POSITION PURPOSE:

• Identify and advance new strategic growth opportunities for the North American Solutions & Ingredients business, including the development of a robust commercial and R&D project pipeline (short- and long-term) to support our diverse customer base within the North American food and beverage market. The ideal candidate will have an innovative mindset/entrepreneurial spirit and strong business acumen, with ample experience in developing and executing business plans, including go-to-market strategies. This newly created position will lead collaboration of key stakeholders to accelerate the expansion of our ingredient portfolio to drive topline growth and business transformation of our growing organization located in the Chicago suburbs.

EDUCATION, CERTIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE:

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in business, science, engineering or a related field.
• Minimum of 5 years experience in facilitating product innovation (preferably, food ingredient innovation), marketing, or new business development. Competent in working as part of cross-functional teams to identify and validate new ingredient/product ideas in the food and beverage sector, prior experience in corporate development opportunities, including sourcing, screening and reviewing potential minority investments and acquisitions.
• Experience in commercializing intellectual property and tech transfer in food and/or related environments.
• Experience in the health & wellness sector, a plus.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

• Strategic management: 5+ years relevant working experience in managing new business development or open innovation related projects, including project ideation, scoping, planning, partnering and execution with diverse partners in food ingredient or related sectors.
• Strategic planning: Working experience and fundamental understanding of analytical capabilities for finance, business strategy, and operating model design and implementation
• Business plan development: Design and possess capability to lead an innovation process toward the delivery of operational, cost, and new product or service innovations with strong alignment to customer need states.
• Passion & Curiosity: Toward cutting edge technologies and care deeply about the impact they can have on making the organization productive, innovative and impactful.
• Fast-Paced Learner: Absorb large amounts of information quickly and systematically, develop reports or proposals to support executive decision making based on opportunity size and competitive landscape.
• Communication & presentation: Strong verbal and written communication skills and can confidently present ideas to stakeholders in professional settings.
• One team mind: Work together with a diverse team of different backgrounds to efficiently complete cross-functional initiatives as one team.

OCCUPATIONAL DEMANDS:

• Domestic and international travel for business is required (estimated up to 25% of time).

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Develop and implement a robust innovation strategy and ultimately, generate a pipeline of ideas as part of a cross-functional team to drive the Solutions & Ingredients topline growth objectives.
• Oversee development and execution of ingredient/product innovation projects including concept development, feasibility validation, R&D, business case and approval, project execution, customer alignment and acceptance.
• Use syndicated and primary research and trend data to creatively identify viable growth opportunities.
• Work collaboratively with R&D, culinary, marketing, sales and other teams to identify and validate new ingredient/product ideas.
• Support innovation scouting activities including sourcing, screening and reviewing disruptive ideas, technologies and companies that drive the growth strategy of the business and minimize opportunity loss of competitor’s activities.
• Develop a network within the innovation ecosystem, including startups accelerators, venture capital or other relevant innovation clusters.
• Establish project timelines and communicate effectively to realize that timing.