Director (gn) R&D QA

CUSTOMER

Prinsen Berning is a fast-growing company in the field of active nutrition. In total they have some 600 employees, who are located at their offices and manufacturing facilities in Helmond (The Netherlands) and Georgsmarienhütte (Germany). Key activities are the development, production and sales of nutritional powders and protein bars. The strategic focus of Prinsen Berning is on co-manufacturing for brand owners and retailers, mainly for European customers. They offer tailor made solutions with their broad capabilities and services in market & consumer insights, product development & innovation, process & packaging and quality assurance & supply chain. Currently the locations in The Netherlands and Germany have separate teams for the functional disciplines Research & Development and Quality Assurance. In order to stimulate company synergies and to further professionalise business processes, the new position of Director R&D/QA will be created as part of the Prinsen Berning Management Team. For this new and challenging role a proven track record in R&D management and relevant QA knowledge are required.

POSITION

• Responsible for the organisation and performance of the functional disciplines Research & Development and Quality Assurance
• Developing and defining the plans for R&D and QA with support base from the organisation and in line with the Prinsen Berning strategy and budget
• Leading the local teams for R&D and QA (in total around 40 employees) by creating synergies, professionalising business processes and facilitating people development
• Implementing the product development and innovation strategy by delivering tailor made customer solutions and by creating new product concepts
• Building relevant expertise about raw materials, product technology (including process and packaging knowledge) and healthy nutrition
• Visiting key customers and or promising prospects together with management and/or the sales organisation
• Setting the required quality standards by harmonising QA systems, managing risks, reducing complexity where possible and utilising best practices
• Active member of the Management Team and reporting to the CEO

PROFILE

• Academic level with an educational background in food technology, nutrition or an equivalent
• Senior and relevant R&D management experience in the international food industry
• Broad knowledge about raw materials, product technology and healthy nutrition
• Good understanding about QA standards, systems and processes and the actual requirements from customers and legal authorities
• Capable of building and managing strong teams and effective processes for R&D and QA, with uniform company standards and local responsibilities in execution
• Market driven innovation attitude by understanding customer needs and translating this into the required product, technology and packaging solutions
• Delivering on promise and accountable for performance on target and KPI’s
• Prepared to work from both locations (Helmond and Georgsmarienhütte) and available to travel on a regular base to business relations
• Personal skills: strategic vision, innovative mindset, pro-active, inspiring, well organised, collaborative, results driven and pragmatic

RESPOND TO

If you are interested in this position, please contact Jakob Jan Verbraak from our partner DUPP, telephone: +31 317 468686 / +31 6 51820349 or apply through their website www.dupp.nl or e-mail your written application to info@dupp.nl

Prinsen Berning has selected DUPP as the only partner for this executive search.