R&D Project Manager - Extrusion & Pellets (12 months Fixed Term Contract)

Overview

PepsiCo is looking for R&D Project Manager - Extrusion & Pellets to join on 12 months Fixed Term Contract role (Maternity cover).

Job Purpose

This role is based in the Extrusion & Pellets team, within Europe Foods R&D. The R&D Project Manager will effectively deliver projects within the Technology Team in support of the Europe Foods R&D AOP by collaborating with cross functional Sector & Cluster teams and R&D disciplines. This could include prototyping, leading factory trials and providing support to cross functional partners (e.g Specifications, ZBR’s, resolving Quality issues etc) related to the portfolio.

Responsibilities

• Reporting to the R&D Manager, manage the execution of multiple Product Development projects for Extrusion & Pellet technologies including renovation and innovation workstreams to enable the Europe Foods AOP delivery and innovation pipeline building
• Lead projects from Gate 2 independently following handover and with ongoing support from technology Platform Manager, escalating issues as required
• Lead benchtop recipe development and prototyping against marketing led concepts, and provide R&D input to concept development
• Contribute to workstreams to improve ways of working across the team e.g. improvement of business processes to drive greater efficiencies, sharing of knowledge to create better team cohesion & developing others through embedding best practise
• Work effectively in collaboration with cross-functional and R&D discipline partners
• Leverage a combination of functional and business expertise to shape and develop the technical elements of winning consumer propositions that drive sustainable business growth
• Specifically build a depth of technical knowledge on the Extrusion & Pellets technology areas to support across the business and brands identifying opportunities for growth in existing and new markets
• Execute complex technical projects utilising solid technical project management tools and skills to ensure objectives are accomplished on time, to the agreed standards and within budget
• Demonstrated application of consumer product testing, sensory, analytical data to ensure excellent product launches through creation of accurate technical product specifications
• Apply Technical & Business Governance processes effectively from feasibility stage right through to scale-up & post launch support
  
  

Qualifications

• Graduate in Food, Science or Engineering discipline or equivalent or equivalent experience, with solid project management skills and a solution-orientated mindset
• At least of 3-5 years experience in FMCG R&D product or technology development roles, managing NPD projects from concept to launch, ideally in the snack food product categories
• Demonstrated understanding & application of consumer product testing, sensory & analytical methods
• Co-ordination of 3rd party manufacturers &/or suppliers to meet business goals
• Experience of working across different product areas
• In-depth analytical skills to interpret complex data and distil into meaningful information e.g. interpreting process data, experimental design and statistical inference
• Good understanding/appreciation of the broader business environment and application of technical and commercial knowledge during project execution
• Good interpersonal skills with ability to influence with integrity through persuasive communication to win support at more senior levels within R&D and Supply Chain and to build effective relationships with a wide range of stakeholders from different levels, backgrounds and cultures
  
  

Other Competences:

• Execution (Results): Balance sense of urgency with the need to deliver quality results, demonstrating perseverance and positive attitude in the pursuit of challenging goals
• Relation ships (Collaboration): Collaborates actively support & takes action to drive a common goal across work &/or project teams
• Thinking (Forward thinking): Takes the initiative to solve problems by bringing creative approaches, Embraces Challenges & Risks
• Agility (Flexibility): Maintain composure on times of change , able to work with agility without losing momentum and manage uncertainty and complexity in fast evolving FMCG environments
• Growth (Curiosity for Learning): Demonstrates learning agility and curiosity to grow as a leader and to gain deeper insights that provide value to ones work