Science Manager - Analytical Development

Om jobbet

Science Manager - Analytical Development

Our story goes back more than 150 years, to the southern coast ofScandinavia. From our early success in Sweden and Denmark, we've grown into theworld's leading specialist producer of plant-based oils, employing more than4,000 people across the globe.
We work with our customers to make the products you love even better.The oils we produce go into making your chocolate extra-creamy or putting thecrunch into your croissant or providing essential building blocks for infantformulae, medical nutrition, and food supplements making vital products betterboth nutritionally and functionally. And it's not just food - we work across manyindustries to make products that are higher quality, healthier, and better forthe planet.

Everything we do is aboutMaking Better Happen™.

AAK LOCATION

This position is based in Malmö (HQ) or Lund, Sweden

About the role

With increasing innovation efforts, AAK is continuously expanding theinnovation pipeline to bring new products to the market, which increases theneed for analysis in relation to R&D. Hence, we are seeking a highlyskilled and motivated Science Manager - Analytical Development tostrengthen our R&D capabilities and support AAK's global innovationstrategy.
This is a new role to support AAK's global innovation efforts, enablingnew product and technology development by developing new or improving existinganalytical methods - meaning detecting and measuring what we cannot do today,or doing it more accurately and efficiently. The person in this role will be responsiblefor developing AAK's analytical capabilities, which means both hands-onscientific work as well as leading a small research team working on projectsthat serve multiple stakeholders, also outside the R&D team. It will bedone by building competence and capacity internally, as well as externallytogether with research partners.
While overall project priorities are set by the R&D leadership, youwill have the autonomy to allocate team resources, determine methodologies, andadapt day-to-day plans to meet project objectives. You will also act as a keyadvisor to management and decision makers on strategic directions regardinganalytical needs and opportunities.
The role combines leadership with deep scientific expertise, requiringadvanced competence in hands-on analytical method development.

Responsibilities

• Drive, carry out (hands-on) and manage research activities within analytical development, ensuring alignment with project goals, timelines, and R&D priorities.
• Provide advanced scientific input into project design, methodologies, and problem-solving approaches.
• Review and interpret research data, delivering clear recommendations to project leaders and stakeholders, as well as identify and implement improvements, new technologies, and opportunities for innovation.
• Lead, coach, and develop a small team of scientists and researchers, fostering professional growth, innovation, and high performance.
• Oversee the planning and execution of laboratory work, ensuring scientific rigor, accuracy, and quality.
• Manage the team's operational budget, ensuring efficient and effective use of resources.
• Work closely with other technical development teams within AAK as well as cross-functionally with e.g. operations, quality and commercial development teams, ensuring research outcomes are relevant for AAK.
• Act as a strategic advisor to the R&D leadership team regarding analytical development needs, opportunities, and directions.
• Ensure that all activities comply with safety, quality, environmental, and regulatory requirements.

About you

• PhD degree in relevant scientific or engineering discipline.
• Extensive theoretical knowledge and 10+ years of experience in analytical method development, as well as lipid chemistry, lipidomics, biochemistry, organic chemistry and/or other relevant fields.
• Expertise in analytical methods/technologies such as HPLC, GC, MS, etc. as well as sample handling and preparation, but also the curiosity and bandwidth to go beyond classical lipid analysis methods, dealing with new compounds in novel matrixes.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
• Demonstrated capability in delivering projects to specification, on time, and within budget.
• Skilled in balancing hands-on technical work and engagement with strategic direction.
• Proven experience in managing scientific and technical teams.
• Strong leadership and coaching skills, with the ability to motivate and develop a small technical team.
• Strong communication skills and the ability to collaborate effectively across functions and cultures.
• Ability to inspire, motivate, and promote a culture of innovation, both within the team and across the wider organization.

In return AAK offers

• A global expert role that will shape and enable AAK's analytical development at the forefront of food innovation.
• The opportunity to, together with dedicated colleagues, enable AAK's long-term innovation ambitions by better analytics - a crucial area that is needed to support the innovation pipeline within all AAK's industries.
• Collaboration with highly skilled and engaged colleagues as well as customers, suppliers, and regulators in an international setting.
• A value-driven company culture where sustainability, innovation, and continuous improvement are central.
• A dynamic, flexible, and supportive environment that invests in your professional development.

Contact and information

Apply through our career portal, but for moreinformation about the position, please contact Conor Kelly, Senior Talent AcquisitionSpecialist via email: conor.kelly@aak.com

About AAK

Everything AAK does is about Making Better Happen™. We specialize in plant-based oils that are the value-adding ingredients in manyof the products people love to consume. We make these products better tasting,healthier, and more sustainable. At the heart of AAK's offer is CustomerCo-Development - combining our desire to understand what better means foreach customer, with the unique flexibility of our production assets and ourdeep knowledge of many products and industries, including Chocolate andconfectionery, Bakery, Dairy, Plant-based Foods, Special Nutrition, Foodserviceand Personal Care. Our 4,000 employees support our close collaborationwith customers through 25 regional sales offices, 15 dedicated CustomerInnovation Centers, and more than 20 production facilities. Listed on NasdaqStockholm and with our headquarters in Malmö, Sweden, AAK has been MakingBetter Happen™ for more than 150 years. AAK prohibits discrimination based on race, color,sex, sexual orientation, age, national origin, physical or mental disability,religion, veteran status, and any other class protected under applicable law inany aspect of employment.

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