Sr Technical Manager - Savory in Rotterdam

Sr Technical Manager - Savory

Our client is a leading global company of specialty food and nutrition ingredients, combining deep technical expertise with an extensive international network. The company has built a strong reputation for translating innovative ingredient technologies into commercially successful solutions that meet evolving customer needs.

Benefits

• Strategic impact and business ownership: Drive technical business development across savoury and culinary applications for a global market leader, helping shape the EMEA strategy and directly contributing to profitable growth and stronger supplier partnerships.

• International exposure and collaboration: Work across the EMEA region, with up to 50% international travel and close collaboration with multicultural, cross-functional teams across Sales, Marketing, Product Management and Technical. Key Western European hubs include Rotterdam, Paris, London, Barcelona, Milan and Cologne.

• Career progression at the intersection of technical and commercial leadership: Leverage your application expertise to identify new business opportunities, manage a regional project pipeline and translate technical innovation into measurable commercial results, creating a strong foundation for future senior leadership opportunities.

Role Responsibilities

• Drive technical business development across savoury and culinary: Lead technical growth initiatives across F&N Savoury, Oils & Fats and Ingredients, developing and managing a robust regional project pipeline. Translate customer needs and supplier innovations into commercially viable solutions that deliver sustainable, profitable growth.

• Shape the regional strategy alongside senior leadership: Act as the primary technical counterpart to the Market Segment Director, contributing to the development and execution of the EMEA savoury and culinary roadmap. Align technical priorities with supplier strategies and broader business objectives to maximise growth opportunities.

• Develop and strengthen the regional technical network: Coordinate and engage the regional technical community, identifying capability gaps and driving targeted training and development initiatives. Champion digital tools and platforms, including Alchemy and product technical tagging, to improve knowledge sharing, strengthen technical capabilities and accelerate commercial success.

Requirements

• Extensive technical and industry experience: A bachelor's degree in Food Science, Food Technology, Chemistry, Biotechnology or a related discipline, combined with 10-15 years of experience in the Food & Nutrition industry. Your background may span technical service, product development, application management, technical business development or market segment management, with the experience and credibility to operate effectively at a regional level.

• Strong savoury and culinary expertise with a commercial mindset: Deep technical knowledge of savoury and culinary applications, complemented by a customer-focused and commercially driven approach. You bring proven experience in technical business development, project management and strategic planning, with the ability to turn customer challenges and technical opportunities into profitable business outcomes.

• International collaboration and digital proficiency: Experience in specialty ingredients and international, multicultural environments, with excellent communication and stakeholder management skills. You are comfortable navigating matrix organisations, proficient in digital tools and platforms such as Alchemy and product technical tagging, and willing to travel internationally up to 50% to build strong relationships with customers, colleagues and suppliers.