R&D Operation Excellence Associate Manager

Overview

This role will support ME BU R&D Main purpose of the role is drive R&D operational excellence in for MENA-Pak R&D. Additionally this role will provide support to ME R&D lead for new ventures and business models

Responsibilities

Dimension 1: Product Development lead for emerging snacks

• Product development lead for AFH for Saudi under strategic growth platforms framework and sustainability agenda.

• Technical leadership support for select AOP and PSP initiatives from Idea Hopper to Launch and Learn.

• Develop product against Consumer and Business KPIs by leveraging available resources including pilot plants, factory equipment, supplier's technical assets.

• Develop project briefs/Global Innovation Briefs and seek cross functional alignment (especially Marketing and Supply Chain).

• Develop an understanding and demonstrate the application of consumer product testing; sensory, analytical etc. to deliver superior products to the market and establish product intelligence.

Dimension 2: MENA-PAK Operational Excellence Roles & Responsibilities

• This role sits in middle of all R&D functions including PD, Packaging, TDC and Life Sciences and provides and enable transparency on priorities.

• Integrate & deliver visibility of Regional Project Portfolio and resource allocation.

• Anchors as single point of contact for measuring R&D performance for MENA-PaK region.

• Full ownership of MENA-Pak R&D score card covering all aspects including performance of Innovation,Productivity, TBS and drive Speed to Market culture on Faster, Stronger, Better and The PepsicoWay framework.

• End to end leadership on Process Governance of Technical Stage Gate covering innovation, productivity, and technical brands stewardship in support with R&D and commercialization teams.

• Work very closely with sector and global excellence team and will ensure bringing best practices in the MENA-Pak R&D for faster innovation, productivity and TBS processes.

• Acts as Super User on R&D and Business performance tools such as Accolade/ myinnovation, Power steering...etc

• Provides and enable transparency on priorities for all R&D functions including PD, Packaging, TDC and Life Sciences.

• Provide Governance to MENA-PAK Productivity agenda.

• Owns MENA-Pak R&D budget and ensure tracking throughout the year and provide regular updates.

• This role provides leadership on designing and executing critical business reviews like BU GMs meetings, Sector and global R&D meetings.

• Support TBM to deliver Reframe & Breakthrough innovations through participation in trials, commissioning and launch.

Dimension 3: MENA-PAK Chief of Staff roles & responsibilities.

• Arrange leadership team meetings through coordination of relevant agenda items, logistics and partnering with R&D Director and team to understand what is needed.

• Lead the agenda

• Create the slide and collect the update form the team-

• Final Review & Consolidation

• Review with R&D Director

• Preread

• Lead the presentation during the call

• Help shape the effectiveness of the leadership team meeting (Staff meeting) and follow up actions, to ensure the agenda is delivered to plan to agreed deadlines.

• Provide suggestions and insights on how the leadership team can improve its performance. (ex. Growth Platform..etc)

• To with key partners & stakeholders in other teams to find solutions that will enhance team effectiveness.

• Implementation of best practices for leadership team effectiveness.

• Anchors point for Implementation team effectiveness

• Best practices as an excellence

• Work with the leadership team to help priorities & resolve concerns or issues that arise so that people are working on the most critical things.

• Act as confidant for R&D Director to escalate issues that are not being effectively resolved that will impede progress with leaderships key priorities

• Draft key communications for R&D Director such as newsletters or other key leadership team communications.

• Support all asks / requests from Sector / Global R&D in the representation of MENAPAK team.

• Support in MENA-PAK Footprint & Talent capability matrix.

• Anchors as single point of contact to combined BSHS update for R&D Sector and GM's BU.

Qualifications

Education:

• Degree or equivalent in a Food Technology / Engineering/Business Management.

Scope and years of experience

• Must have FMCG /Food technical environment for 3 years

• Must have experience in Product development/R&D function and 3rdparty manufacturing.

Skills needed:

1. Product Development

2. Process trouble shooting

3. Recipe, formula understanding

4. Passion for creativity and innovation within a commercially driven environment.

5. Proven record of launching at least couple of innovation in the market.

6. Ability to work in Factory/Plant environment in collaboration with diverse nationality workforce.