling customer inquiries, by continuously improve / optimize current product and processes to business needs and supply situation and/or implementation of initiatives.

• Lead technical projects including technical assistance, sourcing, quality improvements, compliance, and cost savings. Provide guidance and input to Operations for Production Procedures.

• Connect with appropriate Key Opinion Leaders and support the creation of our interactive and innovative tools in line with the evolving needs of the customers.

• Generate written and oral technical communications including Technical papers (Proof Pointing) and presentations at professional meetings; ensure technical accuracy of promotional communications.

• Conduct local field trials

Your Qualifications

• FMCG technical background in Pet, Food and/or Beverages, with experience in visiting customers.

• Minimum 5 years of R&D in Product Development/Manufacturing/Research & Development.

• Preferably in the area of flavor, nutrition, processing engineering and/or animal sciences.

• PhD Degree in Food & Chemical Sciences or Engineering, Nutrition.

• Pet Food manufacturing experience is valued but not limiting.

• Strong drive and result focus combined with entrepreneurial and innovative mindset.

• Excellent communication skills with good sense of teamwork, networking skills and sharing culture.

• Fluent in English (oral and written), at ease in international environment. Other languages are a plus.

Competences & other

• Technical Project Leadership

• Excellent communication and presentation skills.

• Good sense of teamwork and networking skills.

• Result oriented combined with entrepreneurial, sales and innovative mindset.

• Ability to prioritize and oversee multiple projects in a fast-paced environment.

• Accurate and strong analytical skills.

AFB International is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE). Qualified applicants are considered for employment without regard to race, religion, color, sex, age, disability, sexual orientation, genetic information, national origin, or veteran status.