F&F Innovation Manager

We are Reckitt

Home to the world's best loved and trusted hygiene, health, and nutrition brands. Our purpose defines why we exist: to protect, heal and nurture in the relentless pursuit of a cleaner, healthier world. We are a global team united by this purpose.
Join us in our fight to make access to the highest quality hygiene, wellness, and nourishment a right and not a privilege.
## About Shanghai Science and Innovation Centre

O ur Shanghai Science & Innovation Centre—Reckitt’s largest R&D site in Asia , develops locally inspired health and hygiene innovations tailored for Chinese consumers, with potential to set new global standards.

Operating as an open platform, the Centre partners with local institutions to accelerate innovation and support China’s “Healthy China 2030” vision.

As one of nine global Reckitt innovation hubs, it connects top Chinese talent with our worldwide network, turning cutting-edge research into products that protect and nurture millions of households .

Join us in advancing our purpose of a cleaner, healthier world.

Position Overview:

You will play an important role at Reckitt because…

- You will be responsible for the development of new fragrance & flavour innovations on reckitt brands for the China market. Working as part of fast pace global team, which you will have responsibility for the development of a strategic pipeline of consumer loved fragrances & flavours.

- You will be leading fragrance & flavour local support for the Greater China region, including new fragrance development, portfolio maintenance and regional roll outs activities cross brand.

- Ultimately, leading the creation of superior fragrance & flavour solutions, from ideation, through launch and on to product maintenance, helping us in support of our purpose, to bring health to more hands, everyday.

Duties and Responsibilities:

- Leading all the R&D activities related to Fragrance & Flavour development cross category for the Greater China product pipelines.

- Leveraging the creative, technical and innovative capabilities of our Strategic Partners, i.e. Fragrance & Flavour Houses to strengthen the Category pipelines for the region.

- Working with the global brand F&F managers to deliver against key Fragrance & flavour strategies for key reckitt brands in China, aiming at delivering to our consumers an outstanding sensorial experience and driving forwards the brand purpose.

- Leading the creation of superior fragrance & flavour solutions, from ideation, through launch and on to product maintenance, to deliver on all aligned F&F projects for Greater China.

- People management of 1 Fragrance expert on site in SSIC, to ensure Strategy and projects are delivered in full, on time, driving consumer delight. Ensuring the report has strong personal development plans, stretch objectives with engaging and motivating workplans to support their ongoing development.

- Fragrance Innovation – In collaboration with Front end Innovation Manager, ensure new fragrance technologies/innovations are identified and systematically assessed against defined consumer needs greater China. Proactively finding opportunities to implement technology opportunities in the brand 3YP.

- Trends- In collaboration with F&F global trend leader, support the promotion of a strategic intelligence program to identify relevant macro trends, societal trends and corresponding novel fragrance & flavour opportunities to deliver superior consumer usage experience and drive synergies across the business with the goal of enhanced market penetration.

- Consumer understanding- To identify, develop and initiate strategic programs to increase reckitt understanding of consumer fragrance & flavour preferences, behavioural insights and interactions within the greater China region. Collaborate with I&A and CPI /SCSE to translate the learnings into innovative Fragrance development opportunities.

- Regulatory and Safety –In collaboration with Fragrance & Flavour Resilience Manager, R&D Regulatory and Safety teams , ensure that all Fragrance & Flavour development activity within the team conforms to Legislative, Health, Safety and environmental requirements.

Your experience & skills:

- Minimum of Bachelors degree in a relevant scientific discipline with 8-10 years + experience Fragrance & Flavour technology development and application in a FMCG environment

- 10 years + of proven Project Management experience within a cross-functional, international and multi-cultural environment.

- 8-10+ years fragrance and/or flavour evaluation experience with above average olfactive/organoleptic acuity

- Expertise in development and validation of new fragrance & flavour technologies, including new product development

- Strong technical problem solving skills, with 10+ years of technical R&D product development experience.

- Strong networking, influencing and communication skills

- Strong business experience including commercial/marketing strategy.

- High level of experience in consumer understanding and sensory testing

- 8-10+ years experience in vendor management

Technical / professional qualifications required:

- Good degree in a relevant scientific discipline.

- Significant experience in flavours and fragrances, including new product development

- Experience in consumer research / validation methods

Personal Attributes:

- Results oriented, entrepreneurial and self-motivating.

- Strong leadership, motivational and interpersonal skills.

- Strong analytical skills with the ability to develop strategies, tactics and measurable implementation plans.

- Excellent communication skills both written and oral (in English and Chinese).

- Openness to change and ability to think out of the box.

- Excellent Presentation skills.