VP, Wholesome Food Ingredients – Decatur, IL/Fargo, ND

This is an exempt level position.

Position Summary

This role will be responsible for managing all aspects of the existing business and identifying and driving the strategic direction and growth goals of the ADM Wholesome Food Ingredients platform, reporting to the President, Global Foods. The Wholesome Food Ingredients platform includes leading seven product P&L groups under three businesses (ADM Edible Bean Specialties, ADM Specialty Commodities, ADM Harvest Innovations). The role will actively partner with global and regional Operations, CD&D (Creation, Design & Development), Supply Chain, Finance, Sales, Marketing and other teams to ensure alignment and execution of the key strategic growth initiatives. The position will also support initiatives related to market segment growth strategies in all four regions of the world.

Job Responsibilities

General Management:  

• Ensures the team executes against strategy and key customer needs; shares financial performance and takes corrective actions when necessary
• Addresses any team / organization related challenges as needed. Provides leadership and coaching, when appropriate, for the team and any direct reports
• Sets the cultural tone to establish a collaborative and inclusive environment
• Oversees and manages daily execution at each business and develops standards and protocols across businesses to drive productivity
• Develops and works with the business managers to maintain a standard pricing strategy for each product grouping
• Partners with operations, CD&D and QA to drive process and product portfolio improvements
• Prepares monthly business updates for ADM Nutrition leadership including P&L estimates and full-year forecasts, risk & opportunity identification, sales pipeline progress, etc.

Risk Management

• Financially model & manage production / sales volumes with raw material sourcing in coordination with the origination and commercial team
• Financially model and review sales / purchase contract balances and compare to the delivery period to ensure commodity risk balances are appropriate
• Manage price risk and margins by working with the commercial teams to set trading guidance based on market conditions and internal S&D forecasts
• Understand all key supply chain / trade execution steps, the parties involved, and trade agreements
• Model and lead reviews of inventory levels and trends by product, location, cost, and age
• Collaborate with credit, sales, commercial and customer support to ensure accounts receivable risk is managed and proactively addressed  

Strategic Planning:

• Responsible for the P&L for Wholesome Food Ingredients
• Develops annual and 5-years plans and growth priorities for while collaborating with the cross-functional segment leadership team
• Partner with FP&A (Financial Planning and Analysis) to develop budgets, report monthly results and risks and opportunities
• Identifies partners and possible M&A targets to drive the business and leads the relationship development of these activities
• Ensures team meets/exceeds capital project goals and objectives

Go-to-Market Planning & Execution:

• Partner with regional commercial champions to develop and evolve customer engagement and go-to-market plans for the targeted food, pet companion, and wild bird feed segments to drive pipeline and growth
• Partner with operations to seek new ways of working to repurpose existing assets to achieve desired functional ingredient goals or higher plant optimization
• Partner with S&T, CD&D and Marketing to ensure continued competitive differentiation and unique value proposition for the assigned product line
• Partner with the global marketing organization to ensure effective deployment of the Integrated Marketing Plan
• Define and execute go-to-market plans for the targeted product categories. 
• Partner with the global logistics and supply chain partners to develop efficient supply chain of the key raw materials and finished products
• Coaches and develops the cross functional sales, and CD&D organization to support the consistent execution of each unique product strategy

Sales & Customer Support:

• Owner of the Wholesome Food Ingredient pipeline and responsible for purposeful engagement with the global sales and technical teams to ensure high level of execution on customer projects,
• Ensures pipeline growth and execution in all prioritized regions
• Develops engagement plans and prepares commercial presentations to augment marketing material for the key targeted global customers. 
• Oversees the day-to-day business execution (e.g., customer interactions, costing/pricing discussions, trade show preparation, etc.

Required Skills:

• Strategic vision and passion for creating the future leveraging cross functional teams
• Entrepreneurial owners’ mindset with a strong bias to solve problems independently
• Demonstrated ability to work under pressure and maintain flexibility while achieving organizational goals in a fast-paced environment
• Strong desire to exceed expectations, works with a sense of urgency
• P&L experience including capex management
• Proficient in using Microsoft Office (emphasis in excel and PPT), PowerBI, or other business intelligence tools to be able to transform complex data into summarized, actionable insights
• Proven success working in a very complex multicultural environment interacting with both internal team members from around the world & customers in the region
• Collaborative team player capable of creative & independent thinking
• Professional demeanor with exceptional communication, influencing, interpersonal/relationship skills, decision making and project management experience
• Ability to cultivate and maintain positive working relationships with people at all levels inside and outside of the organization

Desired Skills:

• Prior experience with any of the following ingredient categories:
  • Dry beans, peas, lentils, soy, or other plant-based proteins
• Prior experience and knowledge of agricultural commodity markets
• Prior experience in value-added ingredient processing or packaging:
  • • Milling, extrusion, cooking, roasting, retort, canning, dehydration, freeze-drying, sous vide, hot fill packaging, ready meals, etc.
• Prior experience in food service or co-manufacturing services is a plus
• A combination of technical and commercial experience is preferred
• Experience in leading or participating in JV and/or M&A activities

Education Requirements

• Educational background in finance, marketing, business management and/or food science with strong business aptitude. MBA desired

Required Experience:

• At least 15 years of experience in food & beverage ingredient industry with responsibilities and solid track record in general management, finance, marketing, product management, strategy, technical sales and/or business development

Additional information:

• Relocation assistance is available for this position
• This position offers a complete benefit package, including 401K/ESOP, pension, Health, life and dental insurance
• Must be able to travel

ADM is an equal opportunity employer and makes employment decisions without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability and veteran status.

ADM requires the successful completion of a pre-employment drug screen and a background check.

About ADM:

At ADM, we unlock the power of nature to provide access to nutrition worldwide. With industry-advancing innovations, a complete portfolio of ingredients and solutions to meet any taste, and a commitment to sustainability, we give customers an edge in solving the nutritional challenges of today and tomorrow. We’re a global leader in human and animal nutrition and the world’s premier agricultural origination and processing company. Our breadth, depth, insights, facilities and logistical expertise give us unparalleled capabilities to meet needs for food, beverages, health and wellness, and more. From the seed of the idea to the outcome of the solution, we enrich the quality of life the world over. Learn more at www.adm.com.

EEO

ADM is an equal opportunity employer and makes employment decisions without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability and veterans status.