Principal Scientist in Flavour with a Focus on Taste

Are you a leading expert in the field of taste and flavour? Do you possess in-depth knowledge of sensory food science and its industrial applications? Would you like to contribute as a thought leader to innovation, market development, and customer-driven solutions? Then we are looking for you!

As a Principal Scientist in Flavour, with a specific focus on taste, you will be the scientific driving force behind our sensory technology and taste-related research projects. You are an authority in this field and act as a figurehead in the market. With your expertise and commercial mindset, you are able to translate customer needs into groundbreaking innovations and practical applications in the food industry.

In this role, you combine scientific depth with strategic market engagement. You will spend a significant part of your time externally: visiting clients, attending international conferences and trade fairs, and serving as a keynote speaker. The remaining time is spent at our beautiful campus, where you provide scientific guidance to projects and lead multidisciplinary teams. We are fortunate to work with state-of-the-art equipment.

You will be part of a multidisciplinary team where collaboration and collegiality, both within and outside the group, are essential.

In summary, you are:

• a subject matter expert and knowledge holder in the field of flavour and taste within the food sector;
• a consultant/advisor, responsible for the scientific direction of research and innovation projects;
• active in market development and acquisition, spotting and capitalising on market opportunities with your commercial insight;
• skilled in translating customer needs into practical applications within R&D and product development;
• an international thought leader: keynote speaker at conferences, building and maintaining a strong network;
• a team player working in a multicultural team within a project-based organization.

You have:

• deep expertise in flavour and taste, both fundamental and applied;
• considerable experience in the sector, preferably with industrial applications;
• a commercial mindset and proven experience in market development and acquisition;
• an international network and experience as a keynote speaker;
• a can-do mentality.

Our international working environment operates mainly in English. For this position, a C1 level of English is required. If you do not yet meet this level, we will naturally support you through our language centre, 

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You can see that there are plenty of exciting challenges for you, these can also be viewed as development opportunities. So, if you don’t quite have the full track record outlined in this vacancy but do bring solid work experience, we would still love to receive your application.

Wageningen University & Research offers excellent terms of employment . A few highlights from our Collective Labour Agreement include:

• flexible working hours in consultation, allowing for an optimal work-life balance;
• sabbatical leave, study leave, and partially paid parental leave;
• a strong focus on vitality and access to on-campus sports facilities at an attractive rate;
• a year-end bonus of 8.3%;
• an excellent pension plan via ABP.

Of course, these excellent secondary employment conditions are accompanied by an appropriate salary. Depending on your experience, we offer a competitive salary ranging from a minimum of €3,868 to a maximum of €6,831 for a full-time 36-hour workweek, in accordance with the Wageningen Research CAO (scale 11–12).

A 32-hour workweek is also negotiable. Initially, we offer a one-year contract, which may be extended, subject to positive performance and business conditions. We are happy to discuss the details with you if you have any questions.

Wageningen University & Research offers plenty of opportunities for growth and development, with a strong internal recruitment policy and excellent training programmes.

You will work on the greenest and most innovative campus in the Netherlands, in an international and open working environment. For 20 consecutive years, we have been voted the "best university " in the Netherlands! A place to be proud of.

For more information about the position, please contact Rianne Ruijschop, R&D Manager, via: +31 6 2922 0378 or email: rianne.ruijschop@wur.nl . 

Questions about the application process? Please contact Rutger Voorrips, corporate recruiter, via email: rutger.voorrips@wur.nl .

Ready to apply?
Click the application button on the vacancy page of our website. Only applications submitted via our website will be processed.

You can apply up and until May 19, 2025. Don’t wait to apply, once we’ve found suitable candidates, we will start planning interviews.

Procedure
An assessment may be part of the selection process.

Welcome, Safe, and Valued
Wageningen University & Research (WUR) places high value on diversity and inclusion. We believe that diverse perspectives lead to innovative solutions. That’s why we strive to create a working environment where everyone feels welcome, safe, and valued—regardless of background, identity, or experience. Together, we are building a culture where each unique contribution adds to the success of our organization.

The mission of Wageningen University & Research is ‘To explore the potential of nature to improve the quality of life’.

We pursue this mission through a synergistic approach between Wageningen University and Wageningen Research Foundation (applied research). Our research focuses on questions within the domains of food, living environment, and society. With approximately 30 locations, 7,700 staff members, 2,500 PhD candidates, and over 13,000 students, Wageningen University & Research is among the world’s leading knowledge institutions in its domain. The integral approach to challenges and the collaboration across various disciplines form the core of the unique Wageningen approach.

Read the 5 reasons why your future colleagues enjoy working at WUR.

We will recruit for the vacancy ourselves and do not appreciate unasked for services from recruitment agencies. However, sharing in your network is appreciated.