Pilot Plant Technician (all genders)

• You have completed a HBO (higher professional education) or MBO-4 degree in the field of Process Technology, Chemical Technology, Food Technology, or a related field;
• If you have an MBO 4 degree, you possess at least 5 years of work experience in a food production company or an R&D Pilot Plant environment;
• Experience as a pilot plant technician or lab technician within process technology, food technology, or an R&D environment is a plus;
• Affinity with and knowledge of technologies such as membrane filtration, drying, and pasteurization/UHT is a plus;
• You master the Dutch and English languages, both orally and in writing;
• You work accurately and critically and have an eye for detail;
• You can collaborate well in project teams and handle deadlines in a planned manner;
• You are flexible, proactive, and independent, and you are open to the continuous improvement of working methods.

At FrieslandCampina, you work on strong and beloved brands used daily by millions, such as Friso, Campina, Chocomel, and Frisian Flag. As a dairy farmers' cooperative, we combine an international working environment with a clear focus on sustainability.

Employment conditions:

• Salary between €3600,- and €4150,- gross per month (full-time), depending on experience and suitability for the role;
• A 36-hour work week, 5% end-of-year bonus, 8% holiday allowance, and a pension scheme;
• A train pass and/or €0.23 per km (max. 30 km one way);
• 200 hours of leave per year, with the possibility to buy or sell up to 40 extra hours;
• Attention to wellbeing and inclusion, with initiatives such as health support and employee assistance programs;
• A bicycle plan and company fitness scheme;
• Extras on location, such as milk and cheese during lunch and fresh fruit.

In this position, you are responsible for preparing, executing, and documenting (process) technological experiments on a pilot scale. You are involved in R&D projects from start to finish. Together with product and process developers, you determine which tests are needed and how they can best be carried out. You prepare the process equipment, reconfigure it if necessary, or help with the assembly of new equipment and setups. Subsequently, you carry out the experiments safely and reproducibly.

You record the results in the ELN (Electronic Lab Notebook), analyze the outcomes, and report your findings. Based on this, you advise colleagues and the project team on possible improvements and follow-up tests. Additionally, you ensure the maintenance of the process equipment, contribute to the optimization of processes and the purchase of new equipment, and keep work instructions and procedures regarding safety and quality up to date.

As a Pilot Plant Technician, you work independently within a close-knit team. You work closely with colleagues from the laboratories and with process and product developers, both within and outside the department. You actively contribute ideas for process improvements and bring your knowledge and expertise to projects.

Do you want to collaborate with colleagues of 32 nationalities within R&D, who work together intensively in an inspiring environment? Then this is your chance. Our Innovation Center in Wageningen consists of four parts: a large pilot plant with cooling and storage warehouses and three buildings housing the offices and laboratories. The center also includes an experience center, an innovation kitchen, and a test bakery. Here, consumers, customers, and employees of FrieslandCampina from all over the world can taste our delicious products. To accelerate and strengthen our innovation process, we also work in the Innovation Center with innovation partners such as Wageningen University & Research, other knowledge institutions, our dairy farmers, customers, and suppliers.

About our team and our location:

• A multidisciplinary team: highly skilled, focused on delivering our very best work together;
• A friendly working environment, with a great canteen, free milk, cheese, and Lattiz coffee;
• Sustainability: BREEAM-certified sustainable building and, given the rise of electric vehicles, there are charging points for electric cars, scooters, and/or bicycles.

Do you have experience as a pilot plant technician or lab technician in process technology? Or do you have an HBO degree in the field of process technology, food technology, or a related field? Do you want to contribute to the development and optimization of the new generation of production processes at FrieslandCampina by performing and elaborating experiments on a pilot scale? Then get started as a Pilot Plant Technician in the Pilot Plant Team within the Process Technology department in Wageningen!