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Global Head of Digital Solutions, Innovation & R&D

Job

  • Level
    Lead
  • Job Field
    IT, DevOps, Product
  • Employment Type
    Full Time
  • Contract Type
    Permanent employment
  • Location
    Holzminden
  • Working Model
    Onsite
  • Job Summary

    In this role, you will develop digital solutions, lead innovative R&D projects, manage cross-functional teams, and optimize product lifecycles to strengthen the digital infrastructure.

    Your role in the team

    • Reporting to the Chief Digital & Information Officer (CDIO), the Global Head of Digital Solutions will drive the development of a world-class, digitally enabled ecosystem that supports Symrise's ambitious goals in Innovation and R&D.
    • This role is pivotal in aligning with our dynamic business vision, building the right digital infrastructure to enable core business activities, and supporting the transition to a product-based operating model.
    • As a trusted advisor to the CDIO and executive stakeholders, you will help shape strategic decisions by delivering actionable insights that align technology, data, and AI with business needs.
    • Leading a team of product owners, you will oversee high-stakes digital products within Innovation and R&D, managing cross-functional teams and collaboration to resolve complex trade-offs between business units, Group IT, and external partners, all aimed at delivering measurable outcomes.
    • As the primary liaison between Innovation and R&D stakeholders and Group IT, you will ensure clear communication, expectation setting, and priority alignment to guide technology initiatives.
    • Drawing on deep industry expertise, you will address regulatory, operational, and innovation-related challenges while collaborating closely with leaders across technical research, product design, and lifecycle management to ensure IT solutions meet experimentation cycles and development timelines.
    • Act as a strategic partner to Innovation and R&D leaders, steering digital transformation and growth initiatives.
    • Lead digital product strategy, development, and execution for core areas such as product lifecycle management and technical research & design.
    • Sponsor and steer digital products from concept through deployment and ongoing improvement, while simplifying legacy systems.
    • Manage the end-to-end lifecycle of digital products, ensuring adoption, usability, and value creation.
    • Build and lead high-performing cross-functional product teams (including business and IT functions), embedding Agile practices and fostering innovation and accountability.
    • Serve as the primary liaison between business stakeholders and IT, ensuring alignment of priorities, expectations, and timelines.
    • Drive adoption through training, feedback loops, and regional champions; monitor product performance using data-driven KPIs.
    • Ensure compliance with regulatory, security, and data integrity standards for systems handling sensitive research or IP.
    • Build digital and data literacy across teams, promote a culture of experimentation and continuous learning.
    • Advise CDIO and executive leaders on strategic technology decisions; translate complex digital initiatives into actionable insights.

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    Our expectations of you

    Education

    • Bachelor's degree in Life Sciences, Chemistry, or a related field; advanced degree or certification in Technology, Information Systems, or Computer Science is a plus.

    Qualifications

    • Demonstrated success in leading digital transformations, aligning tech investment with strategic goals, and driving change in complex environments.
    • Strong track record of managing global, cross-functional teams spanning both business and IT functions.
    • Expertise in building scalable, Agile-driven digital ecosystems across international business environments.
    • Deep familiarity with the fragrance and flavor or related sectors, including regulatory and innovation-specific requirements.
    • Ability to leverage technology, data, and AI to solve domain-specific challenges such as research management and product development.
    • Strategic mindset paired with strong business acumen and operational execution.
    • Exceptional communication and influence skills with the ability to operate at senior executive levels.
    • Confident leader with strong problem-solving capabilities and a successful track record in global change management.
    • Fluency in English required; additional language skills are advantageous.

    Experience

    • 10+ years of experience designing and executing digital strategies and solutions within Innovation and R&D, with several years in senior leadership roles.
    • Proven experience in a product-based organization with deep knowledge of product lifecycle and innovation processes.

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    Benefits

    Food & Drink

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    Work-Life-Integration

    Topics that you deal with on the job

    Job Locations

    • Location Holzminden

      37603 Niedersachsen

      Germany

    This is your employer

    Symrise AG

    Symrise AG

    Symrise AG, based in Holzminden, is a publicly-traded provider of fragrances, flavorings, cosmetic base ingredients and active substances, as well as functional ingredients.

    Description

  • Company Size
    250+ Employees
  • Company Type
    Established Company
  • Working Model
    Full Remote, Hybrid, Onsite
  • Industry
    Industry, Production, Pharmaceutical Sector, Chemical Industry, Biotech
  • Logo Symrise AG

    Global Head of Digital Solutions, Innovation & R&D

    Location
    Holzminden
    Working Model
    Onsite
    Diversity
    Open for all genders

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