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R&D Senior Associate Germ Protection (Temporary)

City: Venezia

We are Reckitt

Home to the world's best loved and trusted hygiene, health, and nutrition brands. Our purpose defines why we exist: to protect, heal and nurture in the relentless pursuit of a cleaner, healthier world. We are a global team united by this purpose. Join us in our fight to make access to the highest quality hygiene, wellness, and nourishment a right and not a privilege.

Research & Development

In Research and Development, we're full of highly skilled talents that include Scientists, Engineers, Medical, Clinical and Regulatory professionals - all working to create a cleaner, healthier world. With nine Centres of Excellence, we continually seek out new opportunities by using science, our entrepreneurial flare and our fearless innovation to develop and enhance our existing portfolio, never compromising on quality or performance.

We do the right thing, always, by ensuring we act with responsibility and integrity, by complying with regulatory legislation across the globe, whilst ensuring our products are safe for our consumers and are to the highest quality.

The size of our organisation means you'll have the opportunity to learn and work in different functions within R&D, giving you exposure to different disciplines, teams and environments. You will also have access to our Research and Development Academy, designed to develop our team and allow you to grow in our great organisation.

About the role

As an R&D Senior Associate Germ Protection (Temporary), within the Laundry team, you will play a critical role in developing innovative technologies and products that deliver superior hygiene, sanitization, and washing machine cleanliness benefits across Reckitt's global portfolio. Working at the intersection of microbiology, formulation science, and product development, you will generate scientific insights that support consumer-relevant claims, evaluate emerging technologies, and translate technical expertise into breakthrough products that improve consumers' lives. You will collaborate with Global, Regional, and Local R&D teams, external partners, and cross-functional stakeholders to accelerate innovation from concept through commercialization. This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to strategic innovation programs while strengthening your technical expertise, project leadership, and influence within a global organization.

Your responsibilities

Lead the development of innovative Laundry Hygiene and Germ Protection solutions, designing and delivering scientific research that drives superior product performance and consumer benefits.
Generate scientific evidence to support product claims and performance, advancing understanding of microbiological challenges, including bacteria, fungi, spores, and biofilms in laundry environments.
Design, execute, and oversee microbiological testing using internationally recognized methodologies to evaluate product efficacy, stability, and hygiene performance.
Partner closely with formulation scientists to translate microbiological insights into consumer-relevant innovations, supporting formulation optimization and the development of differentiated products.
Identify, evaluate, and validate emerging technologies, ingredients, and scientific approaches to unlock future growth opportunities in hygiene and germ protection.
Monitor scientific advances, competitive activity, and market trends to help shape the next generation of Reckitt's hygiene solutions.
Lead technical workstreams within cross-functional innovation projects, collaborating with R&D, Regulatory, Safety, Claims, Consumer Science, Manufacturing, and Quality teams across global markets.
Analyze complex scientific data and translate findings into actionable recommendations that support innovation, product development, and business decision-making.
Contribute to Reckitt's innovation pipeline by generating scientific knowledge, supporting intellectual property development, and enabling competitive advantage.
Champion scientific excellence, innovation, and continuous improvement while contributing to the development of team capabilities and data-driven ways of working.

In compliance with Legislative Decree No. 96/2026 on pay transparency, this job offer provides for employment under the National Collective Labour Agreement (CCNL) “Chemical Industry and Chemical-Pharmaceutical”, which governs the applicable classification and remuneration framework.

The gross annual salary for this position ranges between €46.400 and €69.600. This range is determined in accordance with the applicable collective bargaining agreement and is based on objective and gender-neutral criteria, including qualifications, professional experience, competencies, and responsibilities associated with the role. The definition and application of these criteria are carried out in accordance with the company’s internal remuneration policies and are subject to review and validation by the competent HR function.

The company guarantees equal opportunities in access, treatment, and professional development, in compliance with applicable legislation.

The experience we're looking for

MSc or PhD in Microbiology, Biotechnology, Biological Sciences, Chemistry, Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Technology (CTF), or a related scientific discipline.
3-7 years of industrial R&D experience within laundry, home care, hygiene, antimicrobial technologies, or related FMCG sectors.
Strong expertise in the development and evaluation of laundry detergents, sanitizers, and hygiene-focused formulations.
Sound understanding of microbiological efficacy testing, claim substantiation, and formulation-performance relationships.
Hands-on experience with international testing standards and methodologies, including EN, ASTM, QB/T, and WST protocols.
Strong analytical skills, with experience in experimental design, data analysis, and interpretation of complex technical datasets.
Proven experience leading innovation projects from concept development through commercialization, including collaboration with external laboratories, CROs, and technology partners.
Demonstrated ability to work effectively across cross-functional and international teams, influencing stakeholders and driving project outcomes.
Fluent English language skills (C1/C2 level or equivalent) are essential

The skills for success

Detergent Formulation, Laundry Sanitizer Formulation, Microbiological Expertise, Product Claim Substantiation, Biofilm Science, Experimental Design, Data Analysis & Statistical Thinking, Problem Solving, Innovation Mindset, Technology Scouting, Project Management, Stakeholder Management, Scientific Communication, Collaboration & Influencing, Consumer-Centric Thinking, Global Collaboration, Continuous Improvement, Digitalization & Data Management, Leadership Potential, Business Acumen.

What we offer

With inclusion at the heart of everything we do, working alongside our four global Employee Resource Groups, we support our people at every step of their career journey, helping them to succeed in their own individual way. We invest in the wellbeing of our people through parental benefits, an Employee Assistance Program to promote mental health, and life insurance for all employees globally. We have a range of other benefits in line with the local market. Through our global share plans we offer the opportunity to save and share in Reckitt's potential future successes. For eligible roles, we also offer short-term incentives to recognise, appreciate and reward your work for delivering outstanding results. You will be rewarded in line with Reckitt's pay for performance philosophy.

Equality

We recognise that in real life, great people don't always 'tick all the boxes'. That's why we hire for potential as well as experience. Even if you don't meet every point on the job description, if this role and our company feels like a good fit for you, we still want to hear from you. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, disability or medical condition; colour, ethnicity, race, citizenship, and national origin; religion, faith; pregnancy, family status and caring responsibilities; sexual orientation; sex, gender identity, gender expression, and transgender identity; protected veteran status; size or any other basis protected by appropriate law.

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