Job Title: Ingredient Solutions Director, Europe
We are seeking an innovative and strategic Ingredient Solutions Director for Europe. This role focuses on securing and enhancing our portfolio of ingredients and formulas, ensuring seamless delivery to our customers across the region.
Based at our modern Innovation Center in Kemptthal, Switzerland, and reporting directly to the Head of Regional Innovation Europe, you will oversee our Ingredient & Formula (I&F) and IPLC teams. You’ll have the opportunity to shape the ingredient palette of tomorrow while ensuring operational continuity today.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership
- Set direction: Define and lead the strategy for ingredient and formula optimisation across our diverse product portfolio to meet today’s and future market demands.
- Safeguard continuity: Implement processes and risk-management frameworks to protect supply, mitigate challenges, and reduce complexity without compromising quality.
- Champion I&F's role: Enhance the profile of ingredient and formula management within the organisation as a critical enabler for customer satisfaction and margin realisation.
Innovation & Development
- Guide creative problem-solving: Introduce market-leading tools and methodologies for both proactive and reactive formula optimisation.
- Refresh and future-proof: Evaluate and refresh ingredient palettes to improve performance, ensure compliance with evolving regulatory guidelines, and align with key consumer trends such as natural ingredients, clean labels, and sustainable sourcing.
- Harness digitalisation: Utilize AI and digital tools to anticipate ingredient challenges and opportunities, identifying potential gaps before they escalate into operational issues.
Execution Excellence & Customer Focus
- Champion delivery: Lead the validation and execution of formula changes, ensuring smooth roll-outs to both manufacturing and customer supply chains.
- Maximise value: Develop launch plans that enhance business outcomes and customer satisfaction, including improvements to delivery efficiency and lead times through formula optimisation.
- Connect innovation to improve: Align ingredient and formula expertise with commercial goals to deliver tailored, high-value solutions for our customers.
Knowledge, Systems, and Compliance
- Remain a trusted expert: Stay informed on regulatory developments in EU food, flavouring, and additive compliance, translating these updates into practical business practices.
- Use systems for speed: Lead processes related to formula change and industrialisation, leveraging data and KPIs to ensure speed, accuracy, and transparency.
People and Talent Leadership
- Inspire and develop: Build, coach, and empower teams across Europe, nurturing expertise and creating a future talent pipeline.
- Cultivate collaboration: Foster connections with key internal communities, from Flavourists to Issue Management teams, promoting best practice sharing and mutual support.
Your Professional Profile
- Degree in Food Science, Chemistry, Food Technology, or a similar technical discipline
- 15+ years of leadership experience in formulation, ingredient or flavour technology, product development, or related fields
- Demonstrated expertise in ingredient delivery systems, scale-up, and industrialisation
- Experience with supplier management, procurement, and financial accountability
- In-depth knowledge of EU food regulations, labelling, allergens, and compliance regimes (REACH, Novel Foods)
- Experience in R&D pipelines, trend translation, and bringing innovations from concept to market
- Proven track record in cross-functional leadership and talent development
- Business fluency in English; additional languages are advantageous
Our Benefits in Kemptthal
- Excellent opportunities for progressive learning and development
- Flexible working model with a 40-hour work week
- Additional paid days off and favorable pension fund contributions
- Subsidized meals in the staff restaurant and discounted catering offers
- Access to a sport and leisure club with on-site amenities
- Discounts at the company shop and free staff parking
- Subsidized REKA vouchers and SBB half-fare travel card
- Complimentary beverages (tea, coffee, water) at all locations
- Worldwide private accident coverage with the option of choosing your hospital
Apply online using the form below. Only applications matching the job profile will be considered.