Senior VP Fragrance Innovation

About the Business:

We are partnered with a leading Fragrance house in the industry, who develops, produces, and sells fragrance, flavouring and food ingredients, cosmetic active ingredients and raw materials as well as functional ingredients and solutions that enhance the sensory properties and nutrition of various products.

The Scent & Care segment has sites in more than 30 countries and markets more than 16,000 products in 128 countries. Scent & Care is divided into three global divisions: Fragrance, Cosmetic Ingredients and Aroma Molecules. The objective of the Fragrance division is to convey a “better life through fragrance”. The division employs highly talented and respected perfumers of different nationalities who work at 13 creative centers around the world. They combine aromatic raw materialslike aroma chemicals and essential oilsto make complex fragrances (perfume oils). The creative and composition business comprises the three global business units Fine Fragrance, Consumer Fragrances and Oral Care.

Position:

The Senior Vice President Fragrance Innovation is responsible for driving and managing innovation efforts of the global Fragrance division. The global Innovation organization comprises the functions New Ingredients Management (NIM), Research & Development / Applied Research, and Global Fragrances & Ingredients Management with their unique competence to identify and develop new ideas, concepts, and technologies that can enhance the company's fragrance offerings and lead to business growth and competitiveness. Furthermore, the Perfumery School is an integral part of the Innovation organization.

Key Responsibilities:

• Working closely with the division’s executive leadership team to define and execute the Fragrance innovation strategy, the SVP Fragrance Innovation oversees the ideation, formulation, testing, and launch of innovative molecules and captives, collaborating with cross-functional teams.
• Within a highly competitive landscape, the SVP Fragrance Innovation will identify opportunities and formulate plans that address market demands and consumer preferences, analyzing market trends and consumer insights to guide the development of new molecules and captives. This comprises regular meetings with customers for innovation pipeline discussions and product development cadence reviews to identify and prioritize unmet customer needs to develop unique formulation solutions – within existing products or through new offerings.
• In order to keep abreast of advancements in fragrance-related technologies, materials, and processes, the global Innovation organization maintains strong relationships with external stakeholders, including suppliers, customers, industry associations, and research institutions. The SVP Fragrance Innovation will participate in industry events, conferences, and trade shows to stay informed about industry trends and foster collaboration opportunities in order to identify new potentials for collaboration enhancing the company's innovation capabilities and access new technologies.
• For the implementation and commercialization of innovative products the SVP Fragrance Innovation will provide the global organization with guidance, support, and resources to drive innovation projects from concept to market, collaborating with various internal teams such as Aroma Molecules and Cosmetic Ingredients Divisions, marketing, sales, operations, and quality assurance.
• In order to ensure the protection of intellectual property by monitoring and managing patents, trademarks, and copyrights related to fragrance innovations, the SVP Fragrance Innovation will work with legal and intellectual property teams to file necessary applications and safeguard the company's innovations.
• In order to optimize the Product Development Process, the SVP Fragrance Innovation will ensure the creation of systems and structures and define, create, and implement relevant SOPs to govern product integrity of products developed for market distribution, working cross functionally with legal and regulatory teams

Qualifications:

• University degree in chemistry, chemical engineering or a related discipline.
• Extensive years of relevant experience in managing research, innovation and/or development departments in industry.
• Significant experience in research program/project management and/or strategy development with involvement in cross-functional teams.
• Strong scientific background and deep, comprehensive understanding of the fragrance innovation process.
• Proven ability to innovate, creativity, enthusiasm and passion for fragrance development.
• Broad understanding of relevant customers, markets and trends in the fragrance industry.
• Financial acumen, with a proven ability to evaluate budgets and compare them to the developed business case.
• Proven ability to influence decision making at all levels of the organization, including executive and senior management.
• Entrepreneurial behaviour with the ability to create and optimize opportunities and resources.
• Proven experience in people management and leadership; demonstrated ability to lead effectively in a multicultural matrix environment.
• Excellent organizational, collaboration and communication skills.
• Full proficiency in written and spoken English.