Sr. Director Global Technical Development
The Sr. Director Global Technical Development is responsible for all customer driven activities as it relates to the palatant and flavor product lines globally.
The teams will be responsible for innovation development, customer support for product development, formulation, and support through commercialization with their pet food customers.
The position establishes the scientific and strategic basis for company palatants innovations in the pet food and companion animal industries.
The position is responsible for setting the strategic direction for product development and commercialization activities in conjunction with the marketing and business development functions.
The focus of this role is to combine strategic foresight in developing solution-based products as well as being nimble enough to respond quickly to new opportunities.
This position also acts as the technical leader for the commercialization managers and teams for the application of new ingredients and flavors that are identified, developed, and commercialized via the product innovation process.
This will include new products, product improvements, and product troubleshooting to ensure efficient utilization of resources, economical manufacturing, and successful commercial introduction.
All research and product development activities must meet the company Vision and Mission and achieve the company values in meeting and exceeding customer expectations, while understanding our technology at the molecular level.
Responsibilities :
- Oversee the product innovation process for company’s development process as it relates to palatants and flavors
- Develop strategies : establish tactics and priorities and implement plans to successful completion and commercialization of products in concert with the Marketing & Sales and within the framework of the company innovation pipeline
- Provide leadership to the product development teams focused on the palatant and flavors and product line
- Motivate, develop, and train technical staff to achieve their personal goals as well as company’s structural objectives
- Oversee and direct technical activities in company palatant and flavors to successfully transfer discoveries from the bench to production scale at its customer manufacturing globally
- Identify new opportunities or support the improvement and application of current products
- Work with Quality Control to assure quality testing procedures are in place and cooperate with manufacturing in the scale-up of new products
- Coordinate the development of intellectual property and the documentation of research results through internal communication systems
- Assess and implement new technologies resulting
- Develop strong cooperative relationships with key customers and other cross functional leaders
- Conduct regular international travel to company international sites. Travel is approximately 50% in the beginning; will settle down once role and teams are established
Technical Qualifications :
Basic Skills Required :
The Sr. Director Global Technical Development must have experience in product discovery, product development, and managing a large technical team.
The candidate must have experience in experimental design and interpretation of research and results. They must demonstrate effective communication skills in presenting research results in small and large groups as well as communicating strategy and tactics to staff.
Excellent writing skills and the demonstrated ability to make timely and logical decisions that meet the needs of the business is critical.
The Sr. Director Global Technical Development must also have an understanding and appreciation for the business needs of the company and must be aggressive in supporting those needs.
Minimum of 10 years broad technical experience in cutting edge technology management (pet food ingredients and / or manufacturing experience is highly desired), proven track record of accomplishment in product commercialization by take products based on new technologies successfully to the market.
- Experience as an effective people manager, project team player, leader and motivation, and the ability to present ideas effectively and communicate well with all levels within a team environment, both domestically and internationally
- The demonstrated ability to manage people in both formed line management and fluid matrix environments, and across formal and informal business’ lines
- A high degree of personal motivation a desire to make an immediate contribution, and a sense of urgency and excitement
- A business-orientated scientific leader with a commercialization bakery with a commercialization focus who can set priorities, delegate responsibilities, and meet timetables leading to the attainment of goals
- Demonstrated project management skills, including forecasting skills, project planning, and the development of project timelines
- Excellent presentation skills with experience in making presentations at conferences and industry meetings
- Experience in establishing external research activities through collaborations at universities of public research institutes
- Familiarity in meeting regulatory requirements in new product development and commercialization
- Experience in dealing with challenging problems, setting strategies, and prioritizing and implementing appropriate rigorous research programs
- Ability to demonstrate creative ability in solving technology issues and in developing new products