Product Innovation Associate

At kencko, we’re on a mission to make it easier for everyone to reach their 5-a-day servings of fruits and veggies. We offer convenient, high-quality, and nutritious plant-based products—from smoothies and oats to protein drinks and fruit snacks—that help people live healthier while minimizing food waste and environmental impact.

Guided by our goal to make it easier for people to achieve their daily fruit and veggie goals, kencko-ers strive to make a positive impact through our 5 kencko values:
take responsibility,shake things up, help our customers thrive, help each other to grow, and be bold and adventurous.

Join us in building a smarter way to nourish both people and the planet**.**

**Job Overview and Main Goals**

The Innovation Associate will play a pivotal role in identifying and developing new ingredients that will fuel our product innovations. This role requires a keen understanding of food technology, an inquisitive mindset, and strong project management skills to collaborate with external suppliers and follow up on ingredient development projects.

**Responsibilities**:

- Proactively research and identify innovative ingredients that can drive new product categories and enhance existing product lines;
- Collaborate with the R&D and Product teams to identify ingredient needs for both current and future projects;
- Collaborate and work alongside sourcing and purchasing to ensure the best negotiation of ingredients and new developments;
- Proactively propose new ideas for ingredient innovation and improvements to existing ingredients;
- Arrange for internal sample evaluation and reporting;
- Partner with external suppliers to co-develop new ingredients, ensuring they meet required specifications, quality, and sustainability standards;
- Manage ingredient development projects from concept through to ingredient approval, including databases;
- Conduct risk assessments and develop mitigation strategies to address potential ingredient-related issues;
- Assist with the evaluation of potential ingredients for quality, safety, functionality, and compliance with regulatory standards and Kencko requirements;
- Stay informed about industry trends, technological advancements, and emerging scientific research related to food ingredients;
- optimize process and ingredients to conserve costs while maintaining kencko's brand integrity;
- Responsible for managing stock required for lab tests.

**Required Skills and Qualifications**:

- Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Food Technology, Food chemistry, or a related field. Master’s degree preferred;
- Strong knowledge of food ingredient functionality and processing;
- Familiarity with the food innovation network and industry trends;
- 2+ years experience working in the food industry;
- Advanced Knowledge of Food Science and Technology;
- Ingredient Functionality and Application expertise;
- Food Processing and Manufacturing Technologies understanding;
- Regulatory and Compliance Familiarity;
- Fluent English and Portuguese.

**Bonus points**:

- Analytical and Sensory Testing training;
- Experience with workspace and project collaboration tools, like Notion;
- German, French or other languages;
- US market experience.

**What We Offer**
- Permanent contract;
- Private health insurance, company pays 100% premium for employee and partner;
- 25 days of paid time off;
- 9.60€ per day for a meal allowance;
- Monthly transportation pass fee;
- An employee stock equity award;
- Wellness perks via our kencko-er assistance program (legal, financial, work/life balance, and mental health services);
- A casual, dynamic, ambitious, and fun work environment;
- Free nutrition consults;
- Steep discount on kencko products; and
- Be part of a B-Corp team that is shaking-up the nutrition industry for the better.

**- Please submit your CV in English