Position Summary

Reporting to both the Chief Innovation & Quality Officer (CIQO) and CEO – Spices BU, the Head of Innovation- Spices Business will lead & implement the strategic direction for product, culinary and technology innovation for Spices business acting as the primary architect of the product growth plan / capability that enables the achievement of strategic business objectives.

The ideal candidate will posses a strong track record in identifying new market opportunities, developing innovative strategies and managing the innovation process. They will be a strategic thinker with a creative mindset and have strong leadership while fostering a culture of innovation and driving cross-function collaboration. 

Position Responsibilities

•      Develop and drive the end-to-end innovation roadmap & strategy for Spices business (incl. origination, product innovation and enablement, research, customer success and application, consumer understanding) 

•      Lead & own Creation, Application and Innovation for Spices value adds, and single Spice led products (e.g. Fried Onions)

•      Provide thought leadership on opportunities to pursue in the potential categories e.g. Extracts (Vanilla) / Mexican Food

•      Identify & execute R&D projects, building deep expertise for commercial leverage and achieving customer aims 

•      Optimise interfaces and collaboration with sales, marketing, supply chain, customers, distributors and partners

•      Implement and operate appropriate people leadership practices to engage / manage team members and suitably drive coaching / mentoring, career paths and talent pipeline

Position Requirements

•     Advanced Degree in Food Science, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering or allied sciences is required.

•     Twenty (20) + years in ingredient excellence is required.

•     Experience at a Spices ingredient/ manufacturing company is preferred.

•     Customer Savvy – having sharp focus on customer engagement

•     Commercially-focussed, creative problem-solver

•     Strategic leadership & operational execution within a diverse, ambiguous, fast-moving agenda

•     Stakeholder Relationship Management in a complex matrix organisation

•     People / Team Leadership, creating a culture of innovation

•     Proven track record of successfully leading innovation projects from concept to commercialization.

•     Strong analytical and strategic thinking skills, with the ability to translate insights into actionable plans.

•     Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence and collaborate effectively at all levels of the organization.

•     Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.

•     Ability and willingness to travel X%