At IFF, an industry leader in food, beverage, health, biosciences and sensorial experiences, science and creativity meet to create essential solutions for a better world – from global icons to unexpected innovations and experiences. With the beauty of art and the precision of science, we are an international collective of thinkers who partner with customers to bring scents, tastes, experiences, ingredients, and solutions for products the world craves.
Director, Scent Technology & Operations, FF is responsible for leading the global ST&I Go-to-Market strategy and driving Technical & Operational Transformation to accelerate growth in Fine Fragrance.
In this role, the Global Director ensures harmonized ways of working and tool adoption across all centers, guarantees the efficient deployment of new ingredients through robust R&D processes, leads the execution of novel technical innovations as part of the fine fragrance strategy and oversees CAPEX management to align technical investments with strategic business priorities.
The position partners closely with Commercial and R&D teams to shape client pitches, define and prioritize technology initiatives, and support the development of the new ingredient pipeline.
Additionally, the role oversees the standardization of global operational processes and manages CAPEX for all laboratories worldwide, ensuring consistent operations and optimal allocation of technical resources across regions.
Reporting into the role : Regional Operations Managers, Regional ST&I Go-to-Market
Reporting to : VP, Head of Creation, FF
Key Responsibilities
ST&I GO TO MARKET
• Partner with commercial teams to build presentations/pitches to customers for visits and core listings.
• Determine technology strategy and pipeline for key customers
• Develop Innovation partnership programs with IFF key customers maximizing business opportunities
• Ensure tracking of go to market initiatives and measure impact on pipeline, win rate and customer satisfaction.
GLOBAL OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT
• Design, standardize and continuously improve operating processes for Fine Fragrance laboratories across all centers.
• Align ways of working, roles and responsibilities, and KPIs to ensure consistency and efficiency worldwide.
• Define and deploy common tools (systems, templates, dashboards) to support development, evaluation, sampling and project follow-up.
Facilitate smooth collaboration and information flow between centers (e.g. file transfers, briefs,
evaluations, capacity sharing).
• Identify operational bottlenecks and lead cross-center improvement initiatives to optimize
speed, quality and service level.
• Ensure change management, training and communication around new processes and tools.
R&D PROCESS MANAGEMENT & NEW INGREDIENTS
• Lead, in close partnership with R&D, the design and governance of end-to-end processes for the integration of new ingredients into Fine Fragrance developments, ensuring they are fit-for-purpose and scalable across regions.
• Proactively identify and coordinate strategic needs in new molecules and natural ingredients based on olfactive strategy, market dynamics and priority customers, and translate them into clear, value-driven briefs for LMR and R&D.
• Act as the primary interface between Fine Fragrance, LMR and R&D, arbitrating priorities,
aligning roadmaps and securing timely availability of new ingredients in line with business ambitions.
• Steer and oversee the deployment of new ingredients from proof-of-concept to broad adoption, ensuring effective communication, education and advocacy with perfumers, evaluators, commercial teams and creation centers.
• Define, monitor and challenge key performance indicators for new ingredients (usage, customer uptake, impact on key launches, contribution to the project pipeline and to strategic platforms), and recommend course-corrections where needed.
• Ensure strong alignment between R&D roadmaps, commercial priorities, regulatory and sourcing constraints, and operational capabilities, in order to maximize the business and brand impact of the new ingredient portfolio.
CAPEX MANAGEMENT
• Manage and oversee CAPEX needs from all Fine Fragrance laboratories globally (equipment, infrastructure, digital tools).
• Challenge, prioritize and recommend investments based on strategic fit, ROI, risk and impact on service, quality and safety.
• Build and manage the multi-year CAPEX roadmap for laboratories in alignment with global and regional leadership.
• Oversee implementation of approved CAPEX projects: timelines, budgets, specifications and commissioning.
• Coordinate with Engineering, Finance, Operations and local lab managers to secure smooth deployment and minimal disruption.
TALENT MANAGEMENT & COMMUNICATION
• Foster a collaborative mindset and build a relationship of trust with other functions to enrich and accelerate our internal processes.
• Identify and develop talent within the Global Fine Fragrance ST&I & Operations Teams to elevate the technical and innovation knowledge as well as leadership competencies of the organization.
• Build global network sharing and leveraging Fine Fragrance knowledge and best practices.
REQUIRED SKILLS
• Strong Innovation & Technical Mindset
• Excellent leadership and team building capabilities
• High level of business knowledge
• Passionate about fragrance and product design
• Strong communication (both written/verbal - in English).
• Global mindset
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
