Design Director jobs in Baltimore, MD

McCormick & Company, Inc., a global leader in the spice, flavor, and seasonings industry, is seeking a full-time Senior Director, Flavor Design & Applications. This position has the option to be based out of our Technical Innovation Center (TIC) located in Hunt Valley, Maryland or our FONA offices in Geneva, Illinois. The role is eligible to participate in our hybrid work program (50% onsite, 50% remote per month). The Senior Director, Flavor Design & Applications will report to the VP, Flavor R&D. 

McCormick & Company, Incorporated is a global leader in flavor with approximately 14,000 employees worldwide. With over $6 billion in annual sales across 160 countries and territories, we manufacture, market, and distribute spices, seasoning mixes, condiments, and other flavorful products to the entire food industry including e-commerce, retail,food manufacturers and foodservice businesses. Our most popular brands include McCormick, French's, Frank's RedHot, Stubb's, OLD BAY, Lawry's, Zatarain's, Ducros, Vahiné, Cholula, Schwartz, Kamis, DaQiao, Club House, Aeroplane, and Gourmet Garden. Every day, no matter where or what you eat or drink, you can enjoy food flavored by McCormick. Our Purpose is "To Stand Together for the Future of Flavor and our Vision is "A World United by Flavor—where healthy, sustainable and delicious go hand in hand."

As a company recognized for its exceptional commitment to employees, McCormick offers a wide variety of benefits, programs, and services. Benefits include, but are not limited to, tuition assistance, medical, dental, vision, disability, group life insurance, 401(k), profit sharing, paid holidays, and vacations.

POSITION OVERVIEW

Under the direction of the VP of Flavor Solutions R&D Flavor, this position leads and manages the US Flavor Solutions (Hunt Valley and Geneva) Design and Applications Product Development (PD) Teams, including compound flavors, reaction and process flavors, flavor applications, flavor design and materials.  Incumbent is responsible for providing technical leadership in support of these teams for all flavor product development and formulation, compounding, and flavor commercialization for Flavor Solutions PD.  Provides technical leadership in support of these teams in addition to working with commercial leadership on current and future strategy of flavor.  Must be able to interact with our external customers at a senior leadership level promoting a deep understanding of McCormick’s technical capabilities. 

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES 

• Directs all flavor development, innovation and commercialization efforts in compound flavor, process flavor, reaction flavor, and flavor application laboratories. Set performance targets and hit rates for the team.  Leads efforts to develop and implement Best Practices for the Flavor Teams in all locations (Hunt Valley, MD and Geneva, IL).       
• Develops plans to assure Flavor Solution’s future needs are fully supported.  Sets and leads strategic direction for the Flavor Design and Applications Teams, setting the direction for Innovation and McCormick’s future technology needs in Flavor Solutions. Actively develops staff and provides opportunities to grow and expand skills and career options.   Actively engages in external memberships in the flavor industry, i.e. FEMA, IFT, etc.
• Develops and maintains key contacts at customers, throughout McCormick, and elsewhere within the food industry.  Creates a high level of engagement with external customers, vendors and internally with McCormick business executives and cross-functional teams.
• Directs all budgetary planning and control activities in the Flavor Solutions teams.            
• Actively participates on R&D Leadership Team.  

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• MS in food science, chemistry, nutrition, food engineering, or other related field of study
• 15-20 years of technical experience (including 10 years of leadership experience).  Technical excellence in Flavor Creations, Applications or Flavor Development.  Minimum of 10 years’ experience interacting with customers and partnering with commercial sales teams in product development, innovation and winning the business; Solid understanding of the industry, the flavor marketplace and the competition especially with flavors and flavor product development, as well as new technologies and methods for producing new and novel flavor solutions.
• Outstanding interpersonal skills are required at all management levels with customers and within McCormick, with external flavor industry officials and academia, and with teams and labs this position will manage.  This role has significant influence over our sales management team, our R&D leadership team, our key (strategic, critical and value) customers, our supply chain/ops team (commercialization) on all matters and projects related to flavor development and innovation on a daily and weekly basis.
• Strong business acumen
• Strong interpersonal, leadership, technical and analytical skills
• Ability to travel 25-50% 

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Member, Society of Flavor Chemists

McCormick & Company is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religion, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by law.

As a general policy, McCormick does not offer employment visa sponsorships upon hire or in the future. 

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