Job Description

Overview:
PepsiCo Canada is a growth engine for the CPG industry in Canada and has been recognized as one of Canada's Top 100 employers for 7 consecutive years and a top employer for young people. PepsiCo Canada is home to over 60 of Canada's favourite brands - from the well-loved Lay's, Doritos, Cheetos and Gatorade to budding disrupters such as bubly, PopCorners and Bare Snacks- there is so much opportunity to make a difference in the Canadian marketplace. We are consumer obsessed and focused on outpacing our competition by being centered on the consumer, developing exciting local brand campaigns and product innovations you'd be proud to share with friends. And our people are our greatest asset.
We are looking for an R&D Manager to lead a team of R&D Scientists to drive cross-functional, multi-year execution of scaled innovation programs for the Frito Lay categories. The R&D Manager will partner with R&D leaders and represent the R&D function to business teams to drive the technical strategy and design compelling innovation.
What you can expect from us:

• Competitive compensation and comprehensive benefits designed to fit your unique needs
• A dynamic and inclusive culture that promotes you to bring your whole-self to work
• Inspiring positive change for people and the planet with sustainability goals
• A supportive team that will encourage your professional growth and development

Responsibilities:

• Lead a high performing team with focus on developing/ mentoring team members and building strong inclusive team culture.
• Establish deep and broad knowledge of Frito Lay category platforms, technology levers and cohort needs; design and execute experiments with sound scientific methods to gain technical/ consumer insights needed to drive business value.
• Partner with other R&D and cross functional business leaders to develop & maintain a robust multi-year Innovation pipeline, prioritize project activity and oversee project execution.
• Demonstrate strategic thinking to build sound technical recommendations by taking multiple views / datapoints into consideration while assessing opportunities against technical and business risk perspectives; gain team buy-in and drive decisions through business-facing representation to leadership teams.
• Influence the agenda through thought leadership, building strong relationships with cross functional partners, demonstrating org savvy and understanding the big picture / interdependencies within the business.
• Know in detail and follow the innovation process. Ensure team develops product formulations that leverage expertise in food chemistry / ingredient functionality and partner with other R&D disciplines, such as Quality Assurance, Food Safety, Life Sciences, Regulatory, and Sensory & Consumer Product Insights to ensure robust consumer centric, scalable, safe and legal product designs. Perform basic economic evaluations on ingredients, ingredient suppliers, and product formulations. Provide technical and business risk assessments, put in place appropriate risk mitigation actions and assess/recommend trade-offs to best meet the business needs.
• Work together with the Science & Technology, Platform and Early Stage Innovation teams to develop strategic and competitive solutions for the platform.

Qualifications:

• Education/Certifications: B.Sc., M.Sc. or Ph.D. Degree in Food Science or Engineering.
• Work Experience: 10 years with B.Sc., 7 years with M.Sc. or 5 years with Ph.D. in CPG industry.
• Experience in product or process commercialization/optimization and/or productivity.
• Experience in leading teams and developing people.
• Collaborative team player with strong interpersonal skills and proven ability to work with cross-functional teams and influence both above and below level.
• Strong organizational/prioritization skills with ability to manage complex projects or multiple projects with demonstrated flexibility/adaptability.
• Demonstrated understanding of how to incorporate business needs into technical decisions.

Why work at PepsiCo
At PepsiCo, you're invited to be a part of a global team of innovators who make, move, and sell these products--which are enjoyed by more than 1 billion people a day. A career at PepsiCo means working in a culture where everyone's welcome. Here, you can dare to be yourself. No matter who you are or where you're from, you can influence the people around you and the world at large. By showing up, you'll have the opportunity to learn, develop and grow your skills for the future. Our supportive teams can fuel your professional goals to make a global impact on people and the planet. Join us. Dare for Better.
PepsiCo may use Artificial Intelligence as part of its hiring process. Specifically, we may use AI-based tools to screen, assess, or select applicants.
This posting is for an existing vacancy.

Skills Required