Director Innovation Program Leader Functional Taste Princeton Hybrid (3 days onsite in Plainsboro, NJ) Within Taste Innovation, the Program leader owns and shapes the innovation program pipeline and its global business impact. It is a leadership role requiring strong cross-functional skills and stakeholder management to maximize the program traction both from a funding and deployment perspective. Functional Taste program is about solving Nutrition Plus Taste challenges particularly masking and developing our next generations of Taste Modulation tools with more focus on complex modalities, sensate and the connection with neuroscience and mental state. The position is global and includes travelling (max. 10%) but should be based in the US close to the technical teams taking care of the program. At dsm-firmenich, being a force for good is not optional. Diversity, Equity & Inclusion is a shared responsibility woven into our daily work to not only benefit our People, Customers & Communities but also drive value. Equal access to opportunities is a given, belonging is a shared feeling, authenticity is celebrated. Your key responsibilities * Lead and design the program content with key stakeholders (Regions, Key Global Accounts (KGAs), Strategic Business Units (SBUs), Creation, Health Benefits Platform, Plant Based Platform …) in a competitive and complex environment: build a robust pipeline of projects with H1/H2/H3 impact and risk-proof. * Scout opportunities for collaboration with relevant partners internally such as Receptor Based Discovery Science Domain but also externally via SBUs and Partnerships management to drive more business impact. * Drive the program pipeline : take decisions to accelerate / stop / pause projects in order to maximize ROI and mitigate risks. Collaborate with the Techinal Program Leader (TPL) to align project execution with expectations. Lobby to ensure you get the right level of funding and expertise to deliver results. * Secure the landing in the regions and KGA working with Innovation Deployment, connecting, listening, and pushing regularly with stakeholders and through the agreed Taste programs governance. * Animate a network of expertise to constantly connect with the identified gaps and opportunities to differentiate. You bring * Excellent interpersonal and influencing skills across cultures & geographies * We value technical knowledge in a scientific domain connected to food or chemistry, experience in B2B. * 10+ years of professional experience in flavour industry and Taste Modulation is a plus. * Fluency in English is mandatory. * Title and compensation commensurate with experience 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; * An eagerness to be one team and learn from each other to bring progress to life and create a better future; * We offer competitive pay, career growth opportunities, and outstanding benefit programs. 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: there's a place for everyone at dsm-firmenich. As a committed equal opportunity employer, we ensure our recruitment practices are inclusive and fair. We encourage the recruitment of a diverse workforce, representative of the communities in which we work, by using inclusive language, diverse interview panels, diversified sourcing strategies. Selection is based on qualifications, competency, experience, performance history and fit with the team to advance fair and equitable opportunity. Employment decisions are based upon job-related reasons regardless of an applicant's race, color, ethnicity, national origin, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, backgrounds, 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. Please note this is a direct search led by dsm-firmenich. We only accept applications from candidates, not from agencies nor subject to agency's fees, percentages or similar.