Head of R&D, North America

Griffith Foods is a global manufacturer of food products. We provide a wide range of taste and texture components for food industry customers throughout the world. Our products include seasoning blends, dry mixes, coating systems, dough blends, crumbs, flavors, sauces and food bases that are used in an extensive variety of application from snack foods and processed meat and poultry to ready meals. Our customers include food processors, restaurant operators and grocery retailers. While our name may not be familiar to consumers, our products are key components of foods offered by many of the world's best-known companies.

Location: Proximity to work in Alsip-US, Scarborough-CAN or Monterrey-MX

Summary: To provide strategic leadership to Griffith Foods as an active member of the Griffith Foods North America (NA) Leadership Team and to help drive and accelerate our Purpose Driven Strategy. To drive and lead the R&D team in the elevation of Food Science capabilities for the benefit of impactful Innovation and Product Development for Griffith Foods NA. To contribute both regionally and globally to the sustainable, profitable and aspiration impact growth of Griffith Foods.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities:

• Reports operationally to North America President, and functionally to the Global VP of Research and Development.
• Member of the Executive NA Leadership Team.
• Leads all relevant matters pertaining to Research & Development; encompassing all R&D projects, activities and the commercialization of all products developed in the region (key partner in managing the RAPI model growth initiatives).
• Designs, owns and drives the execution of the NA Innovation Roadmap to map & match emerging business needs with relevant technologies and solutions.
• Responsible for the R&D technical component of portfolio optimization for raw materials and finished goods.
• Coordinates North America regulatory compliance to harmonize processes, workflow and capabilities. Oversee the export and market link regulatory opportunities.
• Member of the NA Go to Market team - leading short, medium and longer term commercial business execution in NA.
• Champion and owner of two specific Capabilities; Food Science and the "building" of Nutritional Expertise.
• Ensures consistent integration and application of Consumer Insights, Culinary and Sensory capabilities into R&D processes.
• Ensures the execution and measurement of the Nutritious and Sustainable Portfolio Transformation.
• Develops, builds and engages key ecosystem partnerships.
• As a key member of the NALT and as an ambassador of the company, operates within defined "core values" and openly supports these operating principles.
• Builds Regional R&D People Organization Plan.
• Prepares and submits North America annual budgets, strategic plans, estimates, forecasts, statistics, analysis and financial information in conjunction with ongoing business requirements, priorities, policies and procedures related to the Research & Development departments.
• Liaises and collaborates with staff at all levels on matters pertaining to research & development: food safety, regulatory issues, technical coordination, good manufacturing practices, continuous improvement, sales support and customer service.
• Ensures all intellectual property (patents and trade secrets) are obtained for a relevant innovations.
• Builds targeted Top to Top customer relationships in alignment with the North America Go to Market team.
• Tracks industry trends, relevant legislation and competitor activities, as well as represents Griffith Foods as an advisor and participant on government, university and industry associations.
• Leads, implements and follows all security policies; responsible for maintaining and enhancing the security of all information regarding product formulas and related confidential information.

Team & Communication Responsibilities

• Conducts Department R&D Team meetings (including direct reports and Business Units R&D Leads), cascading results and general business information, as well as establishing a company culture within Griffith Foods to encourage employees to volunteer innovative ideas, put forward improvements and participate in the development of the Team.
• Follows appropriate internal and external communication processes and predetermined communication strategies when cascading information.
• Represents Griffith Foods externally in a professional manner, always maintaining a high-profile posture with major customer accounts, suppliers, government agencies, professional associations as well as internally with all Griffith Foods employees and colleagues.

Supervision/Management of People

• Supervises and effectively manages all department staff (as assigned) with respect to recruiting, selection and hiring, orientation, attendance, health and safety, progressive discipline, employee relations, talent management, succession planning, salary administration, training and development, delegation of specific responsibilities and employee dismissal.
• Trains (coaches) individual Team members to perform to the maximum of their ability and to co-ordinate the progressive skill development and cross training of employees.

General Overall Team Responsibilities

• To communicate effectively with internal and external personnel at all levels, always representing the company in a professional manner.
• To participate co-operatively as an employee within the company 3 Year People Plan, Performance Appraisal Process and Performance Rating System, as well as in personal development and Talent programs (as required).
• To actively participate in company, staff or individual one-on- one meetings on an ongoing basis for the purposes of effective teamwork, enhanced communication and progressive co-operation strategies with all other departments across the company.
• To continually contribute to the profitability of the company and ongoing business operations by initiating, recommending and implementing continuous improvement strategies and initiatives.
• To conduct any general duties, specific projects and responsibilities as assigned or required by the President in a timely and professional manner.

Qualifications:

• Master's degree in Food Science, Food Technology or related field (Graduate Degree preferred).
• Senior level experience in R&D and/Innovation role in the food industry with responsibility across multiple countries. Typically, this position would require a minimum of 15 years' experience in progressively responsible positions within the food industry with a minimum of 10 years' experience in an R&D and/or Innovation Department.
• Proven track record in people management (developing, coaching, mentoring, directing) and budget management.
• Broad depth of knowledge in product development, meat & protein science, snacks, texture systems, Savory Flavours & Spices, emerging technologies and regulatory requirements.
• Building partnerships and working collaboratively with others to meet shared objectives in a multi-cultural and international environment.
• Excellent written, verbal and presentational communication skills. Communicates effectively by developing and delivering multi-mode communications that convey a clear understanding of the unique needs of different audiences. The use of interpersonal skills forms a major portion of the position. Responsibilities in dealing with external contacts, the public, media, or senior government representatives or contacts of considerable importance to the organization.
• Demonstrable experience cultivating innovation, creating new and better ways for the organization to be successful.
• Track record of consistently achieving results, even under though circumstances.
• Ability to manage complexity, making sense of complex, high quality, and sometimes contradictory information to effectively solve problems. Autonomous and able to manage multiple priorities and timelines, while also using strong technical and critical thinking skills to approach complex projects.
• Experience attracting and selecting the best talent to meet current and future business needs.
• Ability to manage ambiguity, operating effectively, even when things are not certain or the way forward is not clear.
• Fluency in English and other languages would be valuable.
• Ability to travel up to 50% of the time and be able to work across different international time zones.
• Work is not physically demanding with little to no dexterity, speed or hand-eye co-ordination required.

LI#DNI

• Alsip, IL 60803 - Griffith Foods Headquarters, One Griffith Center, Alsip, Illinois, United States of America