Global Head of Raw Material Management (m/f/d)

Reference ID: 42847

Are you interested in high-quality, natural, and tasty nutrition?

We are! It’s our ambition to shape the future of nutrition.

Döhler is a leading global producer of natural ingredients and solutions for the food, beverage, lifestyle and nutrition industries. We use innovative technology to process plant-based raw materials and enrich products such as lifestyle drinks, cereals, dairy, and confectionery goods for almost every well-known brand. Close to 10.000 dedicated employees in more than 70 countries share one common goal - to ensure that millions of people around the world enjoy the products created by us.

We strive to inspire and empower our employees in everything we do, and we invite you to join our team – together WE BRING IDEAS TO LIFE.

Your Role

• Driving the Portfolio Strategy: You will steer the global raw material portfolio based on three core pillars
  o    Complexity Reduction: Keeping the portfolio lean by driving standardization and phase-out projects.
  o    Innovation Enablement: Ensuring R&D can move fast using validated, scalable materials.
  o    Commercial Efficiency: Designing specifications for value, ensuring market alignment, and enabling Procurement with true sourcing flexibility.
• Digital Transformation & AI Integration: You will champion the digital evolution of our raw material portfolio. By leveraging Big Data and AI-driven analytics, you will enable the team to efficiently steer their portfolio—automating master data governance, identifying hidden harmonization opportunities, and forecasting supply risks before they hit the factory floor.
• Strategic Master Data Ownership: You hold the ultimate responsibility for Raw Material Master Data. You will define and implement the global guidelines, KPIs, and classifications for raw material-specific master data, ensuring technical attributes are accurately maintained and strategically utilized within SAP.
• Orchestrating Cross-Functional Alignment: You serve as the critical strategic link between R&D, Procurement, and Supply Chain. You ensure that raw material selection criteria are linked directly to industrial scale-up feasibility and optimal commercial negotiation conditions.
• Strategic Matrix Leadership: You provide functional and strategic leadership to the Raw Material Management Specialists. You will empower them to execute data stewardship and initial technical validation locally while maintaining strict alignment with your global complexity reduction agenda

Your Profile

• Executive Technical Background: A degree in Food Technology, Chemistry, Process Engineering, or similar, combined with 8-10 years of professional experience bridging R&D, Technical Procurement, or Portfolio Management.
• Decisive Governance & "Gatekeeper" Mentality: You are comfortable setting strict standards and enforcing them. You have the backbone to push back on highly specialized R&D requests when a standard, commercially viable alternative exists.
• Digital Pioneer with an Analytical Mindset: You possess profound knowledge of ERP/PLM systems (SAP) and are a strong advocate for digital transformation. You have experience or a strong affinity for leveraging Big Data, AI, and advanced analytics to solve complex portfolio challenges, identify "zombie" materials, and drive proactive, data-informed decision-making.
• Proven Leadership in Matrix Organizations: At least 5 years of management experience with a track record of leading across functional lines. You know how to influence stakeholders (from Category Managers to Global R&D Heads) without always holding direct disciplinary authority.

Your Benefits

• Culture: Friendly and informal atmosphere, family-owned company, flat hierarchies, short communication channels, and helpful colleagues
• Impact: You are an integral part of our business success and make an important contribution to the future of nutrition
• Empowerment: You can fully unleash your potential and have the opportunity to take on responsibilities
• Digitalization: We maintain excellent partnerships with market-leading innovators, allowing you to access and work with state-of-the-art technologies
• Anniversary and special payments
• Employee referral bonuses
• Additional benefits: Christmas parties, events, financial benefits, and online shop discounts (e.g., IT leasing, mobile phone contracts, shopping, and travel discounts, etc.)

Equal opportunities for all

We welcome applicants, who are just as diverse as we are - regardless of age, ancestry, disability, ethnic origin, gender, nationality, religion, sexual orientation, social background or any other characteristic protected by applicable laws, regulations and ordinances.

Become a part of our team and apply online trough our career portal to the attention of Anne Palauschek. Please note that we are unable to consider or return application documents sent by mail.