QUALIFICATIONS AND SKILLS

• Relevant Bachelor’s Degree in food science / business or a related discipline. Higher degree is desirable.
• Significant and progressive experience in senior leadership within the food / taste industry
• Extensive experience and knowledge of the Food and Beverage industry, desirable if experience is within a Flavour house and deep exposure to Taste technologies.
• Experience of working with and through people in a global / regional leadership team within a matrixed organization
• This role is based in the Republic of Ireland with regular European & Global travel.

ABOUT THE ROLE

The VP Taste Innovation will lead the Global Taste Innovation program to create new and innovative Taste technologies including differentiating raw materials, processes and delivery systems. This is to support the creation by our flavourists and/or scientists of unique taste solutions that respectively support our EUM value proposition and help our systems business to differentiate Kerry in the Market. There is a strong need for creativity and science in the role and person; not only a passion for exploring new ideas, and concepts but a discipline to deliver and execute.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Set the innovation pipeline (1-5 years) ensuring Kerry Taste Technologies (differentiating raw materials, processes, delivery systems) are set up to enable the EUM strategies. To ensure this through engagement with EUMs across the regions
• Creates Taste technologies (differentiating raw materials, processes, delivery systems) to support the creation (by our flavourists and/or scientists) of unique taste solutions to respectively support our EUM value proposition and help our systems business to differentiate
• Subject matter expert in taste technologies understanding future focused market trends and a focus on 1-5 year market innovation for Developed and Developing Markets
• Own continuous improvement of the technologies, driving process improvement of technologies
• Driving performance by developing, recommending and executing new innovative technology that supports customer differentiation and increased margin by leveraging the breadth and depth of our expertise to build value for our EUMs across regions and ensure the product offering is equipped to stay ahead of competition
• Own, lead and track performance of new technologies globally across each focus sub-technology, working with global taste technical lead to understand areas for improvement
• Ensure key differentiating raw materials, processes, new technologies and delivery systems are utilized by Taste teams across all regions
• Understand taste and flavours trends globally as well as variances across the regional market
• Lead interaction with the external scientific community related to Taste
• Lead external exploration of new technology ideas that are aligned to market and consumer trends. Lead activity to funnel and select the right key projects.