R&D intern

Actual Talent is the talent acquisition consultancy that offers Executive Search, RPO and Talent Solutions.

About the client:

Our client is a global food company based in Barcelona, Spain, operates in over 50 countries across Europe and Africa, offering more than 30 local brands. 

Job description:
Are you a recent graduate passionate about food innovation and eager to gain hands-on experience in Research & Development? We are looking for an intern to join our R&D team and contribute to innovative projects in the food industry.

Key Responsibilities

The selected candidate will support the team in research, product development and industrialization activities, contributing to national and international projects.

Main activities include:

• Developing laboratory-scale prototypes of fortified food matrices.

• Supporting prototype scale-up and participating in industrial trials.

• Presenting project results in internal and external forums and meetings.

• Supporting project reporting activities, including budget tracking, KPI monitoring and project documentation.

• Collaborating with internal and external laboratories to design and manage product shelf-life studies.

• Designing and carrying out finished product stability studies.

• Organizing and managing sensory evaluation and tasting sessions.

• Coordinating with partner companies and research centers to ensure project milestones and timelines are met.

Qualifications

• Degree in Food Science and Technology or related fields such as Biotechnology, Pharmacy, Chemistry or equivalent.

• Interest in food fortification and product development.

• Basic knowledge of microbiology principles.

• Familiarity with laboratory practices and procedures, preferably gained through experimental thesis work or laboratory projects.

• Availability to travel nationally and internationally (approximately 10%).

• Strong initiative, curiosity and willingness to learn.

• English proficiency at B1 level or above.

• Fluent Italian.

Preferred qualifications:

• Previous formulation experience in academic or industrial settings.

• Knowledge of food fortification concepts and applications.

• Familiarity with Design of Experiments (DoE) methodologies.

What We Offer

• A 6-month extracurricular internship, with the possibility of extension.

• A monthly allowance of €700 plus access to the company canteen.

• A hybrid working model, with 3 days on-site and 2 days working remotely.

• Opportunity to contribute to national and international research projects.

• Exposure to strategic and transformational business initiatives.

• Involvement in innovative, high-value-added projects.

• A collaborative environment focused on professional growth and continuous learning.

• Location: Agrate Brianza (MB), Italy