Head of Application and Solutions Development

Job Category: Research and Development

Work Location: Hybrid

Office Location: Gorinchem, NL

Job Type: Full Time

Job ID: 5846

Overview

At Corbion, we exist to champion preservation in all its forms, preserving food, food production, health, and our planet. Innovation is how we build a more sustainable future, guided by our purpose—to preserve what matters—and driven by our BRIGHT 2030 Strategy.

Role & Impact

You will lead and integrate four critical global capability pillars:

Global Applications – Unifying and elevating application teams across regions and categories
Sensory Science – Translating functional performance into compelling sensory experiences
Microbiology & Preservation – Advancing Corbion’s leadership in natural preservation
Together, these capabilities strengthen Corbion’s customer relevance, accelerate innovation, and support sustainable growth.

What You Will Lead

Set the strategic and technical direction for Corbion’s global applications organization.
Build high‑performing global communities of practice and category leadership.
Identify unmet customer and market needs to fuel the innovation pipeline.
Balance near‑term commercial delivery with long‑term technology and capability development.
Attract, develop, and inspire world‑class technical talent globally.
Act as the voice of the customer in innovation, portfolio, and commercial decision forums.
Partner with senior R&D and product development leaders at key global customers.
Translate complex technical challenges into differentiated, value‑creating solutions.
Support Sales and Business Development in strategic customer engagements and industry events.
Ensure a robust, technically credible new‑business development pipeline.
Lead the evaluation of Corbion solutions in real food and beverage matrices.
Drive the development of clear, compelling technical value propositions.
Co‑create and steer global roadmaps for sensory science and microbiology capabilities.
Establish predictive tools, functional specifications, and standardized testing methodologies.
Govern approval of new ingredients and evaluation of new suppliers.
Enable co‑development and partnership opportunities with strategic external partners.

Strategic Contribution

This role is a key enabler of Corbion’s BRIGHT 2030 Strategy, accelerating clean‑label preservation, strengthening technology‑led customer engagement, and expanding our leadership in specialty ingredients.

Qualifications

15+ years of experience in the functional ingredient industry, with strong innovation and commercial exposure.
Background in FMCG food product development or R&D.
Proven success leading global technical, application, or solutions organizations.
Strong customer orientation with the ability to translate technical capability into commercial value.
Master’s or PhD in Food Science, Chemistry, Food Technology, or a related discipline.
Ability to influence and align senior stakeholders across functions and geographies.
An inclusive, courageous leadership style that fosters collaboration and innovation.

Why Join Corbion

Corbion is a global leader in sustainable ingredient solutions, powered by nearly a century of fermentation expertise. Our BRIGHT 2030 Strategy sets ambitious goals in clean‑label preservation, sustainable food systems, biotechnology, and specialty ingredients. We offer a collaborative, purpose‑driven culture where innovation, customer impact, and sustainability go hand in hand.

About Corbion

Corbion is a sustainable ingredients company dedicated to preserving what matters, including food and food production, health, and the planet. We specialize in lactic acid, lactic acid derivatives, food preservation solutions, functional blends, and algae ingredients, using our deep application and product knowledge to propel nature’s ingenuity through science. With more than a century of experience, we continue working side‑by‑side with our customers to make our cutting‑edge technologies work for them. Leveraging our advanced capabilities in fermentation and preservation technology, we help customers differentiate their products in diverse markets ranging from food and animal nutrition to home & personal care, pharmaceuticals, electronics, medical devices, and bioplastics. In 2024, Corbion generated annual sales of € 1,332.0 million with a workforce of 2,399 FTEs. Corbion is listed on Euronext Amsterdam. For more information: www.corbion.com

Corbion is an equal opportunity employer and committed to a diverse workplace. All applicants will be considered equally.

#J-18808-Ljbffr

Head of Application and Solutions Development