Lead Scientist

Rousselot is the global leader in producing gelatin and collagens. The collagen products of our leading Peptan & Nextida brands are used as functional ingredients for dietary supplements and functional foods. Rousselot, Peptan and Nextida are brands of Darling Ingredients. Are you passionate about advancing scientific understanding in health, nutrition, and collagen‐based innovations? Do you thrive in a multidisciplinary environment where clinical research, project coordination and scientific excellence come together? Join our Innovation team as Lead Scientist – Clinical Science and help shape the future of our collagen‐derived product portfolio. The candidate should be highly flexible with a creative, proactive mindset. You will work from our offices in Ghent/Belgium. About the role As Lead Scientist, you play a key role in supporting and accelerating our clinical science activities. You will coordinate and administer clinical study projects with external partners, contribute to scientific documentation, support project management tasks and help execute the scientific strategy behind our health and nutrition innovations. You work closely with CROs, internal R&D colleagues, and cross‐functional stakeholders, under the lead of a Principal Scientist, to ensure that clinical projects run smoothly, on time, and in full compliance with internal processes and study standard procedures of Good Clinical Practice. This position is ideal for a scientifically driven professional who enjoys combining research expertise with hands‐on project coordination. Your key responsibilities Clinical & Scientific Support Coordinate clinical study activities with CROs under the guidance of the Principal Scientist. Liaise with external partners to ensure efficient project execution, administration and data management. Build and maintain study documentation and project files in compliance with protocols and internal procedures. Support the development, implementation and validation of scientific approaches. Conduct literature reviews to stay updated on advances in nutrition, health, peptides and protein science. Technical Documentation & Communication Assist in preparing technical reports, product specifications, and scientific documentation. Monitor scientific trends and contribute insights to internal discussions. Collaborate with cross functional teams on scientific communication and analytical activities when required. Project & Data Management Support administrative, operational, and project management tasks within the Science team. Ensure structured, precise, and diligent execution of all project related activities. What you bring Education & Experience MSc degree with minimum 3 years of relevant experience. Background in Food, Food Science, Nutrition, or a related field. Experience in clinical or preclinical research, nutritional science, or clinical study management. Knowledge of peptide/protein biology is a strong plus. Skills & Competencies Excellent command of English, written and spoken; additional languages are an asset. Strong proficiency with Office tools, Teams, GraphPad; statistical skills are a plus. Familiarity with project management methodologies, standards and systems. Highly organized, structured and capable of working independently while following clear guidance. Why join us? Work in an innovative, science driven environment with a real impact on health and nutrition. Engage in clinical research that advances the understanding of collagen derived products. Collaborate with passionate colleagues and external experts in a growing global company. Contribute to meaningful projects that bring science and innovation together. Develop your knowledge and skills in an ever evolving world. To build up knowledge and take responsibility in a motivating, open company culture, where entrepreneurship is highly appreciated. If you are excited about combining scientific expertise with hands-on project coordination in a collaborative R&D environment, we would love to hear from you. Apply now and help us advance the science behind collagen based health solutions. We will first gather all the applications, feedback will be provided 20th of February the latest.