Senior Pharmaceutical Botanist

Organizational context

Nutreco Exploration is the ingredient Discovery & Development partner for Nutreco businesses.

· The purpose of Nutreco Exploration (aka NutEx) is to create value for Nutreco in the scope of two programs: Phytotechnology and Microtechnology.

· The vison of NutEx is to build and grow new organizational capabilities for Nutreco that allow the development of a portfolio of proprietary added value products to improve performance, health, welfare of aqua species, livestock, and companion animals. The products developed by NutEx are associated with multiple entry barriers including patents, regulatory authorizations, and protection of cultivars.

· To execute its vision, NutEx Discovers, Creates, and Produces ultra-specialties for feed using plants and bacteria. This is done using a model of connectivity, empowerment, and partnership that engages both the local business units and global teams.

· We work with novel, specialty crops that have never been commercialized before for use in animal feed, and sometimes never before for any commercial use. Our Domestication team works intimately with Discovery to determine the best accessions to address a given animal issue, and to determine the optimal cultivation approach for our plants.

Job Description

We are seeking a dynamic and experienced individual to join our team as a Senior Pharmaceutical Botanist. At Nutreco Exploration, we are committed to innovation and excellence in the field of animal production. As a member of our team, you will play a crucial role in driving our mission forward and contributing to our success.

Join our \“Nutreco’s Garden of the Future\“ campus —Nutreco Exploration (NutEx) is the ingredient development partner for Nutreco\’s global animal nutrition businesses: Skretting (aquaculture) and Trouw Nutrition (land animals). We discover, create, and produce novel feed ingredients using two cutting-edge strategic programs: Phytotechnology and Microtechnology, improving the health and welfare of millions of animals worldwide through science-based, sustainable innovation.

From our campus in Arbon, Switzerland, we work as a tight-knit team of around 25 experts, collaborating daily in an agile, cross-functional setup. We are part of Nutreco — a global company with over 11,000 employees. We value curiosity, collaboration, and continuous learning, and we believe strong teamwork drives better science and better business.

Make breakthrough discoveries in botanical feed science.

Join our cutting-edge team to pioneer the next generation of phytotechnology and microtecnology feed additives through our innovative EDGEOS platform. This senior position offers exceptional opportunities to lead groundbreaking investigations into phytotechnology and microtechnology, translating fundamental botanical expertise into transformative commercial applications that improve animal health globally.

Job Profile

Your Research Opportunities & Impact

• Lead Scientific Discovery

• Drive independent programs to identify novel plant species with untapped potential for PhytoComplex development

• Establish innovative analytical methodologies for characterizing complex bioactive compounds using advanced techniques including chromatography and spectroscopy

• Design and execute sophisticated laboratory experiments to evaluate the efficacy and safety of plant-derived PhytoComplexes

• Pioneer complexity science applications to assess multi-compound interactions within PhytoComplexes and their holistic effects on animal welfare, health and performance

Collaboration & Translation
In NutEx, collaboration drives innovation. You\’ll work closely with subject-matter experts across animal science, chemistry, marketing, and regulatory affairs to translate your discoveries into market-ready solutions for our EDGEOS brand.

• Lead scientific documentation and maintain detailed research records that contribute to patent applications and publications

• Present research findings to internal stakeholders and external scientific communities

• Support regulatory submissions for breakthrough phytocomplex innovations

• Provide guidance to team members on botany topics, fostering a collaborative and positive work environment.

• Coordinate with other departments to ensure seamless integration of processes and projects.

Our offer

What You Bring to Our Innovation Team

• PhD preferred in Botany, Phytochemistry, Ethnobotany or related field (exceptional Master\’s candidates with research leadership experience considered)

• Proven research excellence with publications in peer-reviewed journals and laboratory leadership experience

• Deep expertise in plant biology, pharmacology, and natural product chemistry

• Advanced proficiency with analytical techniques including chromatography and mass spectrometry

• Strong management experience

• Passion for translating fundamental science into real-world impact

• Experience with fieldwork and plant specimen collection

What We Offer

• Opportunity to build your own research program within our innovation framework

• Support for scientific publications and conference presentations to advance your research profile

• Competitive salary package with excellent pension scheme

• 25 vacation days plus Swiss public holidays

• Unlimited LinkedIn Learning access and substantial professional development budget

• Dynamic, international work environment with exceptional colleagues

• Full-time on-site presence at our Arbon, Switzerland research facility enables deep collaboration with our tight-knit innovation team and access to specialized equipment.

Contact Information

Please contact us on our online application tool:

https://careers.nutreco.com/vacancy/1872/senior-pharmaceutical-botanist