R&D Semi-finished & Tropical Raw Materials Lab Specialist - maternity leave

Job Location: ​Alba​

Company description

Ferrero is a family-owned company with a truly progressive and global outlook and iconic brands such as Nutella®, Tic Tac®, Ferrero Rocher®, Raffaello®, Kinder Bueno® and Kinder Surprise®. As the love for our brands continues to grow, so too does our global reach. Represented in more than 50 countries, with products sold in more than 170, the Ferrero Group is loved by generations around the world. The secret to our global success? 38,767  dedicated employees who celebrate care and quality to craft a business, careers and brands we are proud of. Join us, and you could be one of them.

Diversity Statement

Ferrero is committed to building a diverse and inclusive culture in which all employees feel welcomed and appreciated and have the same opportunities. We believe all of our people are equally talented in their own way. In nurturing the curiosity and natural abilities of our employees, we provide them, generation after generation, the means to succeed personally and professionally, enabling them to craft their journey at Ferrero. The diversity of our talents is what makes our work environment multicultural, innovative and highly rewarding.

About the Role:

Provide new raw materials to the laboratories for product development, identifying the best raw materials (present and future) on the market and studying their specifications according to Ferrero standards (pre-requisites, regulatory standards, etc.). Guarantee analysis and studies about all raw materials through experimental testing and tasting. This role requires a balance between scientific rigor and the ability to provide agile solutions to meet business/product developers’ needs.

Main Responsibilities:

• Manage cereal & sugar-based semi-finished product categories.
• Act as the focal point for internal stakeholders (finished product development platforms, quality department, food law and regulatory department, food safety department, procurement department, marketing department, nutrition department, etc.).
• Coordinate external partners in the development of tailor-made cereal & sugar-based semi-finished products.
• Coordinate laboratory testing to define semi-finished products’ characteristics.
• Prepare, issue, and update the specifications of semi-finished products of competence.
• Collaborate with the relevant business units for the constant maintenance of regulatory updates (legislation and voluntary standards of the category) to quickly grasp any emerging problems or take advantage of new opportunities.
• Verify the development and/or improvement of used semi-finished products through the study of technological-productive interventions among suppliers and through the study of alternatives.
• Manage R&D projects in collaboration with external entities.

Who we are looking for:

• Master’s degree in Agri-food science and technology or a related major.
• 1-2 years of experience.
• Project management and statistical analysis for scientific research activities.
• Knowledgeable about quality and food safety standards.
• Problem-solving skills focused on continuous improvement.
• Ability to work independently and with others in an interdisciplinary-focused environment.
• Solid organizational skills.
• Ability to manage multiple projects in a proactive and timely manner.
• Ability to generate positive relationships in a team environment.
• Good communication skills, including strong writing and presentation skills.
• Maximum availability for traveling.

Languages: Fluent in Italian & English.

IT Skills: MS Office - Statistical software (R is preferred).

How to be successful in the role and at Ferrero:

Consumers, quality and care are at the heart of everything we do. So, to be successful at Ferrero, you’ll need to be just as consumer and product centric as we are - dedicated to crafting brilliant results for consumers around the world. 

Strong analytical mind, attention to details on one hand, and ability to cooperate with employees at all levels and great organisational skills on the other, would be key to success.  Employee contribution and engagement at Ferrero is based on the individual, team and organisation dimension, so you should have the ability to work independently, as a part of the team and build good relations with stakeholders at all levels.  Being flexible and dealing with a dynamic working environment as well as the ability to embed new knowledge and skills in existing competencies will definitely help you to become high performer here.