Director Pet Nutrition CD&D - Chicago, IL

Job Description

Director Pet Nutrition CD&D - Chicago, IL

Position Summary
The Director, Pet Nutrition CD&D (Creation, Design & Development) leads ADM's global customer-focused product development and applied innovation organization serving the Pet Nutrition business. Reporting to the Vice President, Animal & Pet Nutrition CD&D, this role is responsible for aligning innovation capabilities, technical resources, and development priorities with ADM's strategic growth objectives. The position leads a global team of approximately 30 scientists, application specialists, formulators, and technical experts dedicated to developing innovative solutions for pet food, treats, supplements, and wellness products.

Role Purpose
Serve as the global leader responsible for translating business strategy, customer needs, market opportunities, and scientific capabilities into commercially successful pet nutrition solutions. The role drives growth by supporting customers and commercial teams through technical excellence, application development, and applied innovation.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the global Pet Nutrition CD&D organization and define strategic priorities.
• Align innovation and development activities with Animal & Pet Nutrition business goals.
• Partner with commercial teams to identify and pursue customer growth opportunities.
• Drive development of differentiated solutions across dry pet food, wet pet food, kibble systems, treats, supplements, and emerging wellness platforms.
• Lead customer innovation workshops and strategic technical engagements.
• Oversee formulation, application, testing, validation, scale-up, and commercialization activities.
• Build global technical capabilities and ensure best-practice sharing across regions.
• Manage innovation portfolio prioritization, resource allocation, and project governance.
• Strengthen ADM's position as a trusted innovation partner through science-based and customer-driven solutions.

Job Requirements
Leadership Accountabilities

• Provide leadership and development for a global team of approximately 30 employees.
• Establish a high-performance culture focused on collaboration, accountability, innovation, and customer success.
• Develop organizational capabilities, succession plans, and talent pipelines while creating an inclusive and engaging work environment.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Collaborate closely with Commercial, Marketing, Product Management, Operations, Supply Chain, Regulatory Affairs, Quality, Procurement, and R&D teams to ensure successful product development and commercialization.
• Act as a key member of the Animal & Pet Nutrition leadership team and contribute to broader business strategy discussions.

Success Metrics (KPIs)

• Revenue supported through innovation projects; pipeline value created through new opportunities; commercialization success rate; speed-to-market improvements; strategic customer engagement; employee development and retention; and overall contribution to business growth and profitability.

Job Requirements

• Advanced degree in Animal Nutrition, Food Science, Pet Nutrition, Veterinary Nutrition, Animal Science, or related discipline.
• Minimum 10 years of progressive leadership experience in product development, applied innovation, technical services, or pet nutrition.
• Demonstrated success leading global teams and customer-facing innovation organizations.
• Travel required up to 30% globally. ADM office-based. Location: North America

Mission Statement
Lead ADM's global Pet Nutrition CD&D organization by transforming customer insights, scientific knowledge, ingredient technologies, and business strategy into differentiated solutions that accelerate growth, strengthen partnerships, and improve pet health and well-being worldwide.

Excited about this role but don't think you meet every requirement listed? We encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this role or another one of our openings.

ADM requires the successful completion of a background check.

REF:114305BR

Base pay offered may vary depending on multiple individualized factors, including market location, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. Hourly and salaried non-exempt employees will also be paid overtime pay when working qualifying overtime hours.

If hired, employees will be in an "at-will position" and the Company reserves the right to modify base pay (as well as any other discretionary payment or compensation program) at any time, including for reasons related to individual performance, Company or individual department/team performance, and market factors.

The pay range for this position is expected to be between:

$171,500 - $272,500

Salaried Incentive Plan

The total compensation package for this position will also include annual bonus and a long-term incentive plan

Benefits and Perks

Enriching the quality of life for the world begins by taking care of our colleagues. In addition to competitive pay, we support your diverse needs with a comprehensive total rewards package to enhance your well-being, including:

• Physical wellness- medical/Rx, dental, vision and on-site wellness center access or gym reimbursement (as applicable).
• Financial wellness- flexible spending accounts, health savings account, 401(k) with matching contributions and cash balance plan, discounted employee stock purchasing program, life insurance, disability, workers' compensation, legal assistance, identity theft protection.
• Mental and social wellness- Employee Assistance Program (EAP), Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) and Colleague Giving Programs (ADM Cares).

Additional benefits include:

• Paid time off including paid holidays.
• Adoption assistance and paid maternity and parental leave.
• Tuition assistance.
• Company-sponsored training and development resources, such as LinkedIn Learning, language training and mentoring programs.

*Benefits may vary for bargained locations, confirm benefit eligibility with your recruiter.

#IncludingYou

Diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging are cornerstones of ADM's efforts to continue innovating, driving growth, and delivering outstanding performance. We are committed to attracting and retaining a diverse workforce and create welcoming, truly inclusive work environments - environments that enable every ADM colleague to feel comfortable on the job, make meaningful contributions to our success, and grow their career. We respect and value the unique backgrounds and experiences that each person can bring to ADM because we know that diversity of perspectives makes us better, together.

We welcome everyone to apply. We are committed to ensuring all qualified applicants receive consideration for employment regardless of race, color, ethnicity, disability, religion, national origin, language, gender, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, sexual orientation, age, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law

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.