R&D Vitamins, Minerals and Supplements (VMS) Development Lead

At Bayer we’re visionaries, driven to solve the world’s toughest challenges and striving for a world where 'Health for all Hunger for none’ is no longer a dream, but a real possibility. We’re doing it with energy, curiosity and sheer dedication, always learning from unique perspectives of those around us, expanding our thinking, growing our capabilities and redefining ‘impossible’. There are so many reasons to join us. If you’re hungry to build a varied and meaningful career in a community of brilliant and diverse minds to make a real difference, there’s only one choice.

R&D Vitamins, Minerals and Supplements (VMS) Development Lead 

The R&D VMS Development Lead provides leadership and technical expertise to the initiation, scoping, and feasibility development of innovation for the Vitamins, Minerals and Supplements category, working closely with and leading cross functional teams to deliver necessary activities.

He/she helps generate innovation advantage, supporting incremental and breakthrough initiatives. He/she will be responsible for developing scientific insights and leading new innovation projects initiated together with the VMS Category Squad and the regional VMS R&D leaders (iGMs).

He/she possesses a depth of technical experience for product development across the VMS category that enables recommendation of formulas to meet consumer demands, building of product development strategies, problem solving when issues arise and standing source of knowledge for existing and future product development.

The VMS Development Lead shows high agility and knows how to leverage support across the system of technical experts around the globe, including the innovation hubs and centers of excellence. They take accountability for upskilling colleagues across these teams to better support the technical needs of the VMS category.

YOUR TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The primary responsibilities of this role, R&D Vitamins, Minerals and Supplements (VMS)  Development Lead, are to:

• Architects the technical development pathway for innovation projects, leveraging experience and skills to support other R&D leaders in delivering a best-in-class pipeline;
• Coaches the technical community that support VMS innovation, with particular focus on category technical project leaders, development center formulation and analytical teams and centers of excellence;
• Knows the category, emerging ingredients, key partners and competitive landscape and translates that knowledge into opportunities that can deliver against medical and consumer needs;
• Technical lead and escalation point for the product teams when addressing issues, problem solving and managing risks during the development of new products in the VMS portfolio; works closely with development partners (internal and external) to ensure smart decision making and robust technical outcomes;
• Effectively leverages CMOs and expert network for external development. Ensures a strong connection with suppliers and universities to identify new technologies aligned with the business needs;
• Remains closely connected with the consumer through leadership of science story telling and demos for customer engagements and marketing claims / communications.

WHO YOU ARE

Bayer seeks an incumbent who possesses the following:

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree;
• A proven track-record of delivering consumer-inspired, science-based and new-to-category innovation in the Consumer Health or Consumer Goods Industry from Ideation to launch;
• Depth of experience in the vitamins, minerals and supplements category related to development of new products, formula design, technical troubleshooting and launch execution;
• Passion for Consumer inspired innovation ;
• Scientific curiosity, with proven ability to translate emerging trends and opportunities into meaningful, superior innovation; 
• Strong coaching capability and demonstrated interpersonal skills, including managing conflict, building psychological safety, challenging status quo and willingness to stand up for beliefs;
• Outstanding time management and creative problem-solving skills.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree with 12+ years (or Master’s degree with 10+ years, or PhD with 6+ years) of significant experience in FMCG / Consumer Health.