Application Development Lead

Join to apply for the New Application Development Lead role at Ahlstrom

You have a choice of where you want to work! We invite you along on our journey to Purify and Protect, with Every Fiber, for a Sustainable World
. We aim to attract, retain, and energize passionate people,
like you
, by investing in your professional development and providing opportunities for personal growth.

Do your values align with ours? Accountability, Growth mindset, One team, Care and a fair and inclusive work environment for everyone, everywhere!

We strive to meet the highest standards of corporate citizenship by protecting the health and safety of our team
, safeguarding the environment, and creating a long‑lasting, positive impact on the communities where we do business.

The New Application Development Lead is responsible for defining, identifying, and validating key technical requirements for Food new Applications (former “pre‑project”) to develop such new Applications. The person will be given strategic direction (“where to play”) by Global Food Marketing, Market Segment information by Business Intelligence, and the overall requirements and Business case by Product Management.

The objective for each new Application (former “pre‑project”) will be to:

• Validate the technical feasibility of Price/Cost Targets defined by Product Management/Business Intelligence based on potential asset and product recipe assumptions
• Identify the assets and Production processes needed for the New application and, in the case of third‑party resources, build the initial technical base ground for a future partnership
• Translate the overall Technical requirements defined by Product Management into targeted product specifications
• Validate technically the Locomotive Converter/Brand that we are aiming to associate with from the business side
• Validate Machinability on converting and packaging lines processes

Once done, the person will potentially recommend (or not) to move this New Application to the NPD through the Food Governance, will proceed with the hand‑over to the defined PD Engineer and will remain close to the Project Team during the development phases.

On top of this, the person will be responsible for three other areas:

• Manage existing and new Partners (Ingredients/Chemicals/Materials, Coating/Metallizing processes, Packaging Machine suppliers)
• Be the contact points of Corporate R&D, Open Innovation, Innovation Platform, Sustainability and Food Compliance
• Be the entry point in our Food R&D structure for all the new ideas that come from customers and brands, filtering technically their feasibility

• Extensive experience in R&D roles
• Capability to drive discussion with Senior Brand Management and R&D Teams
• Great capability to move with autonomy in the Ahlstrom organization, being in contact with multiple functions/teams, and acting as a “spider in the web” by capturing all key external and internal information to secure successful new Application development
• Autonomous, self‑starter
• Currently authorized to work in the US

Ahlstrom is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Ahlstrom will not engage in discrimination or harassment of any person based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status or other characteristics protected by law.

Ahlstrom is a global leader in combining fibers into sustainable specialty materials. Our purpose is to Purify and Protect, with Every Fiber, for a Sustainable World. Our vision is to be the Preferred Sustainable Specialty Materials Company for all our stakeholders. Our three divisions—Filtration and Life Sciences, Food and Consumer Packaging, and Protective Materials—address global trends with safe and sustainable solutions.

Our net sales in 2024 amounted to EUR 3.0 billion and we employ about 6,800 people.