Senior Technologist Protein & Dairy Powders

R&D Senior Technologist- Proteins & Dairy Powders

Tirlán

Tirlán, is a world-class food and nutrition co-operative, with a diverse portfolio of quality ingredients, leading consumer and agri brands.

Tirlán owns leading brands such as Avonmore, Kilmeaden Cheese, Millac, Solmiko, Truly Grass Fed, Premier Milk, Wexford, mymilkman.ie and GAIN Animal Nutrition.

We nurture a talented team across Ireland, the US, MEA and China, delivering annual revenues of over €3 billion, and circa 2,000 people to manage our network of 11 processing plants and 52 agri branches. Our purpose is to nourish the world, while safeguarding our environment for future generations.

Role Profile

Based in the Innovation Centre in Ballyragget and reporting to the R&D Manager, Proteins & Dairy Powders, this role will manage and deliver projects designed to develop, test, and validate value add protein solutions for Tirlán’s customers. Working within the R&D department, but with key contacts in Commercial, Operations and Quality, this individual will support the development of projects focussed on innovation, new product development and technical support. This position requires an experienced Senior Technologist, preferably with membrane & drying processing hands on experience, dairy protein chemistry knowledge, technical laboratory skills, customer focus and project management experience. The role requires someone who is enthusiastic and willing to learn & work as part of a team. This role will involve direct liaison with all internal departments and relevant external organisations to co-ordinate and drive the completion of all activities in the development process from brief through to full production.

Key Responsibilities:

• Collaborate with R&D, Commercial and Marketing teams to identify, develop, and progress new and existing opportunities, maximising value creation from the innovation pipeline.
• Lead New Product Development (NPD) activities in support of business growth and customer opportunities, working closely with Commercial and Business Development teams.
• Design, execute, and interpret laboratory and bench-scale experiments to evaluate new product concepts, formulation changes, and process enhancements.
• Plan, coordinate, execute, and document pilot plant and manufacturing trials in accordance with R&D, quality, and food safety procedures.
• Analyse trial outcomes against defined objectives and effectively communicate results, recommendations, and next steps to key stakeholders.
• Support and manage projects through Tirlán's Stage-Gate/NPD process, ensuring adherence to agreed timelines, technical deliverables, product approvals, manufacturing trials, and customer data requirements.
• Lead or support process optimisation and manufacturing capability improvement initiatives, leveraging scientific and engineering principles to enhance product quality, consistency, and operational efficiency.
• Partner with cross-functional teams as required to investigate and resolve product quality, process, and consistency challenges.
• Build and maintain strong technical relationships with key customers, suppliers, research partners, and industry stakeholders.
• Stay abreast of emerging technologies, scientific developments, and market trends in dairy proteins, ingredient functionality, and processing technologies, identifying opportunities to strengthen Tirlán's innovation portfolio.

Key Requirement:

• Degree qualification in Food Science, Food Engineering, Dairy Science, or a related scientific discipline
• Minimum of 5 years' relevant technical experience within the dairy ingredients sector, value-added dairy processing, or a related industry.
• Proven experience leading technical, innovation, and product development projects, delivering outcomes on time.
• Strong understanding of dairy protein chemistry, functionality, and ingredient performance, particularly in high protein whey and milk-based systems.
• Expertise in the characterisation and analysis of dairy protein powders and liquid dairy streams, including functional, physicochemical, and processing attributes.
• In-depth knowledge of spray drying technologies, with experience in high protein dairy powders and difficult-to-dry formulations.
• Hands-on experience with membrane filtration and separation technologies, including ultrafiltration (UF), diafiltration (DF), microfiltration (MF), and related processes.
• Strong understanding of dairy process technologies and the relationship between processing conditions, product functionality, and powder performance.
• Experience troubleshooting manufacturing, processing, and product quality challenges through a structured scientific approach.
• Excellent project management skills, with the ability to plan, prioritise, and drive projects to successful completion.
• High attention to detail, with strong technical report writing and presentation skills.
• Ability to effectively communicate technical concepts to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Proactive, self-motivated, and results-oriented, with a strong sense of ownership and accountability.
• Collaborative team player with the ability to build effective relationships across multiple functions.
• Experience supporting customer technical interactions, product scale-up, and commercialisation activities.

About us 

Through our expertise in research and development, customer insights, food safety and state-of-the-art manufacturing we bring innovative food and nutrition solutions to a global market. Our new and vibrant headquarters in Kilkenny City operates as a collaboration hub where multi-functional teams come together in a hybrid work environment  

Commitment to Diversity & Inclusion

We believe in the value of difference. We know that different perspectives, life experience and backgrounds can drive innovation and deliver growth. 

We welcome people from all walks of life without regard to race, colour, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender perception or identity, national origin, age, marital status, or disability status. 

Join our Talent Pool

Considering a new career in Tirlán but this isn’t the role for you? Join our talent community and sign up for job notifications at www.tirlan.com/careers

Tirlán is a Values Based Organisation