Global Innovation Program Director Re-Imagine Wellness (Taste Modulation)

Job Description

Do you want to drive innovation in the field of flavor modulation, health and wellness? Are you passionate about supporting consumers to reduce sugar, salt and fat but do not sacrifice on taste and texture?

Do you enjoy working in an environment of a passionate and multi-cultural team?
If yes join IFF NOURISH as Global Innovation Program Director RE-imagine Wellness™ and make the difference!

RE-MASTER Wellness™ - Holistic innovation spanning the spectrum of health and wellness.
At IFF, we combine the broadest ingredient and flavor portfolio in the industry with leading application expertise and science to create next-generation end-to-end design of differentiating food and beverages.

Purpose of the role

Innovation is the key driver to deliver IFF NOURISH vision and beyond. The Global Innovation Program Director RE-Imagine Wellness™ is a critical leadership position in IFF, dedicated to building a differentiating competitive edge and executing it with commercial excellence.

This position will develop and execute technical innovation strategy/tactics and provide leadership to R&D, Creative & Design functions for the development and commercial implementation of products and technologies to attain business growth goals by driving larger access to Wellness related opportunities.

This position can be based in Union Beach, New Jersey US or Hilversum, Netherlands.

Responsibilities:

• Drive the Wellness Innovation agenda. Accountable for end-to-end innovation process “Dream to Drive” (the IFF Business Excellence model) by closely working with multidisciplinary teams for the successful execution of key innovative strategic projects in line with short, medium, and long-term strategies.
• Translate new strategy into concrete objectives, with conversion into cross category initiatives.
• Management of the modulation flavor ingredients creative catalogue. Develop and deliver innovative products (ingredients & end-products) that meet customer requirements by translating consumer and market trends, and by leveraging organization capabilities. Contribute to the entire technology life cycle.
• Develop tools in conjunction with Product Experience, Innovation Marketing, Global Regulatory, Creation & Design, R&D, Procurement, Operations, Legal and Commercial for Go-to-Market value propositions that deliver business growth.
• Frame new business opportunities and collect needs from R&D and/or external partners, manage the Wellness portfolio by evaluating new ingredients and rationalizing existing ones.
• Presence at IFF Regional Centers as needed to roll out, train technologies and capture needs.
• Represent IFF expertise in Wellness ( focus on Modulation) in customer interactions. Build/Establish Technical partnerships with key external customers to establish effective network relationships for the development of technical needs for general category and specific joint development projects.
• Together with Procurement, works with vendors, partners and R&D on evaluating new and differentiating technologies and ingredients, exploring exclusivity opportunities and supply agreements/obligations.
• Develop and Lead an IFF Global network, connecting virtual teams to feed Innovation pipeline and leverage expertise.
• Train and influence the C&D function for commercial adoption of technologies to attain business growth goals in line KPIs of regions and categories.
• Closely monitor scientific developments within the field of expertise through involvement in external scientific institutions, government bodies and/or industry relevant committees.

Job Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Organic chemistry or related Applied Science. PhD or Master’s degree is desired.
• Expert in the entire supply and value chain of modulation tools.
• 10+ years in flavor, food ingredients or related end-use industry. In a commercial / customer facing technical role or development in the field.
• Global experience is required.
• Strong organizational, analytical and project management capabilities.
• Ability to work in a geographically distributed matrix organization.
• Service mindset to ensure customer satisfaction / resolution.
• Experience in innovation development.
• Working knowledge of stage-gate processes.
• Proven commercial/business acumen.
• Availability for international traveling and conference calls with regions in other time zones.
• This position requires strong influential leadership skills, interpersonal savviness, business acumen and communication skills to make impact.
• Establish excellent relationships with Regional General Managers and Regional Creation and Design Directors to ensure alignment of priorities and resource allocations and drive agendas.
• Establish and direct interdisciplinary development teams for effective product development, scale up, and plant production.
• Align teams to a shared vision and goals and manage processes and people to deliver portfolio growth and profit goals.
• Implement new technologies from R&D projects via interdisciplinary R&D/C&D teams with effective communication and training programs targeted at internal users (Flavor creation & Product design Staff) and sales.
• Job requires a vast network in and outside the organization and good partnership with other functions of the business to get things done.

IFF is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

At IFF, we believe that your uniqueness unleashes our potential. We value the diverse mosaic of the ethnicity, national origin, race, age, sex or veteran status. We strive for inclusive workplace that allows each of our colleagues to bring their authentic self to work regardless of their religion, gender identity & expression, sexual orientation, or disability.