Azienda Our client leads the chocolate and cocoa industry, driven by innovation and excellence across more than 60 production facilities and 25 academy centers worldwide. Offerta JOB DESCRIPTION As Customer R&D, you will act as face to the customer being their technical counterpart advising them in requests selecting the right product from our portfolio, mainly chocolates, cocoa, compound coatings and fillings and collaborate with other departments to select the right product from our extensive product category portfolio. You will be able to select, propose, present the right existing products or develop them, providing the technical support and training on our product range, applications needed for customer implementation to launch their new products, also, leading technical product developments (NPI) based on customer demands and ensure product solutions. Working together with the Sales and Marketing Team, you will create/support new market opportunities by leveraging the customer network and product innovations. Working with Product Experts and taking the lead for NPI Projects on your own, you will deliver clear briefs as a base for NPI and organize the coordination of the projects internally and with the customer. It will also be key to maintain a good overview of customer capabilities, product portfolio, future projects and launches. MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES Leverage client Product Portfolio to answer Customer needs and boost their innovation process towards successful launches. Take the lead and work together with other internal functions and the customer for a successful Product Development. Draft clear project briefs, follow up on customer feedback on Samples and Testing. Define next steps in Product Creation process till being approved by the customer. Create and follow-up Production Planning for the Industrial production run. Keep customer and other stakeholders informed. Collect customer feedback on industrial trials and define finetunes if needed. Evaluate First industrial trials and check the workability of the delivered solution before creating a Final Name. Ensure that a successful technical service to our customers is established and continuously improved, being the first point of contact and involving internal resources to become the technical partner. SCOPE Cover Italian market demands. Maintain a good overview of a customer's capabilities, product portfolio, future projects and launches. Assure development of internal and external client relations and maintain communication between both parties. Establish continuous knowledge transfer from the customer to the internal client Community. CANDIDATE PROFILE Scientific Bachelor/Master Degree in Food Science, Chemistry, Biology or similar. Language: Italian native speaker, Fluent English (oral and written). Skills: High communication skills, flexible mind-set, negotiation and dynamism and ability to manage several projects simultaneously. Travel requirements: Frequent travel, Customer visit, Co-creation day organized at the Academy in Milan, etc. Weekly and/or monthly. ESSENTIAL EXPERIENCE & KNOWLEDGE / TECHNICAL OR FUNCTIONAL COMPETENCIES 3-5 years of experience in the food industry. Experience in Sales or client interaction. Good knowledge of working tools (SAP, Salesforce, MS Office, …). LEADERSHIP COMPETENCIES & PERSONAL STYLE Strong Project Management Skills. Management through prioritization. High level of initiative, dedication and persuasiveness. Strive for product excellence, packaging & raw material knowledge. Excellent analytical skills. Communicative and negotiation (internal and external). Creative thinker & solution provider. Team player. Technical knowledge in confectionery, BAPA, Ice cream, Dairy is a plus. Technical knowledge in Chocolate, Compound and fillings is a plus. J-18808-Ljbffr