PstrongChristeyns /strong is one of Europe#39;s prominent manufacturers of detergents, soaps and associated chemicals, with a turnover of €450 million and employing over 1600 people in over 40 countries. With an annual growth rate of around 15% over the past 20 years and a portfolio of enviable accounts, this family-owned company is on the verge of a breakthrough as a solid global group. /ppKey factors for this success are a choice for solid and value-added relations with our customers, a continuous investment in people, but above all an entrepreneurial and informal company culture, enabling new concepts, innovative ideas and customer-oriented specialties. Our chemicals find their way in the market of textile care, food hygiene, pharmaceutical industry… /ppOur permanent growth in the professional chemicals industry has led to a group with about 65 active professionals in our labs. They are involved in quality control and manufacturing support, but most of all in research, development and innovation. This way the RD department has become one of the driving forces for our company#39;s growth. /p Job description ulliYou have a strongresponsibility /strong for all technological and chemical related matters through all our business units, textile care, life sciences, food hygiene and professional hygiene. /liliYou have a strongbroad look on all business units /strong, to manage the existing portfolio of formulations, to support improvement and optimisation projects and to support the launching of innovation projects. For every business unit you are monitoring closely the evolution towards a leaner and more optimal product portfolio. /liliYou are able to strongintegrate our RD operations /strong into a broader company environment, starting from a business point of view to manufacturing, purchasing, regulatory affairs,… hereby assessing all effects of possible innovations. /liliYou strongsupport your senior managers /strong in case of strategic business interventions, help them to develop the human capital within their department and develop a strategic view on making the RD department future proof in terms of available tools, technology, training, staffing…. /liliYou are the strongfigurehead of the company /strong on trade fairs, on scientific platforms, in the academic world, in professional organizations. You follow all scientific evolutions in industry and academic world to share it with the RD managers and experts in your team. /liliYou are reporting directly to the Group COO, and you manage a team of 5 senior RD Managers. They are each managing a team of between 10 and 20 people. /li /ul Profile ulliAn excellent strongacademic background /strong in a strongchemistry related area /strong. /liliYou preferably have a strongPhD in chemistry /strong, as a bioengineer, civil engineer, ... /liliYou have strongat least 15 years of experience /strong in an industry where innovation is key, on an international level. /liliYou have at least a first line management experience of strongat least 10 years in managing a team /strong of highly educated experts. /liliExcellent command of strongEnglish /strong (speaking and writing) is required. Knowledge of Dutch is a strong asset. /li /ul Offer ulliThe opportunity to work in a fast-growing and dynamic company with an outspoken growth strategy for the coming years. /liliA strongglobal company /strong maintaining a culture of enterpreneurship and passion. /liliA broad international scope. /liliA strongstrategic role /strong on strongcorporate level /strong. /liliAn strongexcellent remuneration package /strong. /li /ul