Head of Plant Based Nutrition

DöhlerGroup; Princeton (NJ); On-site; USD 180,000 - 280,000; Full time

Job summary

DöhlerGroup in New Jersey invites a visionary Head of Plant-Based Nutrition to spearhead the end-to-end commercial strategy for plant-based proteins, grains, and functional ingredients within the Food and Beverage sector. You will navigate volatile markets, design hedging frameworks, and secure resilient supply chains to fuel rapid scale-up.

You will lead global sourcing and supplier development, manage multi-million-dollar spend, and ensure non-GMO, organic, vegan, and allergen-free standards

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in SCM, Agronomy, Agricultural Economics, Finance, Food Science, or related field. MBA/MS preferred.
• 10+ years in procurement/trading, with 5+ years in ag commodities and ingredients in F&B/CPG.

Responsibilities

• Market intelligence and risk management across global supply-demand dynamics and geopolitical factors.
• Hedging and financial modeling using forward contracts, pricing formulas, and futures.
• Budget accountability with multi-million dollar spend and cost projections.
• Global strategic procurement and RFPs with worldwide suppliers and processors.
• Supplier development and strategic alliances with plant-based innovators.
• Ensure supply continuity with multi-source contingency planning.
• Collaborate with R&D and product formulation for cost-effective, high-performance ingredients.
• Coordinate regulatory and quality alignment for non-GMO, organic, vegan, allergen-free standards.
• Drive ESG and sustainability initiatives in sourcing practices.

Skills

Trading acumen

Data analytics

ERP systems

Power BI

Global supply chain

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain/ related field

MBA or Master’s preferred

Tools

SAP

Oracle

Power BI

Job description

Company Description

We are a global producer, marketer and provider of technology-driven natural ingredients, ingredient systems and integrated solutions for the global food, beverage and life science & nutrition industry. We are all about mastering sensory experience and nutritional performance.

Company Description

We are a global producer, marketer and provider of technology-driven natural ingredients, ingredient systems and integrated solutions for the global food, beverage and life science & nutrition industry. We are all about mastering sensory experience and nutritional performance.
We offer exceptional opportunities for passionate people who want to shape the future of nutrition in an entrepreneurial and impact-driven environment. Here, you have the freedom to take ownership and to thrive both professionally and personally. Be part of a highly committed team with a clear purpose: at Döhler, smart ideas have a way of becoming great products.
Together, we bring ideas to life.

Job Description

We are seeking a visionary and commercially sharp Head of Plant-Based Nutrition to lead our global ingredient sourcing, trading, and commodity management portfolio. In this highly strategic executive role, you will own the end-to-end commercial strategy for plant-based proteins, grains, specialized botanicals, and functional ingredients within the Food and Beverage sector.
You will navigate volatile global commodity markets, design sophisticated hedging frameworks, and secure resilient supply chains to fuel our rapid scale-up. This role sits at the intersection of commercial trading, product innovation, and sustainable procurement.

Key Responsibilities

• Market Intelligence & Risk Management: Monitor global supply-demand dynamics, geopolitical shifts, and weather patterns affecting crops (e.g., peas, soy, oats, alternative grains). Translate these insights into highly actionable risk mitigation and cost-containment frameworks.

• Hedging & Financial Modeling: Define and execute complex price-hedging strategies, leveraging forward contracts, formula-based pricing, and financial futures to protect product margins against market volatility.

• Budget Accountability: Establish annual standard costs, manage multi-million dollar spend portfolios, and deliver accurate cost projections to senior finance leadership.
  

Ingredient Sourcing & Vendor Management

• Global Strategic Procurement: Lead request for proposals (RFPs) and complex contract negotiations with worldwide agricultural suppliers, brokers, and ingredient processors.

• Supplier Development: Source, qualify, and build deep strategic alliances with emerging tech and ingredient innovators in the plant-based ecosystem (e.g., protein isolates, novel binders, clean-label texturizers).

• Supply Assurance & Continuity: Establish a robust multi-source contingency matrix to prevent any raw-material disruptions across our complex manufacturing network.
  

Cross-Functional Synergy & Innovation

• R&D & Product Launch Commercialization: Partner closely with Research & Development (R&D) and product formulation teams to introduce cost-effective, high-performance, and nutritionally optimal ingredients to pipeline projects.

• Regulatory & Quality Alignment: Collaborate with Food Safety and Quality Assurance (FSQR) to guarantee that all procured items maintain non-GMO, organic, vegan, and allergen-free standards.

• Sustainability & Impact Integration: Drive responsible sourcing initiatives, adhering to corporate ESG goals regarding deforestation, ethical labor practices, and sustainable agriculture.
  

Qualifications

Your Profile:

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Agronomy, Agricultural Economics, Finance, Food Science, or a related discipline. An MBA or Master's degree is highly preferred.

• Experience: 10+ years of progressive procurement or trading experience, with a minimum of 5 years explicitly managing agricultural food commodities and functional ingredients in the Food & Beverage or CPG industry.

• Trading Acumen: Proven track record of managing physical or financial commodity risk via complex hedging mechanisms.

• Industry Frameworks: Deep knowledge of global food supply chains, international trade regulations, and food safety standards (e.g., FDA, EFSA, GFSI, HACCP).

• Data & Analytics Mastery: High proficiency with ERP systems (like SAP or Oracle), advanced data analytics tools (such as Power BI), and financial modeling.
  

Additional Information

What WeOffer:

• Work withpassion: We create an environment where passion meets profession. Meaningful work and positive energy inspire people to give their best and make lasting contribution to our shared success.

• Take ownership: We empower you to take ownership and share your ideas. Whatever your role, you have the opportunity to show initiative and make an impact.

• Grow yourway: With flexibledevelopmentopportunitiesacross departments and a global team, you can broaden your skills, discover newstrengthsand actively shape your career path.

• Thrive in a global environment: Join an international team bringing together multiplecultures,languagesand perspectives to sparknew ideasand inspiration.Through global collaboration, you expand your horizon both professionally and personally.

• The team always wins: We build real connections and grow together. By sharing knowledge and valuing each other’s strengths, we create a culture where trust and team playlead to shared success.
  

EqualOpportunities for All

We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds regardless of age, ancestry, disability, ethnic origin, gender, gender identity or expression, nationality, religion, sexual orientation, social background or any other characteristic protected by applicable laws, regulations and ordinances.
A good match starts with shared values. Complete our Culture Fit Challenge to find out how well your mindset aligns with the way we work.