Director Product Development & Applications Africa, Johannesburg

Job Description

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.


Your Responsibilities

Director Product Development & Applications Africa is accountable for defining, leading and scaling ADM Human Nutrition technical strategy across Africa, with direct responsibility for the application labs in the region.Operating in close partnership with the Regional Commercial Lead, this role ensures full alignment between commercial growth objectives and technical capabilities, acting as a co‑owner of regional success. The Director provides strategic direction, operational governance, and people leadership to deliver sustainable growth, technical excellence and strong customer proximity in a rapidly developing region.This role is a key enabler of greenfield initiatives, regional capability build‑up and long‑term organizational design for Africa.
YouDefine and lead the regional application and technical strategy for Africa, aligned with ADM Human Nutrition’s business priorities and growth goals.Provide overall leadership and governance of the African application lab network ensuring consistent standards in safety, quality, compliance and execution.Act as a strategic partner to the Regional Commercial Lead, co‑owning regional performance by translating commercial strategy and pipeline into technically robust and scalable solutions, , providing expert guidance on formulation, applications, and manufacturing across beverage and Foodservice categories.Lead and oversee greenfield initiatives, including the setup of new application labs, expansion of technical capabilities, and implementation of new operating models from feasibility to go‑live.Own and continuously review the regional organization design for Application & Technical Services, assessing capability needs and defining appropriate structures, roles and phased resource plans.Define, lead and govern the regional co‑manufacturer structure, including assessment, selection and technical qualification of partners to support regional manufacturing needs.Lead the co‑manufacturer selection process in close cross‑functional collaboration with Quality, Regulatory, Operations, Supply Chain and Legal, ensuring compliance, robustness and long‑term sustainability of the manufacturing network.Oversee and prioritize a regional portfolio of customer, innovation and industrialization projects, ensuring disciplined execution, effective resource allocation and timely delivery.Act as the senior technical escalation point for complex customer, regulatory, operational and quality issues across Africa, including those involving co‑manufacturing partners.Build, lead and develop a high‑performing, multi‑site technical team, fostering accountability, technical excellence, collaboration and a strong customer‑centric mindset.Drive strong cross‑functional collaboration with Commercial, Operations, Supply Chain, Regulatory, Quality and Development Headquarters to ensure alignment and speed of execution.Represent the African region within EMEA and global technical networks, ensuring leverage of global expertise while adapting solutions to regional market needs.

You have

Minimum 10–12 years of experience in the food and beverage industry, with a strong track record in beverage applications, product development and industrialization.Proven experience in leading multi‑site or regional technical teams, with accountability for strategy, execution and people development.Strong applied beverage expertise, experience working with Foodservice is a strong plus.Solid background in beverage manufacturing, scale‑up and plant trial execution, including interaction with internal plants and co‑manufacturers.Demonstrated ability to partner with commercial leadership, translating business strategy and market opportunities into technically robust and commercially viable solutions.Extensive experience in project and portfolio management, including prioritization, resource allocation and governance across multiple projects and geographies.Strong capability to think strategically and shape organizations: ability to assess future market and capability needs, design organizational structures, build scalable teams and lead change in complex environments.Excellent leadership, communication and influencing skills, with the ability to engage senior stakeholders, customers and cross‑functional teams.Excellent written and spoken English, additional languages are an advantage in a multicultural environment.Strong affinity with IT and business tools (, Salesforce) and data‑driven decision making.Good understanding of regional regulatory frameworks.High international mobility, with willingness to travel frequently across the African region (approximately 30–40% of time).Strong personal drive to develop innovative solutions, support market growth and build sustainable long‑term technical capabilities.Enjoyment of collaboration across teams, cultures and functions, acting as a role model for leadership behaviors.
Our OfferA high level of personal responsibility in a modern work environment with flexible work (time) modelsRoom for innovative thinking and growth with the possibility to manage your own career pathColleagues with great team spirit who are passionate about solving the nutritional challenges of today and tomorrowAn attractive remunerationA company culture which promotes continuous learning and diversity at roles and levels
Learn more about ADM at
We are proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and value diversity at our company. If you feel this job is for you, unlock your potential and apply now online informing us about your earliest possible entry date and salary expectation.

#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.

For more information regarding our efforts to advance Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging, please visit our website here:

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

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108810BR

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