Global R&D Leader, Bakery & Confectionery

ICL Group; St. Louis (MO); On-site; USD 101,000 - 179,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive base pay

Comprehensive benefits

Bonuses & 401k

Paid time off & volunteering

Career development

Employee discounts

Job summary

ICL Group seeks a Global R&D Leader for Bakery & Confectionery based at the Webster Groves Center of Excellence in St. Louis, MO.

The role drives innovation, portfolio strategy, and a technology roadmap, leading food scientists and coordinating with regional teams to deliver new products and improvements across markets. You will manage a high-performance team, oversee research directions, and collaborate with Sales, Product Management, and Segment Leaders to align objectives with business

Qualifications

• Advanced MS/PhD in Food Science or adjacent field.
• 10+ years of food ingredient experience in Bakery and Confectionery.
• Experience in new product and commercial development within the food industry segment.
• Strong interpersonal skills and team management.
• Exceptional project management acumen.
• Experience communicating with customers, suppliers, and senior leadership.
• Demonstrated skills in team-based decision making.
• Ability to prioritize and manage multiple projects in a fast-paced environment.
• Results oriented with a track record of delivering business outcomes.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Willing to travel domestically and internationally ~20%.

Responsibilities

• Drive innovation-driven growth, customer co-development, portfolio strategy, and technology roadmap ownership for the segment.
• Develop comprehensive applications research plan to meet business objectives and introduce new products.
• Translate market needs and insights into an actionable innovation pipeline.
• Collaborate to optimize the product portfolio through innovation and renovation initiatives.
• Provide technical support requirements and review product specifications with sales leadership.
• Support application research for customers and opportunity development.
• Develop technical selling messages, tools, and training with Sales/Marketing.
• Collaborate with customers to understand needs and provide differentiated value-added solutions.
• Provide leadership and research direction for food scientists in Bakery & Confectionery.
• Foster a culture of innovation and problem solving; monitor industry trends.

Skills

Food science leadership

People leadership

Project management

Customer communication

Cross-functional collaboration

Strategic thinking

Prioritization & multitasking

Results orientation

Organizational skills

Travel readiness

Education

MS/PhD in Food Science or adjacent field

Job description

As the Global R&D Leader, Bakery & Confectionery, you will be responsible for strategy and execution of R&D objectives and oversight across two Centers of Excellence. The position serves as is a key member of the R&D leadership team in Global Food R&D where innovation and technical service support the segment growth pipeline. The successful candidate will have demonstrated technical expertise in Bakery & Confectionery with strong people leadership skills. Additionally, the leader in this role would drive innovation-driven growth, customer co-development, portfolio strategy, and ownership of the technology roadmap.

This position reports to the Global Head of R&D, ICL Food Specialties. This position will be based out of our Webster Groves Center of Excellence in St Louis, MO.

Located in Webster Groves, Missouri, just minutes from downtown St. Louis, our team enjoys the best of both worlds: a welcoming, community-focused environment and access to the amenities of a major metropolitan area. Employees benefit from a high quality of life, vibrant arts and culture, outstanding dining and entertainment, affordable living, and world-class attractions throughout the St. Louis region.

I’m interested! What will I get to do in this position?

• Drive innovation-driven growth, customer co-development, portfolio strategy, and ownership of the technology roadmap for this segment
• Develop comprehensive applications research plan to meet business objectives, strategies and introduction of new products to achieve ICL Food Specialties growth goals
• Partner with Global Segment Leaders to translate market needs, customer insights and business strategy into an actionable innovation pipeline.
• Collaborate with Product Management and Segment Leadership to optimize the product portfolio through innovation, renovation and rationalization initiatives.
• Partner with Regional Sales Leaders to manage technical support requirements for customers including all product specifications, and product specifications review.
• Support application research for customers and opportunity development
• Collaborate with Sales and Marketing to develop technical selling messages, tools and training
• Collaborate with customers to identify their needs, understand geographical differences and provide differentiation by delivering value added solutions.
• Provide leadership and administrative oversight and research direction for food scientists working in Bakery & Confectionery.
• Nurture and strengthen a culture of innovation and problem solving
• Keep abreast of industry trends, competitive information and anticipate industry changes
• Develop external industrial and academic collaborations
• Maximize industry visibility via publications, trade show participation and short courses.
• Provide project planning and project management to shepherd projects through ideation, discovery, pilot testing and commercialization.
• Ensure safety and regulatory compliance with our food ingredients, champion Food Product Stewardship, advocate as needed with regulatory agencies.
• Develop a high performing team driven by talent recruitment, training, mentoring and succession planning
• Coordinate investment (people, equipment, facilities) needed to create research and development to achieve business growth goals

What skills and experience do I need to be successful in this role?

