📌 Core Information
🔹 Job Title: (Senior) Director Strategic Marketing & Innovation - Health Benefits
🔹 Company: DSM
🔹 Location: Delft, South Holland, Netherlands
🔹 Job Type: On-site
🔹 Category: Health, Nutrition & Beauty
🔹 Date Posted: 2025-07-16
🔹 Experience Level: 10+ years
🔹 Remote Status: On-site
🚀 Job Overview
Key aspects of this role include:
- Leading the Health Benefits innovation program across TTH (Taste and Ingredient Solutions).
- Translating consumer insights into compelling value propositions and health innovations.
- Driving claim innovation through scientific and clinical validation.
- Collaborating with internal and external partners to develop and commercialize new health solutions.
- Managing the innovation portfolio, budget, and governance structure.
ASSUMPTION: This role requires a strategic mindset with the ability to balance short- and long-term goals. Experience in health is a big plus.
📋 Key Responsibilities
✅ Lead the Health Benefits innovation program across TTH (Taste and Ingredient Solutions), with a strong link to the HNC innovation program, and Taste segments.
✅ Translate consumer insights into compelling value propositions and health innovations.
✅ Drive claim innovation through scientific and clinical validation.
✅ Coordinate and manage innovation project and pipeline reviews and ensure timely phase transfers.
✅ Collaborate with internal and external partners to develop and commercialize new health solutions.
✅ Manage the innovation portfolio, budget, and governance structure.
✅ Build and lead a virtual cross functional community across business units.
ASSUMPTION: This role involves working cross-functionally and globally to bring the future of health to life.
🎯 Required Qualifications
Education: Technical academic background, ideally in Nutritional Science, Biotechnology, or Food & Beverage Sciences.
Experience: At least 10 years of experience in the food & beverage industry, with a strong innovation track record.
Required Skills:
- Strategic mindset with the ability to balance short- and long-term goals.
- Experience working in matrix organizations and leading through influence.
- Strong cross-functional collaboration skills, including with R&D, Regulatory, IP, and Venturing.
- Ability to create consensus and not be driven by the consensus.
- Team worker placing team above self-interest - irradiates sense of community.
- Entrepreneurial drive, creativity, and a passion for delivering results.
Preferred Skills:
- Experience in health benefits.
- Fluency in multiple languages.
ASSUMPTION: Candidates with experience in health benefits and multiple languages may have an advantage.
💰 Compensation & Benefits
Salary Range: €140,000 - €170,000 per year (including holiday allowance and 13th month).
Benefits:
- 25 holiday days.
- Bonus.
- The option to buy more holiday days with a 6.11% my choice budget.
- 17% STI.
Working Hours: Full-time, 40 hours per week.
ASSUMPTION: The salary range is based on the company's provided information and industry standards for similar roles.
📌 Applicant Insights
🔍 Company Context
Industry: Chemical Manufacturing, focusing on health, nutrition, and beauty.
Company Size: 10,001+ employees. Large companies offer extensive resources and opportunities for career growth.
Founded: DSM was founded in 1902, with a rich history in the industry.
Company Description:
- DSM is a global science-based company active in health, nutrition, and materials.
- They create innovative solutions that nourish, protect, and improve performance.
- DSM is committed to sustainability and has set ambitious targets to become carbon neutral and net positive by 2050.
Company Specialties:
- Fragrances, ingredients, and flavours.
- Natural ingredients and perfumery and beauty.
- Sustainability, health, and animal nutrition and health.
- Taste, texture and health, nutrition, vitamins, early life nutrition, baking ingredients, and biomedical.
Company Website: http://www.dsm-firmenich.com
ASSUMPTION: DSM's focus on sustainability and innovation creates an environment that values forward-thinking employees.
📊 Role Analysis
Career Level: Senior Director level, indicating significant experience and strategic decision-making responsibilities.
Reporting Structure: This role reports to the VP Beverages Ingredients Solutions and leads a virtual cross-functional community across business units.
Work Arrangement: On-site, with the opportunity to work from home occasionally.
Growth Opportunities:
- Potential to grow within the Health Benefits platform or across other business units.
- Opportunities to work on global projects and collaborate with diverse teams.
- Chance to develop leadership skills by managing cross-functional communities.
ASSUMPTION: This role offers growth opportunities through exposure to various aspects of the business and collaboration with diverse teams.
🌍 Location & Work Environment
Office Type: On-site, with a collaborative and innovative work environment.
Office Location(s): Delft, Netherlands.
