Taste Innovation Project Manager

Taste Innovation Project Manager

The role of the Taste Innovation Project Manager is to deliver project management excellence across all HNC-Taste innovation project from ideation to launch. The Innovation Manager is the single point of accountability for related Innovation activities and the pipeline of HNC Taste platform. Project design is provided by the HNC-Taste Technical Director. The IM coordinates and steers the pipeline and launch delivery. This includes project management and the coordination of a large number of cross-functional team members, orchestrating the deliverables across the various stages of the development process (ideation to launch).

Health, Nutrition & Care is a business group focused on developing and supplying health, nutrition & care solutions for multiple customers. Innovation leadership, product quality, supply reliability & flexibility to meet customer demands are key success factors to reach our HNC business objectives. Within HNC, accelerating Innovation has been identified as one of the must-win priorities and key enablers for growth. Our goal is to develop new solutions (incl new ingredients, new flavor solutions, new science, process innovation and new applications) for our customers that leverage our unique ingredient and taste portfolio and science capabilities. This position drives innovation & science delivery for HNC-Taste.

At dsm-firmenich, being a force for good is not optional. Diversity, Equity & Inclusion is a shared responsibility woven into our daily work, benefiting to our People, Customers & Communities and driving business value. Equal access to opportunities is a given, belonging is a shared feeling, authenticity is celebrated.

Your key responsibilities:

Leadership & Accountability: Oversee the execution of the taste innovation pipeline in the HNC business group, from ideation to market launch.
Pipeline Governance & Project Management: Ensure all taste-related projects progress through the IRT framework, maintaining transparency, resource allocation, and balancing disruptive and incremental launches. Responsible for project-level budgeting.
Cross-Functional Collaboration: Coordinate with various departments to meet deliverables, leveraging taste innovations and HNC resources.
Product Development: Ensure validation of product development steps, regulatory compliance, IP opportunities, industrialization, cost analysis, product positioning, launch package design, and post-launch evaluation. Raise flags to HNC-Taste Tech Dir if needed.
People Management: Indirectly manage a large team and stakeholders, ensuring proper resource allocation to meet commercial deliverables and timelines.
Adherence to Guidelines: Follow relevant dsm-firmenich guidelines and policies (SHE, Quality, Culture, HR, etc.).

We bring:

A rich history and a promising future of bold scientific innovation and passionate creation with our customers;
A space to grow by encouraging and supporting curiosity and an open mindset;
A culture that prioritizes safety and well-being, both physically and mentally;
The opportunity to work for a company where sustainability is much more than a claim and is core to our strategy and purpose;
A flexible work environment that empowers people to take accountability for their work and own the outcome;
Barrier-free communities within our organization where every employee is equally valued and respected – regardless of their background, beliefs, or identity;
A firm belief that working together with our customers is the key to achieving great things;
An eagerness to be one team and learn from each other to bring progress to life and create a better future;

You bring:

MSc preferably in food science. Experience working with flavors is a plus.
Proven strong project management skills: excellent ability to create and maintain structure, while maintaining a pragmatic approach to project delivery, keeping the end goal in mind rather than the process itself. Ability to work both detail-oriented on specific deliverables, as well as driving the bigger picture delivery and to balance detail oriented and general work elements properly.
Proven capability to work transversally and independently and deliver product launches and exercise business impact, resulting in measurable top and bottom-line growth.
A team player with the ability to collaborate across business groups, regions and departments and to establish strong relationships with key internal and external stakeholders.
Very strong influencing skills: A proven ability to influence without authority.
Strong network within dsm-firmenich TTH, HNC, S&R.
Excellent communication & listening skills.
Ability to work with Consumer Insight & Marketing HNC-Taste lead to understand pro-actively market trends and leverage science to shape a distinctive value proposition of HNC versus competitors. The ability to both exert strategic shaping, drive prioritization but at the same time a proven ability to work solution-oriented and have a hands-on mentality resulting in tangible outcomes and clear actions & deliverables across activities.
Resilience and a solution-oriented and agile mindset.

dsm-firmenich is fully dedicated to inclusion because when people feel engaged and empowered, their creativity and innovation drives unprecedented progress. We aim to build a workplace where opportunity really is equal, so everyone can thrive. We do not discriminate: (here,) there’s a place for everyone with us.

dsm-firmenich is an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer. Our people are as diverse as our customers. For us that includes a commitment to ensuring equal employment opportunities for all job applicants and employees. Employment decisions are based upon job-related reasons regardless of an applicant's race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, disability, marital status, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other status protected by law.  

We are committed to providing reasonable support for disabled applicants in our recruiting process. Should you need assistance, and are comfortable to share this, please let us know.

As innovators in nutrition, health, and beauty, dsm-firmenich reinvents, manufactures, and combines vital nutrients, flavors, and fragrances for the world’s growing population to thrive. With our comprehensive range of solutions, with natural and renewable ingredients and renowned science and technology capabilities, we work to create what is essential for life, desirable for consumers, and more sustainable for the planet. dsm-firmenich is a Swiss-Dutch company, listed on the Euronext Amsterdam, with operations in almost 60 countries and revenues of more than €12 billion. With a diverse, worldwide team of nearly 30,000 employees, we bring progress to life™ every day, everywhere, for billions of people.

www.dsm-firmenich.com