R&D Product Development Sr Scientist

Overview

PepsiCo is currently looking for R&D Product Development Sr Scientist to join in Leicester, Beaumont Park.

A key focus area for this team is to drive and deliver the Global Pellets, Extrusion & Stax agenda and specifically, the incumbent will lead key projects & activities within the programme.

Responsibilities

Senior Scientist within the Pellets, Extrusion & Stax team is part of the Global Foods Product Function team.

In this role you will lead key workstreams which requires a high degree of creative technical thinking to deliver business-relevant technical unlocks, leading to new in-market executions protected by a relevant IP strategy:

• Lead key project activities within the Global Product Function Pellets, Extrusion & Stax programme.

• Provide creative innovation solutions to technically complex issues to meet project objectives.

• Design, lead and execute product-led trials at kitchen, pilot and factory scale, to validate new products, ingredients and process equipment, defining optimum operating windows and scale parameters.

• Lead generation of compelling & creative product prototypes to illustrate technical possibilities to build business and stakeholder interest / alignment and steer development direction.

• Create and apply food science insights & technology unlocks for advantaged product design (flavour, texture, appearance, nutrition).

• Understand and apply insights from consumer research, concept and product testing to deliver Pellets, Extrusion & Stax snacks innovation.

• Coordinate scale-up activities in factories internally by liaising closely with Operations Change manager and externally with relevant third parties.

• Lead and collaborate across Global PepsiCo R&D teams on joint science & technology / development initiatives and ensure local application.

• In collaboration with Purchasing, Agro, R&D and Operations, build cost-advantaged raw material supply chains for relevant high cost raw materials.

• Comply with all regulatory & food safety requirements in product development & consumer testing.

• Build external interfaces with Open Innovation Intermediaries, Consultants, Co-manufacturers, Ingredient Suppliers, Seasoning Houses, Flavour Experts and Universities.

• Identify suitable ingredient vendors and establish collaborative working relationships, ensuring that PepsiCo IP is appropriately protected.

Qualifications

• First Degree or equivalent in a Food Science or Chemistry-related discipline.
• At least 5 years experience with ideally 3 years or more in the food industry.
• Self-starter with strong self-motivation to drive for results in an innovative, inquiring and scientifically robust manner.
• Excellent interpersonal skills with ability to communicate and negotiate effectively across all functions of the organisation.
• Proven analytical skills - ability to interpret complex data and distil into useful and actionable information.
• Strives for high standards, seeks innovative solutions, drives continuous improvement of products, processes or methods and demonstrates a high degree of intellectual curiosity.
• Broad project management skills in a research environment.
• A good understanding and appreciation of process and product development and its interactions, and have the ability to be able to combine the two based on material transformation requirements.
• Able to generate hypothesis led experimental plans and execute/organise complicated trial plans, without direct support, and then draw the relevant conclusions.
• Experiences of IP generation and documentation.
• Able to interact 3rd party and or ingredient vendors, and would they be capable of leading trials with either without much support.