Senior Microbiologist / Senior Microbiologistess

Why Join Us

Get ready to own groundbreaking discovery work as a Senior Microbiologist at Nutreco, an SHV company. As global leaders in animal nutrition, our purpose of Feeding the Future drives us to explore new scientific frontiers.

About Nutreco Exploration

In 2021, Nutreco established Nutreco Exploration (NutEx), a Discovery group that develops novel and proprietary ultra-specialty ingredients and products for feed. NutEx engages in two core programs: Phytotechnology and Bactotechnology, leveraging plants and bacteria, respectively, to address the complex challenges faced by modern production animals, including aquaculture species, livestock, and pets.

Nutreco Exploration is based at Nutreco’s Garden of the Future, located in Switzerland’s Phytovalley, near the Austrian and German border. This competence center features state-of-the-art infrastructure and facilities that support all activities required for the discovery and development of PhytoComplexes and BactoComplexes. Our discovery capabilities on-site include:

• Program expertise
• Discovery research, including biological models
• Biodiversity curation and specimen management
• Advanced phytochemistry and method development
• Creation and training of our proprietary algorithms, our Data Loom

This senior position offers exceptional opportunities to lead groundbreaking investigations into Bactotechnology, translating fundamental expertise into transformative commercial applications that enhance animal health globally.

What You’ll Do

You will serve as the scientific anchor who unites all contributors across our discovery pipeline. While the research is owned by our Discovery group, you will direct the Bactotechnology program, shaping its content, guiding scientific priorities as new insights emerge, supporting the growth of our specimen collection, and equipping colleagues and customers with clear, science-based understanding of our work. Your key responsibilities will include:

• Owning and expanding the Bactotechnology expertise within NutEx, fortifying the technical foundation of our program.
• Collaborating closely with Biodiversity Curators and the Discovery Research Manager on all bacterial discovery pipeline projects, helping to identify candidates for new products for animal feed.
• Establishing innovative analytical methodologies for characterizing complexes containing bacteria and their specialized metabolites using advanced techniques.
• Designing and executing sophisticated laboratory experiments to evaluate the efficacy of BactoComplexes.
• Pioneering complexity science applications to assess multi-compound interactions within BactoComplexes and their holistic effects on animal welfare, health, and performance.
• Growing and curating technical content for customer visits to the Nutreco Garden of the Future and supporting training for business partners.
• Sharing expertise across teams to ensure continuous education and scientific alignment within NutEx.
• Contributing to the visibility of Bactotechnology at NuGaFu and engaging with customers as a scientific leader in this field.
• Building and maintaining a scientific network relevant to Bactotechnology and representing NutEx at key congresses.

Who We’re Looking For

We seek an individual who takes ownership of their expertise and enjoys pushing boundaries in a fast-paced discovery environment. You should be comfortable with complexity and ambiguity, thriving on exploring new scientific territories alongside a diverse team. The ideal candidate will possess:

• A PhD in Microbiology or a closely related field.
• A minimum of 5 years of relevant experience in animal or human health, R&D, product development, applied research, or a related field.
• Fluency in English and Spanish.
• Experience teaching or working in an educational or training-focused environment (a plus).
• A creative, exploratory mindset and the drive to learn, collaborate, and take informed risks.

This role will be based in Arbon, Thurgau, Switzerland. A full-time on-site presence in our Garden of the Future is mandatory for close collaboration with the team.

What You’ll Receive

You’ll join a united global community driven by the purpose of Feeding the Future. NutEx offers a deeply collaborative environment where scientific curiosity is encouraged, and your contributions play a vital role in shaping Nutreco’s future innovation pipeline.

• A full-time position with a competitive remuneration package and pension scheme.
• 25 vacation days, with the option to buy/sell a limited number.
• Opportunities for global project involvement and business travel.
• A flexible working environment.

How and Why to Find Out More

We can offer you a career with purpose, innovation, and impact. If you’re excited about shaping the future of animal nutrition and contributing to scientific breakthroughs at the intersection of biology and discovery, we’d love to hear from you. Apply online using the form below. Only applications matching the job profile will be considered.