Head of R&D

Join to apply for the Head of R&D role at Solina . Primary location: EKE, Belgium. At Solina, our community of close to 5,000 people share a passion for food and live our entrepreneurial culture. We design customised savoury solutions for our clients operating in the food industry, food service, butchery, and nutrition markets. With sustainability at the heart of our business model, we aim to produce food that is good in every sense of the word: delicious, nourishing, affordable, sustainable and convenient. Solina is a fast‑growing business, with around 50 production sites and R&D laboratories present in more than 19 countries mainly in Europe and North America. By constantly rethinking culinary solutions, we make food matter for people and the planet. If you're ready for a new adventure in a dynamic, expanding, passionate, international company, join us The Head of R&D for Coating, Meat, Sauces and Snack Applications is responsible for leading and shaping the research, development, and innovation strategy across these categories within Solina. This role ensures that the R&D organization delivers differentiated, competitive, and sustainable food solutions that align with customer needs, market trends, and the company’s strategic ambitions in taste, functionality, and nutrition. The position requires a visionary leader who combines deep technical expertise with strong business acumen, capable of steering multidisciplinary teams to deliver innovation, efficiency and excellence in execution. Key Missions Strategic Leadership: Define and drive the R&D roadmap for Coating, Meat, Sauce and Snack Applications in alignment with Solina’s group strategy, sustainability goals, and customer value creation with the Regions. Identify emerging trends, technologies, and ingredients to anticipate future market demands in collaboration with Sourcing, Marketing & Future food. Innovation Excellence: Lead the development of new concepts, technologies, and ingredients that enhance the sensory, functional, nutritional value and margins (yield/ cost) of Solina’s product portfolio. Ensure robust validation of new formulations through lab trials, pilot-scale testing, and industrial application. Cross-functional Collaboration: Partner closely with Local R&D, Operations, Quality, Marketing, Sales, and Procurement to ensure seamless translation of innovation into market-ready solutions. Partner closely with M&A to capture & ensure knowledge transfer to new acquired companies as needed. Customer Engagement: Act as a technical ambassador with key customers, supporting co-development initiatives and providing scientific and application insights as requested by Sub Regions / Business units. People Leadership: Build, mentor, and develop a high-performing R&D team fostering collaboration, agility, and continuous improvement. Compliance & Quality: Ensure that developments adhere to regulatory, food safety (science based approach), and quality standards across all markets. Profile Master’s degree or PhD in Food Science, Food Engineering, or a related field. 20+ years of experience in R&D leadership within the food industry, preferably in coating, meat, or sauces applications. Experience in multicultural, international food companies. Track record of successful innovation and product launches at industrial scale. Solid understanding of ingredient functionality, processing interactions, and sensory optimization. Strategic thinker with demonstrated ability to translate vision into actionable plans. Fluent in English; other European languages are an asset. Location: Ghent (Belgium) / Oosterhout (Netherlands) / Leeds (UK). We are open to talents of all backgrounds. Our recruitment process is based on competences, and we openly welcome all candidates of all types according to our DEI Commitment. #J-18808-Ljbffr