NPD Lead Zwolle • Ausnutria Netherlands

In your role you will  lead a team of talented and professional project managers (5-7) and secure the process for New Product Development and commercial implementation for all Business Units supported by Ausnutria NL. New Products and Projects may concern new or adjusted recipes for Infant Formula, dairy ingredients or packaging offerings, all requiring professional, dedicated and efficient  project management. These projects are the driving force behind our innovation pipeline and help build upon our strategy and make our Business Units grow. You thereby ensure people, processes and systems are well developed and up-to-date to support a quick and flawless process from initiation to implementation to maximally support all stakeholders involved. Besides leading the team you will also take the lead in a few key strategic projects where you lead by example.

You will be responsible for the full NPD project portfolio. You ensure transparency, excellent (international) stakeholder management and on time in full delivery of all projects. You bridge the gap between demanding Business Units, Operations  and project managers.

You are an experienced people manager, leading and inspiring the team and take good care of their well-being and overall workload. You make sure they become and remain fit for their job, by overseeing and promoting their professional and personal development.

You understand the importance of effective communicate with all layers and stakeholders within and outside the organisation. You thereby are a strategic and visible player and have a good dose of tact, enthusiasm, empathy and perseverance.

In the Netherlands, we work with almost 900 enthusiastic colleagues towards the same goal; delivering primarily high-quality infant formulas and children's food applications based on goat and cow milk. The products are made in our three factories in the Netherlands (Kampen, Leeuwarden, and Heerenveen) or at external manufacturing sites and sold worldwide from our own sales offices and local distributors on all continents. At our headquarters in Zwolle, 200 colleagues work and R&D is based.

Ausnutria Dairy Corporation Ltd is the parent company of Ausnutria B.V. and also has companies in Australia, New Zealand, and China. It is listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange and has been part of Yili, the fifth-largest dairy company in the world by revenue, for several years.

• You have considerable working experience in the dairy, pharma- or infant nutrition industry;
• At least 10 years of experience in project management for new product development and/or research & development in preferably the Food Industry;
• Strategic and creative thinker, with a helicopter view and a good sense of business acumen;
• Excellent interpersonal & communication skills and you bring strong team management skills and know how to inspire others;
• You are fluent in English, being fluent in Dutch is a plus;
• You provide strategic direction while staying closely connected to a team of highly educated professionals, and you thrive in working independently to drive collective success;
• You are a true team player, able to operate and manage effectively in multi-disciplinary teams and across all disciplines and layers within the organization;
• Result-driven, you demonstrate speed-of-action, while remaining accurate;
• Have a sharp eye on your team, ensuring maximum engagement with demonstrated managerial soft skills.

• A salary between € 5.800,00 euro & 8.400,00 euro (based on fulltime) depending on education and experience;
• 25 vacation days and the possibility to buy five more;
• Working at a socially engaged and environmentally conscious organization;
• A laptop and a phone;
• A vitality contribution of € 200.00 euro or a discount through Bedrijfsfitness Nederland;
• A hybrid working environment.

If you're ready to lead with purpose and make a real difference, we look forward to hearing from you!