Geographic Context:
- Delft is a city in the South Holland province of the Netherlands, known for its historic city center and canals.
- The Netherlands offers a high quality of life, with excellent education, healthcare, and infrastructure.
- The country is also known for its work-life balance and family-friendly policies.
Work Schedule: Full-time, with the possibility of flexible working arrangements.
ASSUMPTION: The Netherlands offers a supportive work-life balance and a high quality of life, making it an attractive location for professionals.
💼 Interview & Application Insights
Typical Process:
- Online application submission through the career portal.
- Phone or video screening to assess cultural fit and basic qualifications.
- On-site or virtual interview with the hiring manager and other team members.
- Final interview or presentation, if required.
Key Assessment Areas:
- Strategic thinking and innovation capabilities.
- Cross-functional collaboration and leadership skills.
- Cultural fit and alignment with DSM's values.
- Technical knowledge in health benefits and related fields.
Application Tips:
- Highlight relevant experience in health benefits and innovation projects.
- Tailor your resume and cover letter to emphasize strategic thinking, cross-functional collaboration, and leadership skills.
- Prepare for behavioral and situational interview questions focusing on your experience in health benefits and innovation.
ATS Keywords: Strategic Marketing, Innovation, Health Benefits, Consumer Insights, Cross-Functional Collaboration, Project Management, Scientific Validation, Health Innovations, Stakeholder Management, Budget Management, Regulatory Knowledge, Matrix Organization Experience, Value Proposition Development.
ASSUMPTION: DSM's application process is designed to assess candidates' strategic thinking, innovation capabilities, and cultural fit.
🛠️ Tools & Technologies
- Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
- Project management tools (e.g., Asana, Trello, Jira).
- Data analysis and visualization tools (e.g., Tableau, Power BI).
ASSUMPTION: The required tools and technologies for this role are standard for the industry and can be learned quickly by most candidates.
👔 Cultural Fit Considerations
Company Values:
- Customer focus.
- High performance.
- Innovation.
- Collaboration.
- Sustainability.
Work Style:
- Collaborative and cross-functional.
- Innovative and forward-thinking.
- Results-driven and performance-oriented.
- Sustainability-focused.
Self-Assessment Questions:
- Do you have a proven track record of driving innovation in health benefits?
- Are you comfortable working in a matrix organization and leading through influence?
- Do you thrive in a collaborative and cross-functional work environment?
- Are you passionate about sustainability and driving positive change?
ASSUMPTION: DSM values employees who are innovative, collaborative, and committed to sustainability and high performance.
⚠️ Potential Challenges
- Managing a virtual cross-functional community across business units may require strong leadership and communication skills.
- Balancing short- and long-term goals may be challenging, requiring strategic thinking and prioritization skills.
- Working in a matrix organization may present unique challenges, requiring adaptability and strong stakeholder management skills.
- Delft may have a higher cost of living compared to other cities in the Netherlands, which could impact the overall compensation package.
ASSUMPTION: These challenges can be overcome with strong leadership, strategic thinking, and adaptability.
📈 Similar Roles Comparison
- This role is unique in its focus on strategic marketing and innovation within the health benefits sector.
- Compared to similar roles in other industries, this position offers a unique opportunity to drive innovation in health benefits and collaborate with diverse teams.
- Career progression in this role may lead to senior leadership positions within DSM's Health, Nutrition & Beauty division or other business units.
ASSUMPTION: This role offers a unique opportunity to drive innovation in health benefits and collaborate with diverse teams, with potential career growth within DSM.
📝 Sample Projects
- Developing and launching a new health benefit solution, from concept to commercialization.
- Conducting market research and consumer insights to inform health benefit innovation strategies.
- Managing a cross-functional team to deliver a health benefit innovation project on time and within budget.
ASSUMPTION: These sample projects demonstrate the strategic marketing and innovation aspects of the role, as well as the cross-functional collaboration and leadership skills required.
❓ Key Questions to Ask During Interview
- Can you describe the current health benefits innovation pipeline and how my contributions could impact its success?
- How does this role collaborate with other business units and functions within DSM?
- What are the most significant challenges facing the health benefits platform, and how can this role address them?
- How does DSM support the growth and development of its employees in this role?
- What is the company's long-term vision for the health benefits platform, and how does this role contribute to its achievement?
ASSUMPTION: These interview questions focus on the role's strategic impact, cross-functional collaboration, and growth opportunities.
📌 Next Steps for Applicants
To apply for this position:
⚠️ This job description contains AI-assisted information. Details should be verified directly with the employer before making decisions.
