Team Manager, Applied R&D Cheese, Novonesis at Novonesis in Hørsholm

Job description

Interested in a career that matters? 
 Are you passionate about leadership, innovation, strategy and helping shape the future of the global cheese industry? Join the Applied R&D Cheese, phages and dairy ingredients department at Novonesis, where we develop innovative cultures and enzyme solutions that help our customers produce high-quality cheese products worldwide. As Team Manager, you will lead a team of experienced scientists supporting cheese innovation, new product development, and customer success across multiple cheese segments. Together, we are building a global cheese expertise organization with strong customer intimacy, combining scientific excellence with practical application and outstanding stakeholder collaboration. Our department consists of approximately 60 dedicated colleagues, including managers, scientists, laboratory technicians, and cheese makers, working in an open, collaborative, and knowledge-sharing environment. The Role & Your Impact This is a people leadership role with a strong focus on strategy reflection, execution, optimization, and collaboration across R&D, Sales, Marketing, and Business stakeholders. You will ensure successful delivery of both innovation projects and customer support activities while developing a high-performing team of cheese scientists. In this role, you will: Lead and develop a team of 8-10 experienced scientists involved in Applied R&D Cheese team in Denmark. Be an active member of the Leader Team of Global Applied RD Cheese, phages and dairy ingredients. Advance and expand our BioSolutions culture toolbox, complemented by a strengthened next-generation enzyme portfolio, to anticipate emerging cheese making process trends and deliver innovative solutions that address both current and future customer needs. Ensure delivery of annual objectives and strategic priorities for the team. Anticipate resource and capability needs to support innovation projects and customer activities. Collaborate closely with project managers, business groups, regional marketing and business managers, and other stakeholders to prioritize and execute activities. Drive timely execution of New Product Development projects and customer support activities, escalating bottlenecks and mitigating resource constraints when needed. Coordinate incoming customer requests for cheese applications in Denmark and for innovation days. Guide your team to support our growth and to create innovation opportunities. Be involve and represent our Applied R&D Cheese, phages and dairy ingredients team with strategic customer accounts. Build strong stakeholder relationships and contribute to strengthening Novonesis' global cheese expertise. Coach, develop, and empower team members to reach their full potential and advance their professional capabilities. What You'll Need to Be Successful To succeed in this role, we expect that you have: An educational background in Food Science, Dairy Science, Food Technology, or a related discipline. At least 3 years of people management experience. Experience working within enzymes, cultures, food applications, or related industries. Strong stakeholder management and collaboration skills. Professional proficiency in English, both written and spoken. Experience balancing multiple priorities. Key competencies include: People leadership and talent development. Customer orientation and business understanding. Strong communication and feedback capabilities. Structured problem-solving and decision-making. Ability to work effectively across different cultures and professional backgrounds. Additional Skills & Interests We Value While not required, the following would be an advantage: Scientific and technical knowledge of cheese manufacturing processes and applications. Scientific and technical knowledge on enzymes and micro-organisms. Experience supporting customers directly in technical troubleshooting and implementation activities. Experience managing activities across global or regional org