Job Description

Regional Head of Innovations China
Innovation and R&D
Hangzhou, China
Full-time

Why join us
Trouw Nutrition, a Nutreco company, is a global leader in animal nutrition with the shared purpose of Feeding the Future. We have the ambition to combine its deep nutritional science with data, sensors, and AI to advance precision livestock nutrition. We are establishing an open innovation hub in China, in partnership with leading universities and industry, to translate science into validated, field-proven nutritional solutions.
We are seeking a Regional Innovation Director for China to lead this agenda on the ground. Reporting to the Managing Director, Global Innovation, you will be the senior local leader who builds our academic and industry partnerships, shapes the local omics, sensor, and AI data and trials programme, and brings the pieces together into a coherent, world-class innovation effort. This is a rare opportunity to build and lead a flagship initiative from its foundations.

What you'll do
Strategy and leadership

• Lead Trouw Nutrition's precision livestock nutrition innovation agenda in China and coordinate the open innovation hub anchored at Westlake University.
• Act as the senior on-the-ground representative of Global Innovation, translating global strategy into local delivery.

Partnerships and stakeholders

• Build and deepen relationships with academic partners (e.g. Westlake University, Zhejiang University) and industry partners (genetics companies, commercial producers, and technology providers).
• Manage the call for proposals anchored at Westlake, pairing university and commercial partners around high-impact research.
• Support the translation of our Memoranda of Understanding into definitive
• agreements.
• Represent Trouw Nutrition with senior academic, industry, and government stakeholders.

Science and programme delivery

• Shape the local omics, sensor, and AI/big-data strategy in close collaboration with global species leads and internal laboratories.
• Oversee the design and execution of animal efficacy and product-registration trials and validation-farm studies with partners.

Scouting and ecosystem

• Lead technology and start-up scouting in China; organize pitch meetings and company visits; and evaluate opportunities for collaboration or investment.

Coordination and governance

• Bridge the China and global R&D teams, ensuring alignment, knowledge flow, and sound governance; manage budgets, timelines, and reporting.

Who we're looking for
Essential

• PhD in animal nutrition, animal science, veterinary medicine, or a related life-science discipline.
• Fluency in both Mandarin Chinese and English, spoken and written.
• Willingness and ability to relocate to the Hangzhou area.
• 10+ years of relevant experience across industry R&D and/or academia–industry collaboration.
• A proven record of building partnerships and leading cross-functional, cross-cultural work.

Desirable

• Familiarity with precision nutrition and with omics, sensors, and AI/big data in animal or agricultural science.
• An established network within China's academic, agricultural, and regulatory ecosystem.
• Experience with animal trial design and product registration in China.
• Prior leadership of an R&D team, programme, or partnership.

How you work

• You are strategic yet hands-on, entrepreneurial, and comfortable building something new amid ambiguity. You are a natural bridge-builder — culturally fluent across Chinese and international settings, an excellent communicator, and someone who earns trust with senior scientists, executives, and officials alike.

What you'll receive
As part of Nutreco, you'll be a member of the SHV family, a diverse group of companies with global footprint. Join us and you'll gain access to a wide network of expertise and global career paths. You'll also benefit from the backing of one of the world's largest privately owned businesses, known for its stability and long-term focus.
In addition, you'll receive:

• A visible leadership role shaping a flagship China innovation initiative from the ground up.
• A global platform and close collaboration with world-class scientific and industry partners.
• A competitive compensation and benefits package, with relocation support.

How and why to find out more
We can offer you a rewarding career with real meaning and purpose. Where you’ll feel proud of the impactful role you perform every day and the part you play in Feeding the Future. So, if you’re interested in joining us, get ready to Own your progress, your potential and your career. We aim to review all applications within five business days and will get back to you as soon as possible. #Ownit

Our organisation:
Nutreco is a global leader in animal nutrition and fish feed. Our advanced nutritional solutions are at the origin of food for millions of consumers worldwide. Quality, innovation and sustainability are guiding principles, embedded in the Nutreco culture from research and raw material procurement to products and services for agriculture and aquaculture. Experience across 100 years brings Nutreco a rich heritage of knowledge and experience for building its future.

Equal Opportunity Employer:

Nutreco is an equal opportunity employer; applicants are considered for all roles without regard to race, color, religious creed, sex, national origin, citizenship status, age, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, marital, parental, military status or any other status protected by applicable local law. Please advise us at any point during the recruitment and selection process if you require accommodation. Nutreco is committed to compliance with all applicable legislation, including providing accommodation for applicants with disabilities.