As a global key player in the field of microorganisms and fermentation, Lesaffre designs, manufactures and markets innovative solutions for Baking, Food Taste & Pleasure, Health Care and Biotechnology.
Family group born in northern France in 1853, now a multi-national and a multicultural company, Lesaffre is committed to working with confidence to better nourish and protect the planet.
In close collaboration with its clients and partners, Lesaffre employs 11 000 people in more than 50 countries.
Lesaffre achieves a turnover of 3 billion euros.
Key responsibilities
Manage the local Baking Center team
training & baking skill development
continuous evaluation and optimization of the performance & personal efficiency (reporting, technical competencies, involvement) of the team
set & evaluate annual objectives for the team members (annual review)
be involved in salary reviews & negotiations
participate to the recruitment of new Baking Center staff or technologist for the sales team
Manage the local Baking Center activities
operative (short-term) and strategic (long-term) planning of the Baking Center activities & its resources
suggest (technical) investments or replacements when needed
receive and operate requests of the other departments (e.g., Marketing, Sales, …) or customers & transfer these requests into planning & activities
collect & evaluate feedback from team members, colleagues, and customers to continuously improve the quality of the activities
Technical development and services
manage technical support organization for internal & external customers (troubleshooting, product launches, starting help, recipe creation)
if requested visit customers in their facilities to provide technical assistance
participate & conduct technical seminars and trainings
prepare cost-in-use and recipe cost calculations
quality control in collaboration with quality management
Market observation & trends monitoring
CRM – report & evaluate relevant customer information (observed during visits or receptions) to sales team and Regional BC Manager
monitoring of changes in consumer habits
observe and report competitor’s activities
providing & organizing samples of new competitor’s products to be benchmarked
reporting this information within his/her organization
New Product Development & Innovation
suggest possible evolutions of local product range & marketing mix in accordance with market trends, innovations, customer & consumer needs
regular exchange with & participation in regional networks & communities (APAC BINK) to gather information about new regional & international products & services (LINT <-> APAC <-> subsidiaries)
in case of no local product development, organize regular contact with production plants & formulation centers to get to know about new locally developed products & services (min. once per year with the main collaborators)
organize & conduct baking trials on these new products
Reporting
about Baking Center activities (visits, receptions, trainings, customer relation, market observations, projects & baking trials) to…
to local line manager according to local interval & procedures
to Regional BC Coordinator on quarterly basis
collect & report the BC KPI according to LINT procedure monthly
Other responsibilities:
supervise the proper technical condition of the Baking Center facility and equipment
contact with authorities and enforcement of the relevant legal provisions
maintain contacts with third parties (e.g. institutes, raw materials suppliers, associations, equipment producers, know-how suppliers, educational institutions, …)
adherence to hygienic and safety rules
Education and experience
Bachelor’s degree in food science, cereal science etc. Master, PhD preferred (everything in combination with bakery education/experience)
Minimum 5 years experience with working in leading position in a bakery or a comparable industry
Fluent English in writing and speaking
Knowledge
Management – specialist
Finance – junior
Development – junior
Sensory Analysis – junior
Baking Theory – specialist
Baking Practice – specialist
Project Management – specialist
Client Relation – specialist
Training skills – specialist
Technical skills
managing skills and interest to drive a team on a short term horizon (baking test requests, visit requests, reception requests, …) and medium term horizon (market observation, product validation & development, new raw material and technology identification, …)
baking experience
management including HR, projects, materials and finance
ability to operate reporting in accordance with responsibility in these domains
customer orientation (representation of Lesaffre’s interest in the bakeries and of the bakers in the Lesaffre organization)
planning and organization experience regarding events (baking tests, demonstrations, …), projects and staff while respecting resources, the expected deliverables and deadlines
internal and external networking skills
communication skills to be comfortable in communicating with multi-disciplinary interlocutors in national and English language
Managerial & Behavioral Skills
Coach – Able to communicate, promotes career development, encourages initiative, promotes team spirit, works alongside team, shows respect, able to listen and to show empathy
Pioneer – Able to encourage innovation, is open to change/new ideas
Visionary – Able to motivate teams by working on meaningful projects
Entrepreneur – Able to create and organize a team, encourages responsibility, able to make decisions, able to undertake proactive and responsive actions
Achiever – Able to drive performance, able to work in the field, sets high targets for self and team, shows enthusiasm and competitive spirit
Global Company Player – Able to make decisions, promotes cooperation, is customer oriented and ensures
top quality service, able to work with others on cross-functional projects, shows transparency and Group spirit
Manager – Is stable and open-minded, strives for personal development
Other Skills & Knowledge
Sense for accuracy and details (meticulous)
Strong organization and communication skills
Open minded and flexible
Free thinking
Analytical skills
Systematic
Wide range of knowledge
Creativity
Lesaffre Values
Know, understand and demonstrate the Lesaffre values of
TRUST,
ENTREPRENEURSHIP,
PASSION,
HUMILITY, AND
RESPECT with work colleagues and business partners.
