Senior Manager, R&D Pectin and Seaweeds

IFF; Aarhus; On-site; DKK 1,500,000 - 2,100,000; Full time

Job summary

IFF is seeking an experienced R&D leader to head the Pectin & Seaweeds organization in Brabrand. You will guide a multidisciplinary team of scientists, engineers, and technicians to develop next‑generation pectin- and seaweed-based ingredients for global food and beverage applications.

You will drive strategy, talent development, and execution from concept through commercialization, while managing budgets and collaborating with commercial, regulatory, and external partners.

Qualifications

• MSc degree or higher in Food Science, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Biochemistry, or a related discipline.
• Minimum 5 years leading a significant or mid-sized technical or R&D team.
• Strong technical expertise in pectin and/or seaweed-based ingredient technologies and their food applications.
• Proven track record leading innovation, product development and commercialization.
• Demonstrated ability to lead through organizational change and transformation while maintaining engagement.
• Experience managing budgets, resource allocation, and strategic portfolio prioritization.
• Strong people leadership skills, including coaching, talent development, performance management, and succession planning.
• Excellent stakeholder management and collaboration skills with the ability to influence across functions.
• Strong communication skills and the ability to translate complex scientific concepts into business value.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop a multidisciplinary R&D organization focused on pectin and seaweed ingredients.
• Champion a safe, healthy, inclusive, and engaging work environment.
• Drive execution of innovation and product development from concept to commercialization.
• Establish clear priorities, allocate resources, and manage budgets and talent.
• Build partnerships across R&D, commercial, operations, regulatory, and external networks.
• Ensure scientific rigor, customer relevance, and IP generation across programs.
• Attract, develop, coach, and retain top scientific talent and leadership succession.
• Lead organizational transformation as Food Ingredients becomes independent under CVC ownership.
• Drive continuous improvement with digital tools and data-driven decision making.

Skills

Leadership

Pectin & seaweed tech

Strategic portfolio

Budget management

Stakeholder management

Team development

Change leadership

Communication

Education

MSc or higher in Food Science/Chemistry/Chemical Engineering/Biochemistry

Job description

Job Summary

Are you an experienced R&D leader with deep expertise in pectin and seaweed technologies, a passion for innovation, and a proven ability to build and lead high-performing scientific teams through transformation?

We are looking for an inspiring and results-oriented leader to lead our Pectin & Seaweeds R&D organization. You will lead a multidisciplinary team of talented scientists, engineers, and lab technicians developing the next generation of pectin- and seaweed-based ingredient solutions for global food, beverage, and emerging applications. The role is based in Brabrand (an on-site role). Be part of a team that turns science and collaboration into meaningful value — for our company, for customers seeking winning solutions, for consumers who want enjoyable and healthy food, and for a planet that needs more sustainable choices. Your potential is our inspiration.

Where You’ll Make a Difference

• Lead and develop a multidisciplinary R&D organization focused on pectin and seaweed ingredient technologies, fostering a culture of scientific excellence, accountability, and collaboration.
• Champion a safe, healthy, inclusive, and engaging work environment where safety, wellbeing, and employee development are top priorities.
• Drive execution of strategic innovation and product development portfolios from concept through commercialization, ensuring delivery against business objectives and customer expectations.
• Establish clear priorities, allocate resources effectively, and manage budgets, capabilities, and talent to maximize business impact and value creation.
• Build strong partnerships across R&D, commercial, operations, regulatory, and external innovation networks with customers and academia to accelerate differentiated customer solutions.
• Ensure scientific rigor, customer relevance, and intellectual property generation across development programs and technology platforms.
• Attract, develop, coach, and retain top scientific talent while strengthening succession plans and future leadership capabilities.
• Lead organizational transformation initiatives as Food Ingredients evolves into an independent company under ownership of CVC, creating clarity, engagement, and accountability across teams.
• Drive continuous improvement by simplifying ways of working and embedding digital tools, data-driven decision making, and modern R&D practices.

What Makes You the Right Fit

• MSc degree or higher in Food Science, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Biochemistry, or another relevant scientific discipline.
• Minimum 5 years of proven people leadership experience leading a significant or mid-sized technical, scientific, or R&D team, with demonstrated success developing talent and delivering results through others.
• Strong technical expertise in pectin and/or seaweed-based ingredient technologies and their food, beverage, or related applications.
• Proven track record leading innovation, product development, and commercialization programs in a complex business environment.
• Demonstrated ability to lead through organizational change and transformation while maintaining engagement and performance.
• Experience managing budgets, resource allocation, and strategic portfolio prioritization.
• Strong people leadership skills, including coaching, talent development, performance management, and succession planning.
• Excellent stakeholder management and collaboration skills, with the ability to influence across functions and organizational levels.
• Strong communication skills and the ability to translate complex scientific concepts into business value and customer-focused solutions.

How Would You Stand Out?

• Advanced academic background in Food Science, Chemistry, Biochemistry, or a related discipline.
• Experience working within global ingredient, food, beverage, or specialty ingredient organizations.
• Proven success building intellectual property, platform technologies, and strategic external innovation partnerships.

Why Choose Us?

• Share our passion for food science and curiosity about how ingredients create the taste and texture experiences enjoyed by consumers around the world.
• Join a global innovation leader shaping the future of food ingredients.
• Lead strategically important technology platforms with significant customer and business impact.
• Work with talented scientists and cross-functional experts across a global network.
• Play a key role in the transformation of Food Ingredients as it becomes an independent company.
• Access meaningful career growth and leadership development opportunities.
• Be part of an inclusive culture that values innovation, collaboration, and continuous learning.

We are a global leader in taste, scent, and nutrition, offering our customers a broader range of natural solutions and accelerating our growth strategy. At IFF, we believe that your uniqueness unleashes our potential. We value the diverse mosaic of the ethnicity, national origin, race, age, sex, or veteran status. We strive for an inclusive workplace that allows each of our colleagues to bring their authentic self to work regardless of their religion, gender identity & expression, sexual orientation, or disability.

Visit IFF.com/careers/workplace-diversity-and-inclusion to learn more

For your awareness, IFF has announced its intention to sell its Food Ingedients business to CVC Capital Partners. The sale is presently expected to close in the first half of 2027, pending regulatory approvals and other closing conditions. The Food Ingredients business unit will remain a part of IFF until close and, at such time, it will transition to CVC Capital Partners. In applying for this position, you acknowledge your awareness that the position is a part of the Food Ingredients business unit and has been identified to transition to CVC Capital Partners.