Novonesis — a biosolutions company whose purpose is to solve big challenges with biology — is hiring an Application Specialist to help dairy and cheese customers across KSA and the Middle East put Novonesis solutions to work. This is a hands-on role built around execution and optimisation: you will combine dairy application know-how with customer-facing technical support, helping customers implement cultures, enzymes, and application solutions while improving product quality, yield, texture, functionality, and process efficiency. Day to day, you will lead industrial and pilot-scale trials at customer sites, support Local Application Center trials, troubleshoot manufacturing challenges, and deliver technical presentations and training. A B.Sc. or M.Sc. in dairy or food science and 2–3 years of dairy industry experience, ideally with strong cheese exposure, are required, along with fluent English.
Location Note — Please Read
The listing shows Dubai and Saudi Arabia as locations, while the role description says the position is based in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia with a hybrid way of working, supporting customers across KSA and other Middle East markets.
Confirm the exact base location with the employer before you apply.
About Novonesis — Biosolutions for Dairy
Company: Novonesis — biosolutions company with more than a century of history behind its science
Purpose: Solutions rooted in biology that help solve humanity’s biggest challenges
Dairy Focus: Cultures, enzymes, and application solutions for cheese and fermented dairy
Team: Collaborative technical team working with the Head of Technical Dairy and commercial colleagues
Region: Customer support across KSA and other Middle East markets
Career Opportunity — Dairy Applications in the Middle East
Hands-On Science: Run real trials in customer plants and see the results in product quality and yield
Regional Reach: Support dairy and cheese customers across KSA and neighbouring Middle East countries
Technical Growth: Keep building expertise in cheese processes, cultures, enzymes, and dairy ingredient applications
Career Growth: Pathway to Senior Application Specialist, Technical Dairy Lead, or Regional Technical roles
Position Overview
This Application Specialist role puts you between the lab and the customer’s production floor. You will provide technical support mainly for cheese and fermented dairy applications, lead and carry out industrial and pilot-scale trials at customer sites, and document results in reporting systems and customer reports. You will also support the Local Application Center by designing and running application trials based on customer needs, using suitable formulations, methods, standards, and equipment. When a customer hits a manufacturing problem, you help troubleshoot it and tune quality, yield, texture, functionality, and process efficiency. You will work with the Head of Technical Dairy to design, run, evaluate, and follow up on trial protocols, and you will deliver technical presentations, workshops, and training, while backing up commercial teams during customer visits, project talks, product evaluations, and business development. Because the work spans markets, frequent travel of up to 50% across KSA and other Middle East countries is part of the job.
Why This Role Matters: A good culture or enzyme only delivers value when it works in the customer’s process. As Application Specialist, you are the person who makes that happen — running the trial, solving the problem on site, and turning technical results into better cheese and fermented dairy for customers across the region.
Key Responsibilities
Customer Technical Support
- Provide technical customer support primarily for cheese and fermented dairy applications across KSA and other Middle East markets
- Help customers troubleshoot manufacturing challenges and improve quality, yield, texture, functionality, and efficiency
- Support implementation of cultures, enzymes, and application solutions in customer processes
- Build strong, lasting relationships with customers across diverse cultures
Industrial & Pilot-Scale Trials
- Lead and execute industrial and pilot-scale trials at customer sites
- Document results through relevant reporting systems and customer reports
- Work with the Head of Technical Dairy to design, run, evaluate, and follow up on trial protocols
- Turn trial findings into clear recommendations customers can act on
Local Application Center Work
- Support Local Application Center activities by designing and running trials based on customer requirements
- Use appropriate formulations, methodologies, standards, and equipment
- Share results with internal colleagues to improve future recommendations
- Keep trial records accurate and easy to review
Presentations, Training & Commercial Support
- Deliver technical presentations, workshops, and customer training
- Support commercial teams during customer visits, project discussions, and product evaluations
- Contribute technical input to business development activities
- Work independently while collaborating within the regional team
Qualifications & Requirements
Education & Experience
- B.Sc. or M.Sc. in Dairy Science, Food Science, Food Technology, or a related field
- Minimum 2–3 years in the dairy industry, preferably with strong exposure to cheese manufacturing and applications
- Hands-on experience running industrial trials and giving technical customer support in dairy processing environments
Technical Knowledge
- Strong knowledge of cheese production technologies, cultures, enzymes, and dairy processing principles
- Strong troubleshooting, problem-solving, communication, and presentation skills
- Fluency in English
Working Style
- Ability to manage multiple projects and work independently within a regional team
- Ability to travel frequently across KSA and other Middle East countries, up to 50% of the time
- Arabic language skills are a strong advantage
About Novonesis — Dairy Biosolutions
Novonesis builds solutions rooted in biology that help address large global challenges, a purpose it has followed for more than a century. In dairy, that means cultures, enzymes, and application support that help customers improve cheese and fermented dairy quality, yield, texture, and efficiency. The company asks applicants to apply without a cover letter or photo and to add a few sentences in the CV explaining their motivation, as part of an inclusive recruitment process. Employment decisions are based on business needs, and candidates from a wide range of backgrounds are welcome.
Career Excellence: Join Novonesis — run cheese and fermented dairy trials at customer sites, solve real production problems, support customers across the Middle East, and grow your technical dairy expertise with a biosolutions leader.
Who Should Apply?
- Cheese Technologists: With 2–3 years in dairy and hands-on plant trial experience
- Dairy Application Scientists: Who enjoy customer-facing troubleshooting more than desk work
- Food Science Graduates: With dairy internships and a clear interest in cultures and enzymes
- Technical Sales Support Staff: Looking to move deeper into applications and trials
- Arabic-Speaking Dairy Professionals: Comfortable travelling across Middle East markets
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