New Product Development Specialist (Avocados) Interim

Come and join the leading #avoexperts 🥑

Westfalia Fruit is a leading multinational supplier of fresh fruit and related value-added products to global markets. Through our vertically-integrated supply chain we grow, source, ripen, pack, process and market quality avocadoes & fresh produce – 365 days a year & across the globe.

With the largest avocado-growing footprint in the world, we are recognised as the leading #avoexperts and considered as the supplier of choice to both retail & wholesale customers whom we serve from sales offices in the UK, Europe, North America, Latin America & Southern Africa.

We’re looking for a New Product Development Specialist (Avocados) to join our team in Wingene, Belgium.

We are seeking an agile, results-driven Interim NPD Specialist for an immediate 3 to 4-month contract to lead the technical execution and commercial scale-up of key innovations within our premium fresh produce and avocado portfolio.

In this fast-paced role, you will act as the vital technical bridge between R&D and manufacturing. We need a "floor-ready" professional who can immediately step into our facilities, run industrial plant trials, and successfully transition fresh fruit concepts from bench-top formulation to full commercial launch.

Responsibilities include:

• Lead the end-to-end R&D lifecycle for new products and line extensions from initial concept to commercial launch.
• Develop and refine formulations, ingredients, and processing methodologies to optimize product quality, flavor, texture, and stability.
• Conduct rigorous shelf-life testing, sensory evaluations, and quality assessments to ensure all new products meet regulatory and safety standards.
• Serve as the technical expert on manufacturing processes, plant equipment, and facility capabilities required for new product lines.
• Optimize production lines and processing parameters to maximize manufacturing yield, efficiency, and consistency.
• Troubleshoot technical issues hands-on on the production floor, working directly with operations teams to resolve quality or scale-up challenges.
• Design, test, and validate functional packaging solutions that protect product integrity, enhance shelf life, and meet sustainability goals.
• Partner with engineering and external suppliers to select, install, and calibrate packaging machinery and specialized technologies.
• Integrate effective preservation methods and barrier technologies to ensure food safety and maintain product freshness over time.
• Coordinate cross-functional teams across Quality Assurance, Operations, Engineering, Procurement, and Marketing to ensure seamless project execution.
• Define project scopes, timelines, trial protocols, and key milestones for all product development initiatives.
• Manage industrial-scale plant trials, documenting processing parameters, mass balances, and standard operating procedures (SOPs) for the final transition to commercial production.

• End-to-End NPD: Track record of managing the full lifecycle of new formulations and line extensions in the fresh produce or fruit processing sector.
• Perishables Expertise: Strong understanding of raw material handling, perishables preservation, and shelf-life optimization.
• Technical Processing: Hands-on experience utilizing specialized processing equipment, advanced packaging, and preservation technologies.
• Factory-Floor Execution: Proven success running physical plant trials, scaling up from pilot kitchen to main line, and troubleshooting parameters alongside operations.
• Cross-Functional Leadership: Strong project management skills to coordinate timelines seamlessly across QA, Engineering, Operations, and Procurement.
• SOP & Quality Focus: Ability to define clear ingredient functionality, processing parameters, and robust SOPs.
• Rapid Impact: Commercial mindset with the adaptability to embed immediately into an ongoing pipeline and deliver market-ready

We value your efforts, and we show it not only with words but also with actions.

• You receive an attractive salary, tailored to your education and experience.
• You work full-time with flexible hours.
• The extensive package of extra-legal benefits includes many vacation days, hospitalization and group insurance, a mobile phone, meal vouchers, and eco vouchers.
• You get a versatile job with impact, a lot of independence, and growth opportunities.
• You can take home dips, avocado bowls, and many other avocado treats.
• Even outside the workplace, the guacsquad is a close-knit and fun group. From the annual team building to jogging in the forests of Wingene, playing padel, or the legendary football tournaments. And of course, the fun lunch breaks.

Please note that this position does not have a specific closing date. We encourage you to apply as soon as possible as we will be reviewing applications on a rolling basis and the advert may be removed at any time.

We’re an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to age, ethnicity, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, family or parental status, national origin, or veteran, neurodiversity or disability status.

Ready to take your next step with us? Apply today to join our team of avocado enthusiasts and help shape the future of Syros across the DACH region.