Product Development & External Innovation Leader - EMEA Region (E770)

Department:Product Development

Location:Leonardo Da Vinci Laan 19, Belgium

About the Wellness Pet Company:

The Wellness Pet Company crafts and produces premium natural pet food, treats, and dental chews. We believe that natural, premium nutrition focused on proven health outcomes is the foundation of creating a mutual wellbeing for pets and their families. As a community of people, Wellies are positively obsessed about how to win for pets and their parents. We believe in the difference we make every single day, and we know that when we work collaboratively, Wellies are unstoppable -- Not only in providing the best nutrition to pets, but in building a better tomorrow for pets, their parents, and the world.

Your #lifeatwellnesspet:

When you join Wellness Pet, you join a team whose aligned values and purpose create a unique and exciting place to work every day. Join us on our adventure to fulfill a life of wellbeing together with pets and their parents.

Are you an experienced pet food R&D professional looking to grow your career and make an immediate impact in a fast-paced environment? This position is responsible for supporting the growth and sustainability ambitions of our EMEA business in both functional treating and main meal categories by delivering new product and packaging innovation and renovation, as well as ensuring we maintain the quality of existing products. This role will be part of a small, agile regional technical team including regulatory and quality leaders. This role will be based out of our Brussels regional headquarters location, and reports to our Global Product Development Director, who is located in the U.S.

What You'll Accomplish:

• Lead the technical qualification of new regional co-manufacturers and suppliers

• Lead the regional technical activities during feasibility and commercialization phases of new product developments, including design to value

• Collaborate with marketing, quality, packaging and supply functions during initial product development project ideations to ensure clear scopes are created, and oversee fast-paced execution of prioritized activities

• Ensure new product development delivery against business expectations including formulation development to achieve desired marketing claims, nutritional performance targets, key sensorial features, etc.

• Be a partner of choice to regional ingredient and manufacturing vendors to assess new and emerging technologies, functional ingredients, as well as cost-saving opportunities in line with growth, productivity and sustainability goals

  Who We-re Looking For:

  Team Wellie is a group of people who are truly obsessed with all the best ways about winning for the consumer and the pets they love. And so, we are seeking an individual who:

• Is consumer focused on all they do

• Continually challenge themselves to go the extra mile to get the job done, and ensure it-s done the right was as opposed to the easy way

• Hold themselves and others accountable

• Embraces continual development through the sharing of feedback and investment in learning opportunities.

• Is a true collaborator, sharing resources, and engages in healthy debate

• Celebrates differences and strives to learn from others who are different from themselves

• Gives back to their community and supports sustainable practices

  On top of strong technical credentials, a drive for external collaborations with co-manufacturers and suppliers combined with internal cross-functional partnership and influencing skills will be critical for success. You should also possess:

• Bachelor's degree in food science, animal science or related field

• 8-10 years of pet food & nutrition experience

• High level of curiosity in all areas of pet nutrition and food science

• Constantly thinking of continuous improvement opportunities

• Demonstrated leadership abilities within a science and technical role

• 20-25% travel, mainly regional with potential for travel to US headquarters, manufacturing sites and our Asian facilities

• Fluent in English, with proficiency in another language (ideally Dutch, French, or German)

  Why Work for Wellness Pet:

  The Wellness Pet Company is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace. We celebrate diversity and are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, or veteran status.