Location : Aimargues (30 min from Montpellier in France)
Type of contract: Ongoing / CDI
Entity: Royal Canin
At Royal Canin R&D, the Research Team is responsible for long-term innovation (4+ years). It consists of science and technology experts that deliver solutions into new or improved products, processes, and services that enhance the health and wellbeing of every cat and dog and bring a competitive advantage to RC. The team values broad expertise and the diversity of scientific backgrounds.
We are seeking an innovative and driven R&D Scientist to lead our process technology roadmap for wet pet food. This role is pivotal in discovering, developing, and implementing cutting-edge processing technologies. This requires a deep understanding of ingredient interactions and their transformation during processing to create the next generation of our wet cat and dog food portfolio, including but not limited to formats like pâté, chunks in gravy, and jellies. You will be a technical expert for wet food processing, from understanding current technologies (becoming a subject matter expert) to scouting and developing new technologies, from initial concepts to proposing a route to industrial-scale production.
What are we looking for?
- An advanced degree (MSc or PhD) in a relevant scientific or engineering discipline such as Food Technology, Food Science, Food Engineering, or Chemical Engineering.
- A research focus or thesis related to thermal / sterilization processing is highly advantageous.
- 3-5 years of hands-on experience in an applied technology role within an industrial R&D or FMCG environment.
- Demonstrable success in leading technology projects from concept and pilot-plant trials through to technology transfer for full-scale industrialization.
- Deep, practical knowledge of wet or fresh food processing, preferably within the pet food or canned goods industry.
- Hands-on experience with thermal processing technologies (e.g., retorting, pasteurization), including an understanding of F0 value calculation and sterilization validation.
- Familiarity with the science of emulsification, gelling systems, and hydrocolloids to control texture and viscosity in products like pâtés and gravies.
- Experience with advanced or emerging processing methods such as High-Pressure Processing (HPP), Microwave-Assisted Thermal Sterilization (MATS), or aseptic processing.
- Knowledge of chunk formation processes and technologies to ensure product integrity and visual appeal.
- Full professional fluency in English, with the ability to effectively communicate complex technical concepts to both scientific and commercial stakeholders.
What will be your Key Responsibilities?
Help shape and advance the Research Roadmap in Wet Food Process Technology
- Identify Knowledge Gaps: Pinpoint and prioritize gaps in our understanding of core wet food processes such as thermal processing (retorting) and gelling systems to deliver our long-term innovation and quality ambitions.
- Propose and define research projects to deliver novel or improved technical solutions in wet format.
- Scout Emerging Technologies: Stay at the forefront of the industry by researching and identifying emerging process technologies (e.g.: High-Pressure Processing (HPP), Microwave-Assisted Thermal Sterilization (MATS), novel sous-vide applications) that could deliver superior nutrition, palatability, or texture for our wet pet food products.
- Stakeholder Engagement: Engage early with R&D formulation scientists, engineering, and supply chain stakeholders to communicate progress on new technologies and ensure alignment on technical feasibility and factory integration.
- Identify and communicate to Design teams how new processing methods can create tangible benefits for pets (e.g., enhanced nutrient bioavailability, improved digestibility) and value for consumers (e.g., cleaner labels, novel textures).
- Collaborate with palatability and health territory researchers to help provide technical insights and solutions regarding wet technology in their respective research projects.
- Collaborate with product development and marketing teams to assess the business potential for new technology platforms. With the help of Value Chain Operation (VCO) and Supply and Finance (S&F), evaluate critical success factors for technology transfer, including CAPEX estimation, F0 value validation and other parameters as needed.
- Intellectual Property: Identify and champion opportunities to patent novel process findings, formulations, or equipment adaptations that give us a competitive advantage.
Deliver Technology Breakthroughs and Optimize Current Processes
- Lead Research Projects: Drive internal and external research projects focused on wet food processing, from lab-scale prototype development in test kitchens to pilot plant trials and assist with full-scale factory validation, doing so in collaboration with other Mars Global Innovations Centers, external companies and universities as needed.
- Execute the Technology research roadmap: manage the entire project lifecycle, from ideation to handover to Design or Deploy. This includes creating and validating experimental protocols, managing research contracts with universities or suppliers, ensuring ethical reviews for feeding trials, and controlling allocated budget.
- Ensure Knowledge Transfer: Propose clear pathways for product implementation. Generate, capture and transfer critical knowledge—such as processing parameters for achieving quality attributes—to the Design and Deploy teams to ensure seamless integration into new product launches.
- Maintain Project & Quality Standards: Lead all projects in accordance with our internal quality and project portfolio management systems, ensuring robust documentation and reporting at every stage.
Represent Royal Canin as an Expert in Wet Food Process Technology
- Champion Royal Canin's unique "Health Through Nutrition" philosophy by providing expert guidance on how wet process technologies can enhance the nutrient integrity, digestibility, and targeted health benefits of our formulas.
- Be a stakeholder of the global R&D teams to take the best value from the current pipeline and influence projects that are potentially valuable for the Royal Canin Business
- Collaborate on global innovation and productivity projects by providing hands-on support and technical leadership to support execution and delivery.
What can you expect from Mars?
- Work with diverse and talented Associates, all guided by the Five Principles.
- Join a purpose driven company, where we’re striving to build the world we want tomorrow, today.
- Best-in-class learning and development support from day one, including access to our in-house Mars University.
- An industry competitive salary and benefits package, including company bonus.
- You will work in a unique campus, which gathers more than 800 Associates working for: the international HQ, the French subsidiary, two laboratories, a kennel and a cattery with more than 200 cats & dogs, and finally the most important factory of the Royal Canin group
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