R&D Specification Management Team Lead

Due to continuous expansion of the Specification Management Team, there is an additional Team Lead required in 2025. The Specifications Management Team Lead is responsible for overseeing sub capabilities managing Ingredient (Updates & Innovation) and Non-ingredient specifications (Process, Formula, Finished Good) and ensure exceptional service is provided in support of R&D Spec Management globally. This role will coordinate with in-market team leads, serving as their primary touchpoint to provide feedback, collaborate on strategic initiatives, and continuously identify opportunities to drive efficiency and enhance output quality.

Act as a SPOC (single point of contact) for R&D Specification management delivery to in-market R&D teams

• Manage and oversee teams delivering R&D Foods Ingredient, Formula, Process and Finished Goods specification writing activities.
• Build and foster strategic relationships with other R&D Team Leads for data collection, sign-offs, and specification completion.
• Work closely with Function Leaders to understand business needs, assess knowledge gaps, and develop Specification Management strategy that focuses on process and alignment to R&D strategic goals.
• Ensure all technical documentation is approved and captured into the appropriate document management system.
• Ensure team leads manage all requests - processed, documented, and delivered within defined SLAs.
• Monitor Specification writing resource count and resource utilization across HBS to meet the pipeline of requirements from R&D sectors and functions across all geographical locations.
• Identify potential areas for process improvements and employee upskilling to make recommendations to R&D GBS Leadership for continuous capability development.
• Support simplification, standardization, and digitization efforts.
• Partner with Business Partners to develop and fine tune internal processes (e.g., work-flow mapping, pain-points, and bottlenecks management)
• Conduct performance reporting and create required reports or score cards for R&D functions.
• Work closely with Process Excellence on relevant continuous improvement projects.
• Partner with counterparts in Mexico Business Services to share best practices, align on a single way-of-working.

People Responsibilities

Develop team capabilities, continuous motivation, and increased engagement levels

• Define and monitor performance goals for evaluation of direct subordinates.
• Support communications, idea sharing, and learning for specification writing team.
• Provide timely feedback on team members' performance and provide subject matter or market-specific expertise when necessary.
• Build meaningful developmental / career paths for subordinates.
• Report on best-practices and gold standard work within and across teams and hubs to build consistent levels of excellence across R&D GBS.
• Enhance internal knowledge and team efficiency through productivity optimization and digitization projects.
• Address any gaps in team competencies (e.g., training and development) together with forming developmental plans for existing workforce and potential external talent search.

Leadership Skills:

• Strong leadership and motivational skills with a track record of identifying and championing new processes for improving fact-based decision making.
• Communication: Clearly, completely, and concisely shares ideas and adapts style / content as appropriate for the audience, actively listens; demonstrates ability to produce presentations, written reports, and analysis; delivers formal and informal presentations with impact in both oral and written format
• Collaboration / Stakeholder Engagement: Working across boundaries and creating trusting relationships, demonstrating active listening skills.
• Clarity: Simplifying complexity, communicating in a clear and concise manner
• Demonstrated experience leading & motivating teams

Professional Skills:

• Experience working in the CPG industry, with deep understanding of the business performance measures and output, their relationships, and how to bring business performance insights to life visually.
• bachelors degree required, Engineering, Science or Business Management preferred
• 12+ years of prior work experience in a similar or related field; Preference for prior experience working in or with Research & Development, Operations, Quality Assurance.
• Fluent in English verbal and written
• Experience working with stakeholders in North America, Europe, LATAM, APAC, or AMESA markets
• Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite
• Exceptional organizational skills, with attention to detail and accuracy, a working knowledge of cataloging and distributing knowledge.
• Ability to manage time effectively across priorities and projects requiring a high degree of organizational and communication skills to ensure requests are delivered in a timely manner.