R&D Manager Pectin

Job title – (Senior) R&D Manager Pectin

Location – Yantai, China

Are you ready to lead and inspire a team at the forefront of enzyme innovation? Join dsm-firmenich’s Center for Food Innovation and drive progress in sustainable food solutions, shaping the future of nutrition and health.

dsm-firmenich’s Taste, Texture & Health (TTH) Business Unit brings progress to life by creating what is essential for life, desirable for consumers and more sustainable for the planet. TTH’s Division Ingredient Solutions is a leading global supplier of food enzymes, cultures, taste and health ingredients and other specialties for many of the leading global and local dairy, baking, beverages and savory food brands. The Center for Food Innovation (CFI) is the dedicated center for Research & Development (R&D) for TTH and is responsible for the development of food ingredients, cost-effective production processes and solutions for our customers.

We are looking for a (Senior) R&D Manager Pectin to join the “Hydrocolloids House” of the Center for Food Innovation.

The (Senior) R&D Manager leads the Yantai Pectin R&D team, serves as a key technical lead for the full lifecycle of pectin products manufactured in Yantai — from raw material evaluation to new product development, process optimization, troubleshooting, quality improvement, and support to commercial growth.

The role establishes and drives technical excellence in pectin, ensures manufacturing robustness, and strengthens Yantai’s strategic role as a global pectin hub for dsm‑firmenich.

Key Responsibilities

Lead, coach, and develop the pectin R&D team (engineers, technicians and scientists), fostering strong technical capability and a high‑performance culture.Build deep expertise in pectin chemistry, structure–function relationships, statistical process control, and application performance, in close collaboration with Applications and Operations.
Translate customer needs into manufacturing capabilities through Technology Transfers within the Pectin field.
Drive scientific rigor across the R&D, Operation, and Application organizations to deliver tangible results.Maintain high standards in SHE and promote a strong safety culture across all R&D activities.
Lead pectin product development in alignment with global TTH strategy, including raw material evaluation, new grade development, and scale‑up from lab to pilot to experimental manufacturing trials. Identify opportunities to improve competitiveness in cost, yield, performance, and sustainability.
Act as the primary technical partner to the Yantai pectin manufacturing plant by providing deep scientific support across the full pectin production process, leading trouble-shooting and root‑cause analysis, implementing improvements and/or corrective actions, and strengthening robustness of all critical‑to‑quality parameters.
Support commercial and applications teams, ensuring pectin performance meets customer expectations.Contribute to the global pectin technology roadmap, shaping future product and process development priorities.Collaborate with global Hydrocolloids R&D teams to share best practices, harmonize methods, and build organizational capability.

We Offer

Unique career paths across health, nutrition, and beauty, with opportunities to make a real impact.
The chance to work on science-led projects that shape a more sustainable future.
A collaborative, uplifting culture where every voice matters.
Growth and leadership development in a global, innovative environment.
A community that values curiosity, creativity, and continuous learning.
Competitive rewards and benefits, including flexible options to support your well-being.

You Bring

MSc or PhD in Chemical Engineering, Polymer Science, Food Science, or related fields.
8+ years experience in pectin/food hydrocolloids/polysaccharide‑based ingredients/or closely related specialty food ingredients.
Strong experience in manufacturing support and/or product development.
Proven people management and team leadership experience.
Experience collaborating with Operations, Applications, Quality, and Commercial.Demonstrated leadership and ability to influence across functions.
Clear communication in Chinese and English.Customer‑oriented mindset with business acumen.

About dsm-firmenich

At dsm-firmenich, we don’t just meet expectations – we go beyond them.
Join our global team powered by science, creativity, and a shared purpose: to bring progress to life.
From elevating health to making fortified food and sustainable skincare, the impact of your work here will be felt by millions – every single day. Whether it’s fragrance that helps you focus, alternative meat that’s better for the planet, or reducing sugar without losing flavor, this is where you help shape the future of nutrition, health, and beauty for everyone, everywhere.

And while you’re making a difference, we’ll make sure you’re growing too. With learning that never stops, a culture that lifts you up and the freedom to move across businesses, teams, and borders. Your voice matters here. And your ideas? They’re essential to our future.

Because real progress only happens when we go beyond, together.

Inclusion, belonging and equal opportunity statement

At dsm-firmenich, we believe being a force for good starts with the way we treat each other. When people feel supported, included, and free to be themselves, they do their best work – and that’s exactly the kind of culture we’re building. A place where opportunity is truly equal, authenticity is celebrated, and everyone has the chance to grow, contribute, and feel they belong.

We’re proud to be an equal opportunity employer, and we’re serious about making our hiring process as fair and inclusive as possible. From inclusive language and diverse interview panels to thoughtful sourcing, we’re committed to reflecting the world we serve.

We welcome candidates from all backgrounds — no matter your gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or anything else that makes you, you.

And if you have a disability or need any support through the application process, we’re here to help – just let us know what you need, and we’ll do everything we can to make it work.

Agency statement

We’re managing this search directly at dsm-firmenich. If you’re applying as an individual, we’d love to hear from you. We’re not accepting agency submissions or proposals involving fees or commissions for this role.