Technical Support Japan and South Korea

About the role

Lesaffre's Procelys business unit provides yeast-based nutrients and specialized expertise to the biotech industry, serving biopharma, food and feed ingredients, food cultures, probiotics and renewable energy. This Technical Support role in Tokyo works together with the Japan and South Korea Sales Manager to deliver optimal fermentation-nutrient solutions to customers. The post is full-time.

Key responsibilities

• Follow all safety protocols and take part in required safety programs.
• Support customers with technical requests, on-site visits, technical presentations and product-use training, and analyse feedback to feed product development.
• Train and support the Business Manager on application details, product positioning versus competitors and technical selling points.
• Troubleshoot application performance issues with Quality, industry, customers and lab resources.
• Act as the main technical contact between commercial, applications, industrial and quality teams and lead related inter-departmental projects.
• Build long-term relationships with R&D, Technical and Production departments at major customers and support regional Key Accounts.
• Contribute to the regional Technical Managers and Labs network through knowledge sharing and training.
• Monitor industry innovation and biotechnology trends, report a quarterly scientific and technological landscape to management, attend regional technical events and give talks at conventions.

Required profile

• 10+ years in R&D, fermentation management or application development in biotechnology, pharma or life sciences.
• Masters degree in Microbiology, Biochemical Engineering, Biotechnology or a related field.
• Ability to travel up to 50% within Japan and South Korea and occasionally internationally.
• Strong relationship management, negotiation and cross-functional communication skills.
• Japanese native; fluent English; Korean is a plus.
• Interest in a diverse global team; experience in a matrix organization preferred.