Who is Procelys by Lesaffre?

Procelys is a Business Unit within Lesaffre Biotechnology and life science Division, supporting the industry by providing yeast-based nutrients and expertise to improve growth and productivity of microorganisms and cell cultures. Procelys develops a wide range of specific fermentation nutrients to address biotech challenges in biopharma, food and feed bioingredients, food cultures and probiotics, and the renewable industry.

Lesaffre is a key global player in the fermentation of microorganisms (yeasts and bacteria) for baking, taste, healthcare and industrial biotechnology. This story began more than 170 years ago in northern France, and, thanks to our pioneer spirit and our innovative approach, we are constantly developing.

Lesaffre's global presence includes 11,000 employees from 96 nationalities and a 3-billion euro turnover. We work with customers, partners and researchers to develop essential nutrients and bio actives that strengthen human health, optimize animal well-being and improve plant nutrition.

Our Core Values: Passion, respect, trust, entrepreneurship, and humility

What we offer

• The opportunity to represent a passionate organization focused on innovation and sustainability
• A competitive 401K plan, affordable benefits starting on day 1 of employment, and 12 paid holidays
• The ability to utilize your experience and knowledge to make a real impact
• Opportunities for continuous growth within your role and Procelys

What you bring to the table

As our Innovation Project Manager, you'll be the driving force behind creating value for our customers across North and Latin America. Collaborating closely with our commercial team - including sales directors, managers, and the innovation lead - you'll identify new opportunities and develop compelling business cases to officially launch cutting-edge innovation projects.

But your impact won't stop there. Once the projects are underway, you'll take the reins on end-to-end project management, leveraging tools like Microsoft Project to keep timelines, budgets, and costs on track. Serving as the primary point of contact, you'll work directly with customers' R&D leaders to ensure the successful delivery of these transformative initiatives. If you thrive on the challenge of translating big ideas into tangible results, we want you to join our team and elevate Procelys' innovation capabilities.

What you'll do as the Innovation Project Manager

• Lead and manage customer-driven projects, pillars, or programs from idea to product launch, ensuring on-time delivery and alignment with commitments. Write and present business cases to secure co-creation projects with at least 15% financial contribution from customers.
• Nurture the Procelys incubator with new innovative concepts.
• Collaborate with Marketing, Technical Support, and Applications Lab to identify market trends and build opportunities for new product or service development with customers.
• Coordinate with Biotech Application Labs, Technical Support, Industry, and Quality teams on smaller projects.
• Liaise with Corporate R&D to ensure the spread of new capabilities across Procelys initiatives.
• Establish dialogues with key scientific leaders to develop strategic cooperations.
• Draft and implement external research projects with academic or other research institutes as needed.
• Attend industry and scientific events to assess biotech and fermentation trends, and present Procelys' contributions to the field.
• Fulfill other duties as assigned.

Required qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in life sciences (microbiology, biochemistry, fermentation science, chemical engineering, food science, business or similar)
• 8 or more years of B2B technical sales and/or innovation experience
• Strong scientific knowledge in particular fermentation, microbial physiology/statistical analysis/analytics economics of biotech products
• Proficiency in project management software, Excel, and statistical tools
• Fluency in English is required
• Ability to travel 25-30% within North and Latin America
• Must be in CST or EST time zone

Preferred qualifications:

• MS/PhD is preferred
• MS Project experience is strongly preferred
• Fluency in Spanish is preferred, French language skills are appreciated

Lesaffre provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.