Senior Director - R&D Flavour Solutions EMEA

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Position Overview

Reporting to the Chief Science Officer, the Senior Director – R&D Flavour Solutions EMEA plays a crucial role in leading and directing all aspects of product development for the McCormick EMEA Flavour Solutions Business providing strategic leadership and decision making across all categories, customers and channels. This position represents R&D at EMEA Flavour Solutions Leadership Team.

This key leadership role is responsible for leveraging and expanding our core technical capabilities in accordance with R&D and Business Strategy while directing operations of the EMEA Flavour Solutions Product Development team. The Senior Director operates with a high degree of independence, collaborating and aligning with a broad range of McCormick business functions, our customers senior leadership, cross-divisional leadership, the global R&D function and other external partners.

Key Responsibilities

• Set strategic direction to link R&D team activities to EMEA Flavour Solutions business strategy, ensuring cross functional alignment and engagement at all levels.
• Business partner to VP Flavour Solutions and strategic R&D lead for McCormick customers.
• Leads the EMEA Flavour Solutions R&D Team (seasonings, coatings, condiments) across multiple sites/countries and deploys appropriate resource and skills against development projects, directing inter-team and cross-functional working when required.
• Directs and prioritizes the timely and accurate response to PD projects, delivering EMEA Flavour Solutions strategic plan.
• Leads Flavour Solutions R&D activities to support EMEA CCI and de-risking program to improve margin performance and agility that delivers a competitive edge and is wholly aligned to business objectives.
• Build technological and leadership capabilities across Flavour Solutions R&D team by developing an efficient regional team committed to excellence, performance and shared accountability; develop and select, where appropriate, best talent and manage staff performance management, development programmes and succession planning.
• Encourages a culture of pro-active idea generation and innovative spirit.
• Establishes effective ways of working with relevant technical Customer Service Teams; Site QA and Operations teams to ensure local teams implement regional projects.
• Manages proprietary information and implements systems and programs for organisational effectiveness.
• Accountable for stakeholder management across the business to support the prioritisation and achievement of business objectives.
• Provide effective leadership, communications and change management.
• Builds and maintains relationships and a network of business partners internal and externally with customers and suppliers.
• Represents EMEA Flavour Solutions R&D functions in relevant Global and Pan-European customer engagements both on-site and at the customer’s facilities.
• Creates robust links to the rest of the technical community to develop best in class practices across the region and globally, and allow transfer of knowledge across functions, whilst maintaining required confidentiality.
• Raise awareness and promotes the capabilities of the PD team throughout the business, internally and externally.
• Direct all departmental administrative matters - establishing budgets, objectives, manpower planning, performance appraisals, etc.

Required Qualifications

• BSc in Food Science, Engineering, or related field.
• Minimum 15 years product development experience in Food Industry and minimum of 10 years’ experience in leadership capacity (including managing technical professionals).
• Solid understanding of the food industry and competitive dynamics of food product categories.
• Knowledgeable in formula and process development.
• Proven experience in customer (B2B) relationship management in leadership role.
• Operational and strategic experience gained in a multi-cultural, multi-site and matrix working environment.
• EMEA knowledge, multi-lingual capability preferable, and experience working outside home country a distinct advantage.
• Previous experience in packaging would be advantageous.
• Demonstrated experience in establishing effective working relationships with internal and external functional groups.
• Ability to work effectively in a global environment.
• Ability to establish a working environment that challenges and motivates employees in department and also develop/maintain key contacts with Operations, Sales, Purchasing, Corporate Research and Development, elsewhere within McCormick, and with customers.
• Strong proven knowledge of designing ‘Dry/seasoning’ and condiments products and the associated technologies.
• Knowledge of Flavour science/technology is a distinct advantage.
• Ability to set and achieve project goals and objectives by applying the discipline of planning, organizing, and managing resources to bring about successful project completion.
• Ability to use clear, concise communication and influence to inspire the team to work towards desired goals; Actively sponsor desired change, including mitigating resistance within the team and removing barriers.

As an Equal Opportunities employer, McCormick is committed to a diverse workforce.