Circle K Brussels, Brussels Region, Belgium
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Job Description
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Food Innovation Director (Europe)
Type of Employment: Permanent
Location: Our office in Copenhagen, Tallinn or Brussels
Visa requirements: A valid work permit from the EU/EEA (relocation assistance is not provided)
THE ROLE
Reporting to the European Head of Food Service, the Director of Food Innovation is a hands‑on leader and seasoned culinary/product‑development expert. This role is purpose‑built to accelerate product development and commercialization across our food categories, bringing a strong culinary foundation together with scalable product‑development practices and multi‑BU collaboration.
What You’ll Do
Strategy & Innovation Leadership
* Guide the European food innovation roadmap and translate strategic priorities into deliverable product pipelines across categories.
* Identify and incubate high‑potential concepts through rapid prototyping, consumer testing, and commercial pilots.
Culinary Direction & Product Development
* Lead culinary ideation and R&D: recipe design, sensory standards, ingredient optimization, specification, and lean production.
* Drive product cost optimization and industrialization with the food category directors and manufacturing partners to ensure feasible margins and supply reliability.
* Work within business planning cycles to innovation performance and apply corrective actions to meet sales and margin targets.
Cross‑BU Collaboration & Enablement
* Act as a partner and coach to Business Unit category managers; run network forums and workshops to share best practices, insights, and learnings across markets.
* Ensure local market needs and cultural differences are integrated into the product development process while retaining brand and quality standards for Europe‑wide rollouts.
Supplier & Partner Management
* Build and maintain strategic relationships with suppliers, co‑manufacturers, and innovation partners; define collaboration models and performance KPIs.
* Work closely with the food category directors & procurement on supplier selection and sustainability.
What You’ll Need
Experience & Education
* Relevant degree or professional culinary qualification (e.g., culinary school, food science) plus significant.
* Minimum of 5‑7 years’ experience within food product development, innovation, or foodservice/FMCG. Experience working across multiple countries/Business Units is essential.
Technical & Commercial Skills
* Strong culinary and sensory judgement with hands‑on recipe development and prototyping experience.
* Proven record of taking concepts through to scaled commercial launches, including costing, specifications, and supplier handover.
* Solid analytical skills with the ability to draw business conclusions from data, consumer research, and pilot results.
Leadership & Interpersonal Skills
* Excellent people leadership and coaching skills — able to influence peers and senior stakeholders without direct authority.
Practical Requirements
* Comfortable working in a multi‑business environment and across cultures.
* Able to travel approximately 30% across European countries.
What You Can Expect At Circle K
* Alimentation Couche‑Tard is a proud recipient of the Gallup Exceptional Workplace Award (GEWA) for 4 years in a row.
* Complete benefits package.
* Employee discount.
* Work in a collaborative, dynamic, high‑performing and teamli>
* Learning opportunities to develop new skills and to evolve professionally in a fast‑growing company.
At Circle K, our culture is shaped by our team members and how we treat each other. Our guiding principles are the core values we live by and inform all our actions and business decisions. You can find them at Values and Culture | Circle K. We hope they resonate with you and look forward to discussing them during your interview.
INTERESTED?
We encourage you to apply by December 21, 2025. The candidates will be reviewed continuously.
Contact Person
Pia Bach Henriksen
Head of Foodservice Europe
e: PBHcirclekeurope
Only applications received through our online system will be considered, not via e‑mail. We are looking forward to your application!
We know great companies are built from within, by great people like you. Come grow with us!
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