• Advanced technical (MS or PhD) degree in Food Science or adjacent field required.
• 10+ years food ingredient experience working with food ingredients, particularly in Bakery and Confectionery.
• Experienced in new product and commercial development within the food industry in this segment.
• Demonstrated strong interpersonal skills and team management.
• Demonstrated exceptional project management acumen.
• Experience communicating with customers, suppliers, and senior leadership.
• Demonstrated skills in team based decision making.
• Able to prioritize and manage multiple projects in an innovative, fast-paced environment.
• Results Oriented with a track record of delivering business outcomes.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to adapt to changing priorities and business needs.
• Willing and able to travel domestically and internationally 20% of the time.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) & Physical Demands:

At ICL, maintaining a safe and healthy workplace is a top priority. Employees are required to wear appropriate PPE based on the task and environment. This may include safety shoes, gloves, safety glasses, face masks, and, when necessary, full hazmat suits with respirators. Adherence to PPE protocols ensures the safety and well-being of all team members.

ICL will only employ those who are legally authorized to work in the United States. This is not a position for which sponsorship will be provided. Individuals with temporary visas such as E, F-1 (including those with OPT or CPT), H-1, H-2, L-1, B, J or TN, or who need sponsorship for work authorization now or in the future, are not eligible for hire.

Compensation at ICL: If you are hired at ICL, your final base salary compensation will be determined based on factors such as geographic location, skills, education, and/or experience. We also offer a generous benefits package (more information on benefits listed below).

ICL Job Level: 16-17 dependent on candidate experience

Salary Range: $101,000 - $179,000 annually

Annual Bonus Target: 12-16%, subject to plan provisions.

ICL is committed to offering you a comprehensive set of benefits to empower you and your family physically, mentally, emotionally, and financially. The benefits we offer to our diverse and inclusive workforce include:

• Competitive base pay and performance bonus
• Medical, dental, vision, and life benefits that start quickly – the first of the month after hire. Wellness Incentive Program to lower your health insurance cost
• Inclusive benefits for growing families, covering fertility, adoption, and parental leave
• Generous Leave and FMLA policies
• Tax-advantaged health savings and spending accounts (when applicable)
• Prescription program that provides most generic maintenance medications at no cost (including Insulin products)
• 401k eligibility from day one of employment with a generous company matching contribution. 100% vested after one year of service
• Crisis assistance available to support employees during unforeseen circumstances
• Employee Assistance Program that includes comprehensive mental health support for you and your household family members
• Student Loan Assistance
• Business travel reward points are eligible for personal use
• Paid time off to support volunteering and Employee Resource Group’s (ERG) participation
• Free membership to a program that offers various discounts for travel, entertainment, groceries, and much more

About ICL

ICL Group Ltd. is a global leader in agriculture, food and industrial solutions, utilizing its unique mineral resources and extensive expertise to address key sustainability challenges related to food security and access to essential minerals. ICL is focused on driving long-term growth through its specialty agriculture and food businesses, while strategically managing its bromine, potash and phosphate mineral resources. ICL’s global professional workforce is dedicated to expanding its growth engines and efficiently operating – both structurally and economically – while maintaining and optimizing its core operations. The company’s operations are organized under four segments: Industrial Products, Potash, Phosphate Solutions and Growing Solutions. ICL shares are dual listed on the New York Stock Exchange and the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange (NYSE and TASE: ICL). The company employs more than 12,000 people worldwide, and its 2025 revenues totaled approximately $7 billion. For more information, visit the company's website at www.icl-group.com.

EEO-USA

Equal Opportunity Employer/Veterans/Disabilities