Ingredient Solutions Director / Ingredient Solutions Directress

Job Opportunity: Ingredient Solutions Director, Europe

We are seeking an ambitious and strategic Ingredient Solutions Director to enhance and secure our portfolio of ingredients and formulas. You will play a crucial role in 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 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 offer the best possible palette for current and future market demands.
• Safeguard continuity: Implement processes and risk-management frameworks to protect supply, reduce challenges, and minimize complexity without compromising quality.
• Champion I&F's role: Enhance the profile of ingredient and formula management within the organization as a critical 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 and meet evolving regulatory guidelines, aligning with main consumer trends such as natural, clean label, and sustainable sourcing.
• Harness digitalization: Utilize 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: Ensure ingredient and formula expertise is tightly aligned with commercial goals, 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 change and industrialization, using 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 Flavorists 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 flavor technology, product development, or related fields.
• Demonstrated expertise in ingredient delivery systems, scale-up, and industrialization.
• Experience with supplier management, procurement, and financial accountability.
• In-depth knowledge of EU food regulations, labeling, 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; additional languages are advantageous.

Benefits of Working with Us 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 sports 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. Please note that only applications matching the job profile will be considered.