Ingredient Solutions Director, Europe
We are seeking an accomplished Ingredient Solutions Director for our operations in Europe. This key role will focus on securing and enhancing our portfolio of ingredients and formulas, ensuring seamless delivery to our customers throughout 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. Your leadership will 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 mitigate 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, comply with evolving regulatory guidelines, and align with 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 rollouts to both manufacturing and customer supply chains.
- Maximize value: Implement plans that significantly enhance business and customer outcomes by improving delivery efficiency and reducing lead times through formula optimization.
- Connect innovation to improve: Ensure ingredient and formula expertise aligns closely with commercial goals, delivering tailored, high-value solutions for our customers.
Knowledge, Systems, and Compliance
- Remain a trusted expert: Keep pace with regulatory developments in EU food, flavoring, and additive compliance, translating them into practical, applicable business practices.
- Use systems for speed: Lead processes associated with formula changes and industrialization, employing data and KPIs to guarantee 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 essential 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 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 free choice of hospital
To apply, please apply online using the form below. Please note that only applications matching the job profile will be considered.