Associate R&D Specialist Flavors

Nestlé Institute of Food Sciences

Welcome to Nestlé Research, a global organization, with most of our passionate team located in Lausanne, Switzerland! Our work is powered by five specialized Nestlé Institutes and key strategic units. Here, we think fresh and collaborate to create amazing solutions. How about taking a step inside our organization and discover the exciting research activities and expertise that drive us forward? Want to learn more!

Position Snapshot: Your opportunity to #breakthrough with us!

Location: Nestlé Research, Lausanne, Switzerland

Institute: Nestlé Institute of Food Science

Company: Société des Produits Nestlé S.A.
Act. Rate: Full-Time Act. Rate 100%
Type of contract: 2-year contract

What we offer at Nestlé

Exciting opportunities to develop your career your way; across different brands, businesses, functions, and regions.

Flexible working arrangements - facilitating creativity and collaboration.

A culture of respect, with diversity, equity and inclusion at its core.

A dynamic international environment empowering you to learn, develop and grow.

Don’t hesitate to connect with us during the recruitment process to learn more

Position Summary

As an “Associate R&D Specialist Flavors” in Nestlé Research, you will be instrumental in advancing the innovation and renovation within Flavor Science. Your work will span across all categories in Nestlé, catering both tasty and nutritious products, for consumers and their pet friends.

Thanks to your passion and scientific expertise, you will develop robust scientific and innovative solutions to decode and modulate taste and aroma in order to enhance sensory experiences for our consumers. Collaborating with multidisciplinary experts, you will drive the collection, interpretation and application of scientific findings into the development of new product concepts and address business opportunities. You will also have the opportunity to shape and implement the future scientific strategy in this field, engaging with internal and external experts and various business partners.

A Day in the Life of an Associate R&D Specialist Flavors

• Embrace innovation as a catalyst for change: Collaborate with cross-functional teams to drive cutting-edge research in aroma and taste mastery, leveraging your flavor expertise and developing impactful prototypes. Communicate effectively with impact to different stakeholders, e.g., institute heads, stream leaders, project managers, and business stakeholders. Propose new projects and activities that align with our research goals and business needs.

• Make a meaningful impact on our world: Lead project activities to meet defined objectives and timelines, coordinating with experts in sensory science, perception physiology, and material science. Manage project budgets effectively and ensure seamless knowledge transfer to Product Technology Centers.

• Foster a culture of creativity and growth: Engage with diverse thought leaders to spark fresh ideas and entrepreneurial initiatives. Identify technical gaps and opportunities and stay updated on the latest trends and methods. Propose innovative ideas by merging technical knowledge with business insights and exploring external partnerships.

• Stay at the forefront of science by monitoring the latest development in flavor sciences, and sharing relevant external technologies in both academia and industry

What Will Make You Successful

• Ph.D. in food, flavor or analytical chemistry with knowledge of data science, ideally with industrial experience

• Research and applied science experience in the field of flavor sciences and linking to sensory benefits

• Practical experience in analytical laboratory, with a focus on volatile and non-volatiles (GC-MS, GC-O, LC/MS)

• Proficiency in programming languages, e.g. Python & R, and experience in statistical analysis (e.g., PLS and PCA) and data visualization

• Basic knowledge of sensory techniques

• Ability to translate complex scientific results to easily understood way that instils credibility across different stakeholders

• Excellent communication skills in English (written/spoken)

• Networking skills and proactivity

• People at Core: Demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively in diverse teams, fostering an environment that encourages fresh thinking and values contributions. Display openness, flexibility, and creativity in problem-solving while cultivating strong networking and teamwork abilities

• Innovation at Heart: Proven track record in driving innovative projects that challenge the status quo and contribute to breakthrough solutions, alongside experience in modeling or diet formulation

• Driven by Passion, Inspired by People: Strong commitment to promoting well-being and a positive workplace culture, ensuring all team members feel valued

Exciting Opportunity Ahead! After submitting your application, you will receive an invitation to create a short video introduction, guided by a few specific questions. This is your chance to showcase your personality and passion.

We kindly ask that you submit your video within 7 days of your application to ensure we can assess your profile thoroughly. Please note that if this step is not completed within the specified time, we will assume you have chosen to withdraw your application

Nestlé is committed to the accessibility of its recruitment process. If you require an adaptation during the recruitment process, please do let us know so we can support you effectively. All information will be treated confidentially.

At Nestlé, we want to help shape a better and healthier world, inspire people to live healthier lives and deliver impact at a scale and pace that makes a difference. We do this by fostering a diverse, friendly, supportive, and collaborative environment, that creates positive disruption, embraces innovation, and empowers people and teams to win. We aim to hire friendly, respectful, inspiring people who care about the people’s lives that we touch every single day.

Be a force for good. Join Nestlé and visit us on www.nestle.com.