Sr. Director, R&D - Global Platform Innovation

McCain Foods USA • Oakbrook Terrace, IL

12d • $165,000 - $220,000 • Hybrid

About The Position

As Sr. Director, R&D – Global Platform Innovation , you are accountable for setting the vision, strategy, and execution of McCain’s global innovation platforms across Potato and Global Snacking categories. You will lead a global team to translate consumer, customer, and technology insights into scalable product platforms that deliver differentiated value, drive growth, and strengthen McCain’s competitive advantage. Operating at the intersection of front-end innovation, science & technology, portfolio leadership, and people leadership , this role provides strategic direction while ensuring disciplined execution from ideation through commercialization. As a senior R&D leader, you will be a visible champion of innovation, a trusted cross-functional partner, and a developer of future R&D leaders. This is hybrid role based out of our beautiful NA Corporate office located in Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Engineering, or a related technical discipline required; Master’s degree, MBA, or equivalent preferred.
• Minimum of 10 years of R&D leadership experience within food, CPG, or manufacturing environments.
• Proven track record leading large, complex innovation portfolios and delivering scalable product platforms.
• Demonstrated success influencing senior leaders and driving enterprise-level outcomes.
• Strong strategic thinking with the ability to translate vision into executable plans.
• Exceptional communication and storytelling skills with executive-level presence.
• High learning agility and comfort operating in ambiguity.
• Courage to make difficult decisions, challenge constructively, and stand firm when needed.
• Skilled in conflict resolution, negotiation, and aligning diverse stakeholder perspectives.
• Deep understanding of the end-to-end product development lifecycle, from front-end innovation through commercialization.
• Strong foundation in formulation, ingredient functionality, processing, and scale-up.
• Working knowledge of GMP, HACCP, food safety, and regulatory requirements.
• Ability to integrate consumer desirability, technical feasibility, and business viability into decision making.
• Demonstrated application of data-driven approaches, experimentation, and continuous improvement.
• Ability to travel within North America and internationally up to 20%.

Responsibilities

• Global Innovation & Platform Strategy Own and shape the global platform innovation strategy aligned to enterprise growth priorities, category strategies, and regional needs.
• Translate prioritized demand spaces into clear innovation roadmaps, platform strategies, and technical pathways.
• Ensure platforms are designed for global scalability, cost effectiveness, manufacturability, and long-term differentiation.
• Partner closely with Marketing, Insights, Culinary, Commercial, and Regional R&D teams to align innovation pipelines with consumer, customer, and business opportunities.
• Anticipate industry, technology, and competitive trends to inform future platform investments.
• Portfolio, Governance & Execution Leadership Accountable for the end-to-end innovation portfolio, including breakthrough and platform extension opportunities.
• Establish prioritization, resourcing, and governance using Stage-Gate and portfolio management best practices.
• Enable timely, high-quality decision making by proactively managing risk, trade-offs, and dependencies.
• Drive strong linkage between front-end innovation and downstream development, scale-up, and commercialization.
• Clearly communicate portfolio status, risks, and value creation to senior leadership.
• Scientific, Technical & Design Leadership Provide strategic leadership across product design, formulation, processing, scale-up, and commercialization.
• Partner with Advanced Technology & Innovation, Engineering, Quality, Procurement, and Manufacturing to integrate emerging and existing technologies.
• Champion design thinking, experimentation, and rapid learning cycles to accelerate innovation and reduce risk.
• Ensure technical rigor, data-driven decision making, and strong documentation standards.
• Strengthen global R&D capabilities, standards, and technical excellence.
• Cross-Functional & External Partnership Build strong stakeholder networks across Marketing, Commercial, Operations, Supply Chain, and external partners.
• Lead globally while deeply understanding regional consumer, customer, and business needs.
• Enable two-way insight flow between global and regional teams to continuously strengthen platform strategies.
• Serve as a senior R&D representative in customer engagements, joint development initiatives, and strategic partnerships.
• Communicate complex technical and strategic concepts clearly to non-technical audiences, including senior leadership and customers.
• Influence outcomes through credibility, clarity, and alignment across competing priorities.
• Leading People & Teams Lead, inspire, and develop a high-performing global team of Product Development Scientists and Process Engineers.
• Foster a culture of accountability, inclusion, learning, and continuous improvement.
• Coach and mentor talent, aligning development plans with organizational needs and succession planning.
• Set clear expectations, performance metrics, and feedback mechanisms to drive engagement and results.
• Actively develop next-generation R&D leaders with strong technical, strategic, and people leadership capabilities.
• Organizational & Change Leadership Lead complex, cross-functional change initiatives that strengthen innovation ways of working.
• Clarify decision rights, accountabilities, and operating models across global teams.
• Navigate ambiguity and organizational complexity with sound judgment and confidence.
• Serve as a trusted R&D leader recognized for integrity, transparency, and consistent delivery of results.

Benefits

• Employees are eligible for the following benefits: health coverage (medical, dental, vision, prescription drug), retirement savings benefits, and leave support including medical, family and bereavement.
• Well-being programs include vacation and holidays, company-supported volunteering time, and mental health resources.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level