R&D Raw Material (Fruit) Lab Specialist

We are looking for an R&D Raw Material (Fruit) Lab Specialist who will join the Global R&D organization, working within the Fresh Fruit Filiera Laboratory. In this role, you will contribute to the development and improvement of fruit-based raw materials and semi-finished products, supporting both innovation and optimization activities.

Collaborating closely with cross-functional teams and external partners, you will combine laboratory activities with a broader exposure to raw material scouting, supplier interaction and product development processes, ensuring alignment with Ferrero quality and safety standards.

Supporting the management of fresh fruit raw materials, you will contribute to identifying and evaluating new solutions to enable the development and continuous improvement of fruit derived raw materials and semi-finished products, while also scouting innovative technologies, suppliers and processing partners.

You will plan and manage laboratory testing to define and characterize raw materials, assessing their properties and performance across different applications. Through experimental work and data analysis, you will identify potential improvement opportunities, including technological and production interventions at supplier level, as well as the evaluation of alternative raw materials.

Close collaboration with internal stakeholders will allow you to support projects involving raw materials and related semi-finished products, contributing both to new product development initiatives and to the optimization of existing products.

You will take care of define, maintain and update technical documentation for raw materials and semi-finished products, ensuring accuracy, consistency and alignment with internal standards for both internal and external use. You will also ensure the availability of materials required for trials, contributing to the coordination of raw material supply and enabling laboratory and development activities to run effectively.

You will build and maintain strong relationships with suppliers and external stakeholders, fostering technical collaboration and supporting the successful execution of R&D projects.

Finally, you will track project progress and maintain updated documentation within company systems, ensuring proper reporting and traceability of activities.

You hold a master’s degree in Food Chemistry, Food Science & Technology, Biology or a related field; a PhD in these disciplines would be considered favorably.

You have gained experience in the food industry, ideally working with fresh fruit raw materials and related semi-finished products, and have developed a solid understanding of food processing and transformation technologies. Familiarity with quality and food safety standards allows you to operate with accuracy and ensure compliance across activities.

Good knowledge of MS Office supports your daily activities, while fluency in English enables you to work effectively in an international environment.

You are comfortable managing multiple projects simultaneously, approaching your work with a proactive mindset and solid organizational skills. You build effective relationships with internal and external stakeholders and approach challenges with a problem-solving and continuous improvement mindset.

The role is classified at Level 1° under the National Collective Agreement for the Food Industry (CCNL Industria Alimentare). The guaranteed minimum base annual gross salary established by the CCNL for the applicable level is €43.249. The overall compensation will be determined based on the experience, skills, and qualifications of the selected candidate.

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Ferrero began its journey in the small town of Alba in Piedmont, Italy, in 1946. Today, it is one of the world’s largest sweet-packaged food companies, with many iconic brands sold in countries all over the world. Find out more about Ferrero at ferrero.com.

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 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.
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