Job Description

Why join us  

Get ready to Own groundbreaking Discovery work as 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; Nutreco Exploration - Nutreco Corporate), a Discovery group who develops novel and proprietary ultra-specialty ingredients and products for feed. NutEx engages in two programs: Phytotechnology & Bactotechnology, leveraging plants and bacteria, respectively, for addressing the complex problems faced by modern production animals including aqua 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 commands state-of-the-art infrastructure and facilities enabling 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 & specimen management, advanced Phytochemistry and method development, and the 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 improve animal health globally. 

What you’ll do 

You are the scientific anchor who brings together all contributors across our discovery pipeline. While the research is owned by our Discovery group, you own the expertise and direction of 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. You will: 

• Own and expand the Bactotechnology expertise within NutEx, strengthening the technical foundation of our program. 

• Work closely with Biodiversity Curators and the Discovery Research Manager on all bacterial discovery pipeline projects, helping identify candidates for new products for animal feed. 

• Establish innovative analytical methodologies for characterizing complexes containing bacteria and their specialized metabolites using advanced techniques. 

• Design and execute sophisticated laboratory experiments to evaluate the efficacy and BactoComplexes  

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

• Grow and curate the technical content for customer visits to the Nutreco Garden of the Future and supporting trainings for business partners. 

• Share expertise across teams to ensure continuous education and scientific alignment within NutEx. 

• Contribute to the visibility of Bactotechnology at NuGaFu and engage with customers as a scientific leader in the space. 

• Build and maintain a scientific network relevant to Bactotechnology and represent NutEx at key congresses. 

Who we’re looking for 

You’re someone who takes ownership of your expertise and enjoys pushing boundaries in a fast‑paced discovery environment. You are comfortable with complexity and ambiguity, and you thrive on exploring new scientific ground together with a diverse team. You’ll bring: 

• A PhD in Microbiology or a closely related field. 

• Minimum 5 years 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 smart risks. 

This role will be based in Arbon, Thurgau, Switzerland. Full-time on-site presence in our Garden of the Future site 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 where your contributions help shape Nutreco’s future innovation pipeline. 

• Full‑time position 

• Competitive remuneration package and strong 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. Get ready to Own your ideas, your expertise and your future. #OwnIt