Team Lead R&D

We are GNT, an ambitious and innovative family-run business with a colorful character! With our EXBERRY® brand, we are the market leader in the field of Coloring Foods. Our colorings are 100% natural and are made from fruits, vegetables and plants.

We are world champions when it comes to utilizing the bounty of nature and strive to continuously innovate and improve natural color ingredients for the consumer. By carefully preserving all of nature’s beauty and goodness, we are able to offer our clients the highest quality and most reliable products. This is what continues to motivate us every day!

The most important ingredients for GNT’s success are our employees and the cooperation that exists between them. We believe in teamwork and we are there for one another, our clients, our suppliers and our partners. That is what makes us GNT.

Due to the growth of the GNT Group we are looking a fulltime:

As Competence Team Lead “Functional Proteins”, you will lead a team of passionate R&D Scientists dedicated to unlocking the full potential of Spirulina and other protein-rich raw materials. You will drive innovation from concept to commercialization, ensuring alignment with customer needs and strategic business goals. You will foster a collaborative and agile development environment, acting as Product Owner in key innovation projects, while also contributing your technical expertise in proteins and their applications.

Your team holds end-to-end responsibility for the performance of our current functional protein-based product portfolio, as well as for shaping the value chain and product offerings of tomorrow. This includes ensuring the performance and competitiveness of existing products, while also driving innovation and identifying new opportunities—particularly with a strong focus on blue plant-based colors. Success in this role requires not only expertise in protein science and applied technology, but also a strong orientation toward market and customer needs. By collaborating with internal commercial teams, you will ensure that scientific and technical insights are translated into robust, scalable, and commercially viable solutions for food and beverage applications that create real value for our customers

Your leadership will be instrumental in developing team capabilities, managing stakeholder relationships across functions and geographies, and translating scientific insights into impactful solutions. You will also play a key role in managing technologies and Intellectual Property within your domain. This position is based in the Netherlands (Mierlo) or Germany (Aachen) and reports directly to the Head of R&D.

What do we expect from you?

• Lead, coach, and develop a high-performing team of R&D Scientists, working cross-functionally toward development and support goals.
• Coordinate the work of the team to successfully execute and implement short- and medium-term operational support measures.
• Drive and manage innovations from idea to market, from frontend to development to commercialization, ensuring solution quality and performance.
• Prepare and submit timely project and team status reports.
• Ensure technical excellence, manage team workload, and foster a positive team culture with an innovative mindset.
• Proactively contribute to the success of GNT by proposing innovative ideas, solutions, and improvements.
• As Product Owner, guide teams through development, including successful implementation in production.

What do we offer you?

• A full-time gross month salary between €6.604,- to €9.434,- depending on your knowledge and experience.
• 27 vacation days (possibility to purchase additional days).
• A very favorable pension scheme.
• A varied job in a modern working environment.
• Unlimited access to (online) training and/or education, so you can keep working on your personal development.
• We find sustainability very important. Therefore – as part of our terms of employment – we offset your carbon footprint .
• Discounted gym membership at a selected gym.
• A great workplace at a successful and innovative company: GNT is on the move and so will you be!
• Experience in leading and developing people in a matrix organization; with R&D experience in the B2B food & beverage industry.
• Technical expertise in proteins, ideally with experience in Spirulina or other alternative protein sources.
• Entrepreneurial and solution-driven personality with strong analytical skills.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, and a collaborative mindset.
• Ability to work with cross-functional teams to align product development efforts with business goals. Experience in agile practices is a plus.
• Fluent in Dutch and English.

What do we find important?

We operate globally, yet remain an independent, family-owned business committed to investing in products, technology and importantly, our people. The GNT values are the basis of our daily activities. That’s why we think it’s important that we fit together. GNT employs people who are enterprising and take responsibility. Customer and service orientation is of course paramount! We always take that extra step to offer our external and internal customers the best service. In addition, we do everything we do as sustainably as possible. We are open and honest with each other and bring out the best in each other.

We color the world, do you?

If you believe you satisfy our desired profile and would be interested in applying for this position, please contact us in writing including your CV, as well as your cover letter, salary expectations and earliest possible start date to: . Of course we handle your personal data with care. All applications will be treated equally.

If you have questions regarding EXBERRY® and our EXBERRY® Service Support or if you want to request a sample, please do not hesitate to contact us.