Ingredient Solutions Director / Ingredient Solutions Directress

Ingredient Solutions Director, Europe

We are seeking an innovative and dynamic Ingredient Solutions Director for Europe to secure and enhance our portfolio of ingredients and formulas, ensuring seamless delivery to our customers across the region.

Located at our state-of-the-art 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. Your leadership will shape the ingredient palette of tomorrow while ensuring operational continuity today.

Your Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership

• Set Direction: Define and lead the strategy for ingredient and formula optimisation across our diverse product portfolio, ensuring we provide the best possible palette for current and future market demands.
• Safeguard Continuity: Implement processes and risk-management frameworks to protect supply, mitigate challenges, and streamline operations 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 update ingredient palettes to achieve better performance, meet evolving regulatory guidelines, and align with key consumer trends such as natural, clean label, and sustainable sourcing.
• Harness Digitalisation: Leverage AI and digital tools to identify and address ingredient challenges and opportunities 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 directly enhance business and customer outcomes, such as improving delivery efficiency or minimising lead times through formula optimisation.
• Connect Innovation to Improvement: Ensure ingredient and formula expertise is closely aligned with commercial goals, providing tailored, high-value solutions for our customers.

Knowledge, Systems, and Compliance

• Remain a Trusted Expert: Stay updated on regulatory developments in EU food, flavouring, and additive compliance, translating these into practical, actionable business practices.
• Use Systems for Speed: Lead processes associated with formula changes and industrialisation, employing data and KPIs to ensure efficiency, 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: Ensure connections with important 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.
• Track record in cross-functional leadership and talent development.
• Business fluency in English; proficiency in additional languages is 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 favourable pension fund contributions.
• Subsidized meals in the staff restaurant and discounted catering offers.
• Access to a sport and leisure club with amenities on-site.
• 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 free choice of hospital.

Apply online using the form below. Only applications matching the job profile will be considered.