Cd&D Tech Services Leader - Harvard, IL

Job Description

CD&D Tech Services Leader

• Harvard, IL

This is a full-time, exempt position.

MAIN FUNCTION: The CD&D Tech Services Leader will play a pivotal role in ensuring that scientific innovations in pet nutrition are seamlessly integrated into our production processes, upholding our commitment to quality, safety, and efficiency. This individual will be responsible for managing optimization, renovation, and innovation projects related to the processing of soft chews, powders, bakery items, and liquids. They will collaborate with diverse teams involved in the development of pet food and treats. The successful candidate will be required to work with scientists, operations, process engineering, finance, and quality management personnel. This role entails contributing to and enhancing the overall processing knowledge and capability within the team. The person in this position will assist in developing the skill sets of others, transferring knowledge, and building relationships with customers and team members, while also driving and adapting to change.

DESCRIPTION OF WORK PERFORMED:

• Provide continuous hands-on and technical support in pet food processing, focusing on operational efficiency, safety, and quality compliance.

• Lead initiatives to optimize, renovate, and innovate processing methods, promoting the highest standards of quality and safety.

• Serve as the technical backbone for operations and product development, facilitating the integration of new pet nutrition advancements into commercially viable products.

• Collaborate with product developers, supporting the ideation and formulation of innovative products, and refining processing techniques to enhance quality and efficiency.

• Enhance processing methodologies, leveraging scientific research to improve product quality and operational practices.

• Act as a bridge between scientific research and operational implementation, translating pet nutrition innovations into production processes.

• Work with Operations, Quality, and Process Engineering teams to uphold our quality commitment and foster the development of cutting-edge pet food products.

• Maintain an in-depth understanding of industry trends and processing technologies, aiming for continuous operational and product improvement.

• Support prototyping, development, and industrial trials, contributing to the creation and refinement of product and processing specifications.

• Provide technical support to customers, sales teams, and internal divisions, including plant trials, troubleshooting, and training.

• Collaborate with cross-functional teams on research and customer projects, staying informed on trends, new technical developments, and competitor activities.

• Build and maintain strong customer relationships, supporting ADM's growth strategy initiatives.

REQUIREMENTS AND MINIMUM EDUCATION LEVEL:

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Engineering, Animal Sciences, Food Science with a focus on processing technologies, or a closely related field. An advanced degree (e.g., Master's, PhD) in one of these areas is preferred.

• A minimum of 6 years of relevant experience in the pet food industry, emphasizing technical roles within manufacturing environments. Experience in pet food processes (extrusion and baking) is highly valued.

• Comprehensive knowledge of pet food processing methods. A strong understanding of the intersection between engineering, animal science, and operational excellence. An understanding of animal nutrition is desirable.

KEY SKILLS & COMPETENCIES:

• Adaptable and Flexible - has the competence to be able to adjust to new conditions, and the willingness to change or compromise

• Accountability - individual has an obligation and willingness to accept responsibility and to account for one's actions; willing to hold team accountable for actions, performance and results.

• Clear Communication - skilled at expressing a message to other people unambiguously, either in written or verbal format, helping the addressees to understand the idea, while engaging the audience and inviting feedback through active listening skills

• Conflict Management - uses appropriate interpersonal styles and techniques to reduce tension and/or conflict between two or more people; able to size up situations quickly; able to identify common interests; facilitates resolution

• Cultural Competence - cultivates opportunities through diverse teams; respects and relates well to people from varied backgrounds, understands diverse worldviews, and is sensitive to group differences; sees diversity as an opportunity and challenges bias and intolerance

• Customer/Client Focused - makes customers/clients and their needs a primary focus of one's actions; shows interest in and understanding of the needs and expectations of internal and external customers (including direct reports); gains customer trust and respect; meets or exceeds customer expectations

• Delegation - comfortably delegates responsibilities, tasks and decisions; appropriately trusts others to perform; provides support without removing responsibility

• Detail Oriented - adept at clearly identifying, following and delivering necessary details for projects assigned

• Innovation

• Uses creativity and imagination to develop new insights into situations and applies new solutions to problems. Comes up with new and unique ideas.

• Managing Change - competence to adjust and capably handle fast paced shifts in timing, goals, resources and environment while still delivering results; facilitates the implementation and acceptance of change within the workplace; encourages others to seek opportunities for different and innovative approaches to addressing problems and opportunities

• Results Oriented -the individual will have the drive to achieve target or goal of individual, team, business unit or company

• Team Player - works well as a member of a team or group that consists of like- and different-minded individuals

• Strategic Thinking and Focus - ability to think about, assess, view and create the future for individuals, teams and the organization; understands how an organization must change in light of internal and external trends and influences; builds a shared long-range organization vision with others; committed to course(s) of action to achieve long-range goals and influence others to translate vision into action

Excited about this role but don't meet every requirement listed? Studies show that often applicants will self-select out if they don't check every box. We encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this role or another one of our openings.

ADM requires the successful completion of a background check.

REF: 82048BR