“Make local” is one of the pillars of our African Strategy. The R&D Manager Food Tech Africa will

• Lead the regional upstream research to develop and maximize the use of local raw materials and target new functionalities for bakery, patisserie and chocolate.
• Coordinate the Upstream research activities in Puratos’ field of interest by building and strengthening a network with external partners (universities, institutions, start-ups),… in or with clear focus on Africa, and targeting the development of new technologies based on the know-how and applications relevant in the African market.
• Target the identification of functionalities of African traditional food (fermentations) and raw materials in close collaboration with the different Business Units. Bring expertise on (regional) traditional food fermentations.

Key Accountabilities

1. Be an internal/external expert on African foods and RM’s:
   1. To build competence on local African raw materials (RM’s) and their use in bakery, patisserie and chocolate
   2. Build network, identify partners and take responsible role in network concerning African Foods and RM’s
   3. Follow-up and initiate external (collaborative) projects, present and participate to external seminars and congresses
   4. Organize application trials in Bakery, Patisserie or Chocolate applications based on identified leads to build expertise on the mechanism of this ingredients/technologies in our products
2. Scientific research tasks :
   1. Understand the African food and raw materials characteristics, identify its functionalities by applying  a variety of experimental, computational and statistical methods in order to find new business opportunities.
   2. Contribute with original ideas to the prosecution of laboratory and/or field experimental procedures
   3. Explore new ideas in the field of fermented food biotopes in Africa as a part of innovation
   4. Proactively translate findings in project proposals in line with the vision & strategy of the different Business Unit involved.   
   5. Coordinate complex projects from basic research to market launch, materializing leads into products.        

3. Sharing knowledge:
   1. Collaborate in R&D projects across a diverse set of scientific disciplines including fermentation, analytics to provide insights and expertise required for successful project progression
   2. Communicate on African food to internal and external stakeholders, represent Puratos as an expert in functional area of expertise at professional events
   3. Connect and exchange with similar Upstream positions in other regions

4. Build regional innovation ecosystem by
   1. Connecting to knowledge & expertise centers (universities, research centers, institutions,….) for ingredients or food systems including the identification & exploration of disruptive technologies (start-ups)
   2. Actively engaging with government bodies and workgroups related to innovation; influence upcoming regulatory changes. Represent Puratos in this forums
   3. Connecting local R&D with the ecosystem and leverage it through student exchange, applied research support, accessing services
   4. Secure IP through contract management , defining patent opportunities and ensure confidentiality on formulas and know-how
   5. Getting access to local funding

5. Collaborate with the local R&D Teams to provide intelligence on innovative raw materials & technologies that can differentiate our products as well to identify potential needs
6. Ensure complete and accurate documentation on all projects and major activities and  build accessible project documentation in line with Puratos procedures by using the appropriate tools

Who are we looking for?

You have:

• A Master degree in Science (Bio-engineer, Biology, Biochemistry or related discipline)
• Minimum 5 year experience in an industrial and/or academic environment
• In depth knowledge on food microorganisms, food characteristics, food technologies…
• Hands-on Bakery and/or Patisserie experience
• Fluent in written and spoken English, fluency in French is a big advantage

• Strong project management skills
• An agile attitude
• Curiosity, creativity and open-mindedness
• Strong team spirit to work in cross-functional teams
• Consensus building capabilities
• An entrepreneurial mindset with strong networking skills
• Impactful communication skills before an audience and can bring complicated messages
• Likes to work in matrix organization and can create impact in a non-hierarchical setting
• Customer centric, with a good understanding of the market needs.
• Ready to travel in Africa (30%)

Why should you join Puratos?

You will be welcomed in a dynamic work environment where passion for innovation, team spirit and continuous improvement are key. You can count on a competitive salary package with attractive benefits such as:

• Meal vouchers (8€/day)
• Group, dental and hospitalization insurance fully paid by Puratos
• 13th month pay
• Company car
• Minimum 5 training days per year
• Responsibilities and the possibility to take ownership of your work

Watch our corporate movie and feel the Puratos Magic:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XNRsBzuRlNI

Who are we?

Puratos is a growing, international, Belgian family business with a team of more than 10 000 employees worldwide. Since 1919, we have been developing, producing and distributing innovative ingredients for the bakery, patisserie and chocolate sectors and helping our customers to be successful. We are committed to the health and well-being of people and protecting the planet.

Are you looking for the right recipe for your career? Choose Puratos, a Top Employer in Belgium.

We at Puratos cultivate an inclusive global workplace, that fully embraces diversity and equal opportunities for all. We strive to reflect the richness of our customers, communities and society, accelerating our ability to innovate and deliver on our commitments.