R&D Manager
Smiling Food
Vienna, Austria
We develop the first modular system for sugar substitutes without artificial sweeteners to provide healthy alternatives tailored to specific food applications.
Our plug-ins come without side effects but provide the same taste, technofunctionality and volume as household sugar.
Position Overview:
We are looking for an innovative and driven R&D Manager to lead our product development efforts in the use case sector, focusing on sugar replacement technologies on chocolate, candy and bakery goods. This role requires a visionary with a deep understanding of food chemistry, application technology as well as a passion for revolutionizing sweetness. As an R&D Manager, you will be at the forefront of developing and optimizing our next-generation sugar alternative plug-ins, ensuring they meet the highest standards of quality, functionality, and consumer satisfaction.
Key Responsibilities:
Product Development & Innovation:
- Lead the development and optimization of our sugar alternative solutions specifically for bakery, chocolate, and candy applications. Focus on enhancing important parameters like dough stability, texture and taste based on our current platform and processes;
- Design, execute, and analyze Design of Experiments (DoEs), studies, sensory tests, and laboratory investigations. Support the patent application processes for our IP and drive the technology behind them forward.
Research & Optimization:
- Conduct and oversee research on new processes and product concepts, with a focus on optimizing our solutions. Ensure all formulations are adapted and refined to achieve the desired quality and functionality to enable them for industrial scale.
Leadership:
- Build and lead a multidisciplinary team that drives product development efforts within the company. Communicate with investors, suppliers, and partners to identify growth opportunities, to drive the company’s strategic vision forward and to ensure smooth collaborations.
Your Profile:
Educational Background:
- Studies in Food Chemistry/Technology, Product Development or a related field.
Professional Experience:
- Proven experience in the food industry or R&D area, with a strong focus on either sweet products, sweeteners, starches, or fiber technologies. Startup experience is a big plus.
Innovative Mindset:
- A passion for innovation with a “we make it work” attitude, being always ready to explore multiple approaches, finding solutions, and exchanging ideas with your team.
Technical Expertise:
- Strong analytical skills to precisely adapt and optimize formulations, with experience in conducting DoEs, prototyping, as well as lab and sensory tests.
Leadership & Communication:
- Demonstrated leadership capabilities and excellent communication skills, with a readiness to work in a fast-changing startup environment.
Commitment to Impact:
- High levels of engagement, energy, resilience and self-motivation, driven by the desire to create societal value through healthy, tasty, and revolutionary sweetness.
What We Bring to the Table:
- Sugar-Free Future: Join us in revolutionizing the sweetener market by challenging the status quo together with an amazing and highly motivated team;
- Startup Vibes: Say goodbye to boring! Be part of a young and dynamic environment where creativity, transparency, flat hierarchies, and a shared spirit are at the core of our work culture, inspiring you daily;
- Travel around the world: Attend international exhibitions, conferences, and industry events, visit research facilities and collaborate with global partners;
- Acknowledgment: Next to a fair salary, we offer company shares to recognize your valuable contributions;
- Personal Development: Enjoy the freedom to fully leverage your individual strengths and passions. Bring your visions to life and showcase your capabilities. Benefit from personalized coaching and the support of our international advisory board, dedicated to your growth;
- Flexible Working Hours: Choose a schedule that suits you best, with the option to work from 35 to 40 hours per week. Balance your professional and personal life effectively through flexitime arrangements.
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