Job Opportunity: Ingredient Solutions Director, Europe
We are searching for an accomplished Ingredient Solutions Director for our Europe division. This role is pivotal in securing and enhancing our portfolio of ingredients and formulas, ensuring seamless delivery to our customers across the region.
Based 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 mission will be 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 optimization across our diverse product portfolio, ensuring we meet current and future market demands.
- Safeguard continuity: Implement processes and risk-management frameworks to protect supply, alleviate challenges, and reduce complexity while maintaining product quality.
- Champion I&F's role: Elevate the profile of ingredient and formula management within the organization as a crucial enabler for customer satisfaction and margin realization.
Innovation & Development
- Guide creative problem-solving: Introduce market-leading tools and methodologies for proactive and reactive formula optimization.
- Refresh and future-proof: Evaluate and refresh ingredient palettes to improve performance, comply with evolving regulatory guidelines, and align with key consumer trends like natural, clean label, and sustainable sourcing.
- Harness digitalization: Leverage AI and digital tools to anticipate ingredient challenges and opportunities, identifying 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.
- Maximize value: Launch plans that enhance business and customer outcomes, such as improving delivery efficiency or reducing lead times through formula optimization.
- Connect innovation to improve: Align ingredient and formula expertise with commercial objectives, delivering tailored, high-value solutions for our customers.
Knowledge, Systems, and Compliance
- Remain a trusted expert: Stay abreast of regulatory developments in EU food, flavoring, and additive compliance, translating them into practical business practices.
- Use systems for speed: Lead processes associated with formula changes and industrialization, utilizing data and KPIs to ensure efficiency and transparency.
People and Talent Leadership
- Inspire and develop: Build, coach, and empower teams across Europe, nurturing expertise and creating a robust talent pipeline.
- Cultivate collaboration: Foster connections within important internal communities, including Flavourists and Issue Management teams, promoting best practice sharing and mutual support.
Your Professional Profile
- A 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.
- Proven expertise in ingredient delivery systems, scale-up, and industrialization.
- Experience in supplier management, procurement, and financial accountability.
- Thorough knowledge of EU food regulations, labelling, allergens, and compliance regimes (REACH, Novel Foods).
- Experience with 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; additional languages are advantageous.
Benefits in Kemptthal
- Excellent opportunities for progressive learning and development.
- Flexible working model with a 40-hour workweek.
- 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 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 a choice of hospital.
Apply online using the form below. Only applications matching the job profile will be considered.