Science Lead (W/M)

Marcq-en-Barœul, Hauts-de-France, fr on site Until 8/21/2026 First posted December 5, 2025 Last posted February 23, 2026
Job description

As a global key player in yeasts and fermentation, Lesaffre designs, manufactures and markets innovative solutions for Baking, Food taste & pleasure, Health care and Biotechnology.

Family group born in northern France in 1853, now a multi-national and a multicultural company, Lesaffre is committed to working with confidence to better nourish and protect the planet.
In close collaboration with its clients and partners, Lesaffre employs 11 000 people in more than 50 countries.

Lesaffre achieves a turnover of 3 billion euros.

For over 30 years, Lesaffre has been involved in Human Health & Nutrition as part of its ambition to Better Nourish and Protect the Planet. In November 2018, Lesaffre acquired Gnosis Advanced Biotech and officially combined it with Lesaffre Human Care to form a new Business Unit named Gnosis by Lesaffre.

Gnosis by Lesaffre is the business unit dedicated to human health.

At Gnosis by Lesaffre, we are committed to cultivating and to delivering nutritional actives, biotics, and nutritional yeasts that benefit human health and wellbeing, thanks to the power of microorganisms and biotransformation processes like fermentation. Put differently, we explore life to improve living.
Our vision: At Gnosis by Lesaffre, we strive for a world that moves better, digests better, ages better, feels better, and, ultimately, lives better thanks to microorganisms and fermentation.

At Gnosis, a Lesaffre subsidiary, we are committed to human health and nutrition with the ambition to better nourish and protect the planet. Our Substantiation Science team is looking for a passionate Science Lead to join our Scientific Affairs department.

As a Science Lead, you will be responsible for guiding the organization's scientific ambitions. You will be the subject matter expert in your selected health benefit areas and advise the entire company on scientific developments in those domains. You will master the scientific literature, know the competing products and their level of substantiation, as well as the cutting-edge methodologies used to generate evidence.

Key Responsibilities:

  • Lead the scientific strategy in your areas of expertise, ensuring that the generated science creates a competitive advantage and strengthens Gnosis' scientific credibility.
  • Direct the development of evidence generation plans and provide scientific project leadership.
  • Work closely with the Research & Development, Medical Affairs, Regulatory, and Marketing teams to ensure alignment between scientific and commercial needs.
  • Contribute to the identification of new research opportunities and the development of new concepts and ingredients.
  • Represent Gnosis with regulatory and scientific authorities.
  • Actively participate in the writing of scientific publications and communications. 
  • Advanced degree in life sciences (Master's or PhD)
  • 3 to 5 years of experience in the food ingredients, functional products, or pharmaceutical industry
  • 1 to 2 years of experience in the development of evidence generation plans, including clinical trials
  • Proven track record in managing scientific projects and cross-functional leadership
  • Excellent knowledge of the systems and models enabling scientific substantiation
  • Comfortable working in a team and creating internal and external networks
  • Ability to communicate science in a compelling manner, both orally and in writing
  • Fluency in English is essential, knowledge of another global language is an asset
  • Willing to travel up to 20% of the time

Join us to take on this exciting challenge and contribute to the improvement of health and well-being through the power of microorganisms!

What can Lesaffre offer you: 

  • We are a successful family-owned company with long-standing history where people truly matter. 
  • We promote a sense of fulfilment with a genuine mission: nourish and protect the planet. 
  • An opportunity to work in a real international environment. 

At Lesaffre, diversity is a strength that enriches our culture and our teams. We are committed to offering you a work environment where you can thrive, regardless of your background, gender, age or abilities. We encourage all applications, as we believe that diverse perspectives strengthen our ability to innovate and meet the challenges of tomorrow.

About this role

Summary

Lead scientific strategy, develop evidence plans, collaborate across teams, and represent company scientifically.

Job title

Science Lead (W/M)

Experience level

3-5 years

Industry

food and biotechnology

Location requirements

Marcq-en-Barœul, France; remote work not specified

Salary

Not specified

Management role

No

Skills & keywords

Required skills

advanced degree in life sciencesscientific project managementknowledge of evidence generationscientific communicationfluency in English

Preferred skills

additional language skillsregulatory experience

Specializations

life sciencesevidence generationclinical trialsbiotechnology
Locations

Structured locations inferred from the posting.

59700 Marcq-en-Barœul, France

On-site City