Senior Manager, Snacks, Bakery & Confectionery Applications

About the role

The Senior Manager, Snacks, Bakery and Confectionery is responsible for driving food product development and formulation expertise across multiple Snacks, Bakery and Confectionery sub-categories globally. They will provide technical category leadership for the development and commercialization of new ingredients and innovative formulation solutions across multiple geographies. The Senior Manager will collaborate with our geography Customer Innovation leaders and customers to protect and grow our global Snacks, Bakery and Confectionery category business, providing leadership to translate customer insights and value propositions into technical solutions that meet consumer needs, promote health and sustainability, and support customer breakthroughs.

Responsibilities

• Build a deep understanding of Snacks, Bakery and Confectionery category consumer trends, customer problems and unmet needs through close cross-functional collaboration with category teams and global partners including Marketing and Insights.
• Create strong networks that promote collaboration among the global Snacks, Bakery and Confectionery community of expertise and build depth of the technical team.
• Translate voice of customer and key customer value propositions to technical solutions in collaboration with key stakeholders including sales, marketing, measurement science, and process innovation to make our customer’s breakthroughs possible.
• Lead, grow, and create an environment to empower talented technical professionals through mentoring and meaningful career development planning.
• Identify gaps and develop new technical capabilities and expertise among the team.
• Develop and implement a 3-year technical strategy roadmap working with global teams to identify and bring new ingredients to market, formulating solutions for Snacks, Bakery and Confectionery applications.
• Provide Snacks, Bakery and Confectionery category thought leadership through a broad understanding of the categories and the current and future drivers, as well as the corresponding technical capabilities to deliver differentiated food products and customer value.
• Develop new Snacks, Bakery and Confectionery formulation concepts leveraging ingredients and processes which can be applied globally.
• Harness industry expertise to develop and commercialize new ingredients and technologies grounded on customer insights.
• Drive recognition of Ingredion’s innovation capabilities at key industry engagements and establish thought leadership through industry innovation events and key industry organization meetings with customers globally.
• Champion and support Ingredion’s Intellectual Property strategy and develop patent applications.
• Stay abreast of Snacks, Bakery and Confectionery formulation science technologies and category landscape (market trends, IP landscape, emerging technologies).
• Communicate to the organization threats and opportunities in the category.

Requirements

• Advanced degree (MS/PhD) in Food Science, Food Process Engineering, or closely related field with 12+ years of progressive experience in R&D with emphasis on food formulation/ product development and a passion for food science.
• Experience leading food R&D and product development teams.
• Demonstrated success in commercializing consumer-packaged goods from conceptualization and ingredient development to finished product scale-up.
• Demonstrated hands-on product development experience and knowledge in multiple Snacks, Bakery and Confectionery category application areas (Sweet Biscuits, Bread, Bars, Extruded Snacks, Jellies).
• Familiarity with manufacturing processes is highly desirable.
• Knowledge of starches, hydrocolloids and other texturizers, specialty sweeteners and plant-based protein ingredients in food applications.
• Proven ability to coach and expand team capabilities in innovation and new product development to deliver excellence in food formulation and applications.
• Excellent technical skills with the ability to act as the recognized technical lead and Snacks, Bakery and Confectionery category subject matter expert within the global innovation community.
• Ability to engage and build working relationships effectively with diverse stakeholders across functions and levels of the organization.

Qualifications

• A communicator and influencer making the complex simple.
• Flexible and adaptable, comfortable leading multiple initiatives concurrently and delivering results in an ambiguous environment.
• Ability to proactively inspire change.
• Curiosity and creativity with a customer-focused, results-driven mindset.
• Analytical and a critical thinker with excellent business acumen and strong problem-solving skills.

Skills

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively with cross-functional teams.
• Knowledge of Snacks, Bakery and Confectionery formulation science and technologies.
• Experience in developing and commercializing new ingredients and technologies.
• Ability to manage and mentor a team of scientists.

Benefits

Full-time roles are eligible for our comprehensive benefits package which includes medical, dental and vision coverage as well as a 401(k) plan with an competitive company match.