R&D Sr. Associate, Fragrance at RB LLC in Montvale, New Jersey

Job Description:

About the role •    Within the Health Global Business Unit, provide support and coordination of all activities required to create and maintain state of the art fragrances which will engender future growth. 
•    With a focus on the Dettol Brand portfolio ensure to sustain the current portfolio in market as well as identification, development and qualification of superior fragrance experiences in support of the Health Brands, product formats and power markets, and to allow for timely execution 
•    Work closely with the Hygiene Business Unit and the R&D Operations teams to support the maintenance and compliance of current fragrance library in the Health Global Business Unit and ensure our fragrances & products remain competitive, compliant & safe.   

Key Responsibilities

•    Within defined categories, assist in the interface activity between RB R&D team and core Fragrance suppliers, including coordination of briefing/debriefing and evaluation of fragrances to guide the development process, leveraging consumer and olfactive knowledge to ensure winning fragrances meeting the brief criteria.
•    Within defined categories, develop an understanding of base formulations in all relevant technical formats to provide optimal fragrance guidance. 
•    Within a subset of the defined categories, lead the fragrance development process including strategy identification and innovation briefing
•    Provide technical support, through evaluating fragrance stabilities and issuance of any required rework briefs in support of Innovation, NPD and EPD projects, ensuring best practice briefing principles are followed to deliver optimal fragrance delivery from our Fragrance House partners
•    Coordinate fragrance sensory and performance testing when validating new fragrances, ensuring best practice principles are followed
•    Actively participate in reviews with Fragrance House partners to identify fragrance innovation opportunities for RB brands
•    Support the exploration of fragrance related technologies within the Innovation community
•    Maintain effective network both with external Fragrance House partners and with internal RB partners, including R&D Innovation, Maintenance, Expansion and Marketing, Procurement, Regulatory, Safety to drive initiatives and projects seamlessly forward 
•    Manage category fragrance portfolio and work with the R&D Operations globally to provide maintenance support for continuous use of current fragrances whilst leveraging the bank for local product execution.
•    Lead all compliance type projects in relation to fragrance (Force Majeures, ingredient removals & regulatory reworks)
•    Managing complex interfaces and relationships within the R&D Operations team, local and global market teams and core fragrance suppliers to define and drive fragrance strategies
•    Ensure that all fragrance briefing and recommendations comply with the agreed RB global core Fragrance supplier contract principles
•    Managing the prioritization of time and resource across the broad diversity of brands, formats, geographies
•    Effective functioning in a matrix environment, ensuring seamless execution
•    Build team capability through bringing best-in-class tools in areas such as evaluation, fragrance data management, fragrance banks and olfactive maps, consumer research/panels, trends and others
•    Work with the Global Fragrance Regulatory Manager, RRC, RSE to aid the alignment of proactive and reactive fragrance regulatory activity

Qualifications

• BS/BA degree in a related science and up to 8 years experience preference or
• MS degree in a related science and up to 5 years of experience or
• PhD in a related science and up to 3 years of experience and
• Proven track record of successful delivery of technical projects in a FMCG/Fragrance/Flavor environment
• Fragrance evaluation experience with above average olfactive acuity
• Proven Project Management experience within a cross-functional, international and multi-cultural environment.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills
• Strong computer software skills, including proficiency in Microsoft Office suite: Office, Excel, Word, PowerPoint; as well other project management or tracking software programs
• Results oriented, entrepreneurial and self-motivating.
• Strong organizational and problem solving skills
• Ability to carry out development work independently as a member of larger team
• Strong negotiating and interpersonal skills.
• Strong networking and influencing skills
• Capable of building strong working relationships within and outside RB, to deliver outstanding results with or without hierarchical relationships
• Excellent communication skills both written and oral (in English). Additional language is an advantage.
• Understanding of category strategy & consumer issues in relevant areas
• Understanding of marketing & product strategy to shape fragrance strategy

Equality

In Return RB offer very competitive salaries with excellent benefits and the chance to progress your career within a truly global organisation.
RB is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, colour, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other basis protected by appropriate law. All hiring decisions are made based on merit, competence and business need.

Nearest Major Market: New York City