Ice Cream R&D Product Design

About the Role:

We are looking for an Ice Cream R&D Product Design who will play a pivotal role in shaping and delivering product innovation for the Ice Cream category. Acting with full end to end accountability, you will lead product development across the entire lifecycle, from early concept definition through industrialization and market delivery.

In this position, you will operate at the intersection of Product R&D, Marketing and key Group partners, ensuring that innovation priorities are translated into technically sound, scalable and value driven product solutions. The role combines strong technical credibility with project leadership, enabling effective decision making, collaboration and execution in a complex and international environment. By contributing to category evolution and portfolio development, you will help drive innovation, continuous improvement and sustainable business growth, while reinforcing strong alignment between product ambition, industrial feasibility and consumer expectations.

Main Responsibilities:

You will drive end to end Product Research and Development for the Ice Cream category, covering transformational, proximity and incremental innovation, as well as continuous improvement and derisking initiatives. This includes defining and evolving product formulations, guiding product technology choices linked to industrialization, and ensuring a smooth and robust transition from development into manufacturing.

Accountability extends to key phases of product industrialization, including tuning, calibration and industrial trials, as well as the continuous improvement of product and process specifications. Following product launch, you will act as a technical reference for product and technology related problem solving, providing expert support to manufacturing teams.

You will ensure the timely and effective execution of product R&D activities, in line with Ice Cream marketing guidance and category priorities. You will support R&D leadership in governance and decision making processes, contribute to the definition and monitoring of R&D investment plans, and track project performance in terms of timing, costs, risks and opportunities. Close collaboration with all key technical functions will be essential to validate technical choices from both formulation and process perspectives.

In addition, you will support Ice Cream R&D management and Category leadership in shaping the product and technology evolution roadmap, contributing to category development plans and associated CAPEX in line with portfolio and industrial strategies. In close collaboration with Industrial & Supply and other technical partners, you will contribute to the definition of investment needs and support the design or modification of machinery and equipment required to enable product industrialization.

About You:

You hold a master’s degree in engineering, food technology, food science, biology or related discipline, and bring extensive and consolidated experience within the Ice Cream domain in global food manufacturing environments. A strong background in product development, platform management and technical project leadership enables you to manage complex innovation programs with confidence.

You combine advanced knowledge of ice cream formulation, raw materials and manufacturing processes with solid expertise in sensory evaluation, shelf life and stability, food safety and HACCP principles, as well as regulatory and labeling requirements. A good understanding of chemistry, physics, microbiology and nutrition supports a holistic approach to product design, while cost and quality optimization skills allow you to contribute effectively to business case sustainability.

You demonstrate strategic vision, consumer centricity and creative problem solving, alongside strong stakeholder management and communication skills. You are comfortable leading teams directly and indirectly, driving innovation and change with adaptability and empathy.

Fluency in English and availability for frequent business travel within Europe and, occasionally, globally complete your profile.

Ready to lead end to end Ice Cream product development? Apply now and make an impact.

Our Benefits & Perks:

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About Ferrero:

Ferrero began its journey in the small town of Alba in Piedmont, Italy, in 1946. Today, it is one of the world’s largest sweet-packaged food companies, with many iconic brands sold in countries all over the world. Find out more about Ferrero at ferrero.com.

DE&I at Ferrero:

Ferrero is committed to building a diverse and inclusive culture in which all employees feel welcomed and appreciated and have the same opportunities. We believe all our people are equally talented in their own way. In nurturing the curiosity and natural abilities of our employees, we provide them, generation after generation, the means to succeed personally and professionally, enabling them to craft their journey at Ferrero. The diversity of our talents is what makes our work environment multicultural, innovative, and highly rewarding. Find out more here.