CDI - Sr structural analysis scientist - W/M

About The Job

• Department: Advanced Technology Ingredient
• Division: Analytical Sciences
• Reports to: Analytical Sciences Director

Department Context and Challenges

• The main missions of the Advanced Technologies R&I Division are to:
  • Create innovative and differentiating technological solutions to meet consumer and patient needs, within an approach that integrates the OPOH strategic framework.
  • The priorities of this Division include:
  • Plant‑based solutions
  • Optimization of milk and dairy ingredients
  • Packaging transformation
  • Development of innovative ingredients
  • Development and mastery of technologies and processes enabling innovation and fast go‑to‑market, excellence in execution and investment optimisation
  • Simplification of developments through the creation and combination of high value‑added technology building blocks
• Support Zone/CBU teams in charge of short‑term projects (H1) in finding solutions to their issues when high‑level expertise is required
• Develop and equip the organization with leading capabilities, standards and systems, leveraging digital tools in close coordination with D2D.
• More specifically, the Advanced Technologies – Ingredients department is responsible for developing innovative ingredients and providing expertise across various existing or emerging ingredient categories, as well as anticipating scientific and technological solutions through the promotion and development of our ecosystem.

Analytical Sciences Team Responsibilities

• Providing analytical expertise to R&I projects
  • Characterisation of raw materials, ingredients, finished or intermediate products, packaging materials and strains
  • Analysis of competitors’ products
  • In vitro tests, challenge tests
  • Characterisation of product composition and organoleptic profiles (aromas and texture)
• Building a network of analytical and scientific experts (academics, suppliers) and structuring partnerships
• Developing analytical methods tailored to the needs of all Danone Group stakeholders (R&I, Quality, factories) on food matrices, which may potentially be transferred to third‑party laboratories.
• Providing technological solutions to optimise product production and quality.

Main Missions

Within the Analytical Sciences Division, you manage a team of scientific experts dedicated to the structural characterization of food matrices. Your mission is to develop innovative analytical methods adapted to complex matrices and to leverage state‑of‑the‑art analytical approaches to understand structure–function–sensory relationships. You will contribute to promoting the Danone Group’s analytical expertise through scientific communications, identifying emerging technologies and potential scientific collaborators in your field of interest.

Main Responsibilities

• Leadership & Scientific Management
  • Manage a team of managers and technicians (priorities, resources, skills development)
  • Define the scientific roadmap for structural analyses and innovative technical directions
  • Ensure scientific excellence and data robustness
• Analytical Expertise & Innovation
  • Deploy high‑performance structural characterization techniques
    • Quantitative microscopy / imaging
    • Morphological and textural analysis
    • Spectroscopies
  • Develop new approaches to link structure texture sensory perception
  • Contribute to the modelling and digitalisation of analytical data
  • Be accountable for implementing safety standards and managing the analytical equipment portfolio within your scope of responsibility
• Contribution to R&I Projects
  • Support R&I teams on:
    • Understanding molecular and structural mechanisms
    • Optimising formulas and processes
    • Solving complex issues
    • Accelerating innovation by identifying actionable levers to optimise dairy, plant‑based, infant nutrition and beverage products, as well as industrial processes, in connection with sensory attributes and consumer preference
• Scientific Network & Influence
  • Build a network of partners (academics, start‑ups, suppliers)
  • Identify and integrate emerging technologies
  • Represent Analytical Sciences internally and externally
  • Communicate scientific advances through publications and/or presentations at international conferences

Main Functional Relationships

• Scope of the role
• Responsible for the structural analysis laboratory
• Ambassador for analytical sciences in their field of expertise
• Manages engineers and technicians and trains them in Danone‑specific methods and good laboratory practices

Internal Stakeholders

• Analytical Sciences teams
• Danone Research WW R&I teams
• Quality & Food Safety teams
• Cross‑functional teams: intellectual property, legal and purchasing

External Stakeholders

• Academic scientific experts
• Suppliers
• Analytical experts from other companies
• Professional groups and learned societies
• Partner and subcontractor laboratories

Required Skills

• Scientific level: Minimum Master’s degree or equivalent in Materials Science, Biophysics, Physical Measurements, Food Science or Biochemistry
• Solid experience in analytical research, and more specifically in structural analysis of complex matrices (food, cosmetic or biological)
• Required technical skills
  • Mastery of the following analytical approaches
    • Rheology
    • Texture
    • Microscopy (widefield, confocal, fluorescence, etc.)
    • Labeling methodologies
  • Skills or a strong interest in programming, image processing and the use of image analysis software would be a plus
  • Experience in complex data processing and awareness of data quality, structuring and standardisation challenges
  • Technical knowledge of spectroscopy (e.g. Raman, IR, NMR) would be a plus
• Solid knowledge of biochemistry
• Strong expertise in the characterization of complex food matrices (dairy, plant‑based, beverages)
• Experience with industrial processes in the agri‑food sector would be a plus
• Significant managerial experience in people management
• Ability to make decisions in urgent situations
• Responsiveness, autonomy, initiative, curiosity, teamwork
• Strategic vision and ability to prioritise
• Scientific rigor and critical thinking
• Ability to work cross‑functionally and in an international environment
• Excellent communication skills (scientific and popularisation)
• Fluent English, both spoken and written

Additional Skills and Experience

• Deep knowledge of biochemistry
• Expertise in the characterisation of complex food matrices (dairy, plant‑based, beverages)
• Experience with industrial processes in the agri‑food sector (plus)
• Strong managerial experience
• Decisiveness in urgent situations
• Responsiveness, autonomy, initiative, curiosity, teamwork
• Strategic vision and prioritisation ability
• Scientific rigor and critical thinking
• Cross‑functional collaboration in an international environment
• Excellent communication skills (scientific and popularisation)
• Fluent English, both spoken and written