Innovation and Application Manager - UK

Your Role: To drive technical growth, innovation, and business development opportunities, supporting Brenntag's Nutrition distribution business across the UK & Ireland. Manage the Innovation & Application Centre in Leeds which includes leading a team of 2-3 technical professionals. Support customers, suppliers, and commercial teams across the UK & Ireland through ingredient evaluation, application development, and technical expertise. Develop strong relationships with strategic suppliers and actively contribute to the EMEA Application & Innovation Network. Ensures the Leeds I&AC operates as a centre of technical excellence, delivering high-quality support to both local and regional business opportunities. Responsibilities

• Manages a pipeline of technical projects supporting the growth of Brenntag's Nutrition distribution business across the UK & Ireland and selected regional initiatives within EMEA.
• Evaluates ingredients from strategic suppliers through analytical assessments, functional testing, and application development activities across a broad portfolio of ingredient categories.
• Supports commercial teams with customer projects, technical recommendations, presentations, troubleshooting, and customer visits.
• Leads and develops a high-performing team of 2-3 technical professionals, fostering technical excellence, collaboration, and continuous learning.
• Maintains a hands-on approach by actively participating in laboratory activities, ingredient evaluations, application trials, and customer projects alongside the team.
• Oversees the operations of the Leeds Innovation & Application Centre, ensuring efficient resource utilization, high safety standards, and regulatory compliance.
• Plans, executes, documents, and reports technical and application activities using company systems and procedures.
• Builds strong technical partnerships with strategic suppliers, supporting ingredient evaluations, joint development activities, and innovation initiatives.
• Collaborates closely with Product Managers and Commercial teams to identify technical opportunities and support business growth.
• Manages the annual CAPEX budget for the Leeds Innovation & Application Centre, identifying and implementing investments that support safety standard, continuous improvement, operational efficiency, and technical capabilities.
• Actively participates in the EMEA Application & Innovation Network, sharing best practices and contributing to cross-regional projects and initiatives. Brenntag TA Team