Ice Cream R&D Process Innovation

About the Role:

We are looking for an Ice-Cream R&D Process Innovation who will act as a subject-matter expert in Ice Cream R&D, with a strong focus on applied process innovation and technological problem-solving. In this role, you will translate Product R&D needs into scalable preliminary process designs and well-defined proof-of-concept solutions, ensuring that early technology choices are robust and ready for industrial feasibility assessment.

You will work at the interface between Ice Cream R&D and Industrial & Supply, enabling effective onboarding of Industrial & Supply colleagues in charge of technical feasibility studies. Your contribution will support project brief validation, de-risk scale-up activities and strengthen the connection between product intent and process execution, while fostering cross-fertilization of best practices across regions, including collaboration with North America R&D teams.

Main Responsibilities:

You will collaborate closely with Ice Cream R&D teams and key Industrial & Supply subject-matter experts, including Ferrero Engineering and I&S Co-Development, to scout, evaluate and assess emerging processing technologies aligned with Ice Cream product and process strategies. You will define and formalize technical briefs for USP enabling technologies to be internally developed, ensuring that proof-of-concept activities support pilot validation and scalability.

By translating formulation needs and critical parameters into preliminary pilot-scale process solutions, you will lead technology proof of concept initiatives and support the design and execution of pilot trials, with a clear focus on robustness, repeatability and scale up readiness.

You will develop preliminary process flow diagrams and reports capturing key steps, observations, bottlenecks, scale up risks and potential equipment needs, enabling Industrial & Supply teams to conduct technical feasibility studies and guide investment decisions.

Across the Stage & Gate framework, you will drive and support project execution through appropriate planning, prioritization and stakeholder alignment. You will also contribute to the evolution of laboratory and pilot equipment by assessing needs, proposing upgrades and supporting investment recommendations.

About You:

You hold a master’s degree in engineering, food technology, food science, biology or related discipline and extensive and consolidated experience within the Ice Cream domain in global food manufacturing companies. Your expertise includes a strong understanding of ice cream technology science, advanced knowledge of ice cream manufacturing processes and the cold chain, the ability to connect product formulation choices with process design and scale up implications.

Building on a solid background in R&D prototyping and scale-up visioning, you combine advanced engineering process knowledge with a clear innovative mindset, enabling you to identify, test and apply new technologies in an industrially meaningful way. You are confident with food safety principles and compliance requirements, including HACCP, and you bring awareness of health and safety standards across laboratory, pilot and manufacturing environments.

You demonstrate cross-functional and technical leadership, strong stakeholder management skills and the ability to influence effectively in complex and dynamic contexts. You are comfortable leading change and bring resilience and adaptability to evolving environments, combined with a sustainability-oriented mindset and the ability to embed “green” thinking into process and technology decisions.

Fluency in English and availability for frequent business travel within Europe and, occasionally, globally complete your profile.

Ready to shape the future of Ice Cream process innovation? Apply now and make an impact.

Our Benefits & Perks:

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About Ferrero:

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.

DE&I at Ferrero:

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.

Find out more here.