Savory Category Development Director

Company Overview

Synergy Flavors, part of the Carbery Group, is more than just a leading international supplier of ingredients to the global food and beverage industry—we’re a team driven by purpose. Our vision is simple yet powerful: enriching lives through healthier and tastier foods.

We believe great flavor starts with great people. That’s why we’re committed to hiring creative, passionate individuals who want to make a real impact. With deep expertise across food, beverage, and nutrition, our teams develop high-quality taste solutions that inspire innovation and elevate everyday experiences.

Your Role in Synergy's Success

The Director, Category Development – Savory is responsible for the strategic direction, performance, and long-term top-line growth of Synergy’s Savory business. This role carries enterprise-level accountability for defining category strategy, shaping the savory innovation and portfolio roadmap, and delivering sustained, profitable growth in partnership with Sales, Marketing, R&D, and Operations.

Leveraging deep customer, consumer, and market insights, the Director translates external opportunities into clear growth platforms, value propositions, and investment priorities. As the senior commercial and category leader for Savory, this role serves as the internal voice of the market and a senior representative of Synergy’s Savory strategy with customers and partners.

How You Will Contribute

Roles and Responsibilities:

• Own the long-term strategy and growth roadmap for the Savory category, including multi-year growth platforms, portfolio evolution, and investment priorities aligned with Synergy’s commercial objectives.
• Accountable for delivering Savory category growth against annual and multi-year financial targets, partnering closely with Sales and Finance to drive performance and manage trade-offs.
• Set category priorities and govern the Savory innovation and portfolio pipeline, including opportunity selection, stage-gate decisions, and resource allocation across customers, regions, and technologies.
• Serve as the senior Savory advisor to executive leadership, translating customer, consumer, and market insights into strategic recommendations on where Synergy should invest, build capabilities, partner, or exit.
• Lead Savory category execution through cross‑functional leadership today, partnering closely with Sales, Marketing, R&D, Applications, and Operations to build commercial capability and alignment, with the opportunity to develop and lead dedicated Category Development resources over time as the business scales. Sponsor and lead cross-functional initiatives that accelerate Savory growth, including capability builds, strategic customer partnerships, and enterprise-level programs.
• Partner with Sales leadership (VP Sales, Sales Directors, Account Managers) to define target segments, priority accounts, and go-to-market strategies that enable new customer conversion and expansion.
• Represent Synergy’s Savory strategy externally at a senior level, engaging with key customers, strategic partners, and industry forums to strengthen Synergy’s position and influence.
• Act as the internal Savory subject-matter expert and voice of the market, aligning R&D, Applications, Operations, and Marketing around clear category priorities and customer needs.
• Engage with global Synergy colleagues to align category strategy, share best practices, and strengthen the Savory community of practice across regions.

Required Experience:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Business, Marketing (with strong technical acumen), Food Science, Chemistry, or a related field; Master’s Degree a plus.
• 12–15+ years of progressive experience in category management, commercial strategy, marketing, and/or sales within the food ingredients and/or flavor industry.
• Demonstrated experience owning or influencing category, portfolio, or P&L-level growth, with accountability for delivering results.
• Proven people leadership experience, including building, leading, and developing high-performing commercial or category teams (direct or matrixed).
• Experience partnering with executive leadership to shape strategy, prioritize investments, and drive cross-functional alignment.
• Track record of leading complex, cross-functional initiatives from strategy through execution in a matrixed organization.

Required Skills:

• Strategic leader with the ability to set direction, make trade-offs, and guide teams through ambiguity and change.
• Strong commercial acumen, including portfolio strategy, value proposition development, and investment prioritization at a category level.
• Executive-level presence and influence; able to shape decisions with senior leaders, customers, and external partners.
• Effective people leader and coach who builds capability, accountability, and engagement across teams.
• Enterprise mindset with the ability to connect customer needs, market trends, and internal capabilities into scalable growth strategies.
• Highly effective collaborator who leads through influence, aligning Sales, Marketing, R&D, Operations, and Finance around shared priorities.

• Analytical and insight-driven, with the ability to translate complex data into clear strategic recommendations and actions.

Salary Range : $164,000 to 221,500

The actual compensation that you will be offered will depend on a variety of factors including geography, skills and abilities, education, experience and other relevant factors. This role will remain open until filled.

For more information on our benefits click here.

Department: Business Development

Location: Wauconda, Illinois

Work Arrangement: Hybrid

Reporting To: VP of Marketing and Business Development

Our Commitment to our People

We are a diverse and growing workforce of over 1,000 people across eight countries globally. As we continue to grow, we want to ensure that Carbery Group continues to be a place where people are supported to develop and feel that they can do their best work. We are committed to driving growth, developing future capability and delivering results through our dedicated teams.

We offer competitive salaries, comprehensive benefits, and an inclusive workplace where your skills, perspectives, and experience help shape the future of our industry. Join us and be part of a team that values collaboration and makes a meaningful impact - from local communities to global markets.

Carbery Group is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to fostering a supportive work environment.