R&D Sr. Manager

The PepsiCo Foods R&D Process Function delivers process & equipment solutions to enable our global growth platforms through consumer-centric innovations, technology solutions to enable cost savings, & industry leading capabilities in both pilot plants and digital development tools. This role has leadership responsibility for a group of engineers & scientists across multiple locations to deliver a technical agenda on our baking platforms behind brands such as Oven Baked Lay’s/Ruffles and Quaker Bars. This role will manage a diverse set of programs that encompass scale from bench to pilot plant to commercial enablement in manufacturing, working cross functionally to ensure success. 

Key Responsibilities:

• Leadership of Science & Technology programs delivering process equipment technology unlocks that enable global R&D’s strategic priorities behind cost reduction, sustainability, & permissible innovation.

• Guide teams on using sound project research principles to ensure robust planning, design, execution and reporting of research plans that demonstrate technical excellence

• Demonstrate excellent partnership both internally with product, ingredient, & packaging experts for integrated solution development, and with external partners to leverage open innovation models to create industry leading solutions.

• Lead and demonstrate application of rigorous process scale-up methodologies collaborating with R&D subject matter experts to deliver superior process specifications in line with optimum product design.

• Seek out and identify critical process-related unknowns, risks and technical obstacles, building effective strategies and workstreams, incorporating input from wider programme team, that address all critical challenges within business constraints of time and resource.

• Lead the creation of advantaged and IP-protectable process designs & applications capable of providing a competitive advantage to PepsiCo.

• Manage & coach talent to grow R&D’s bench strength and leverages PepsiCo performance management tools with excellence

• Ensure Regulatory and Process Safety compliance for all process development.

• COVID-19 vaccination is a condition of employment for this role. Please note that all such company vaccine requirements provide the opportunity to request an approved accommodation or exemption under applicable law

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Qualifications/Requirements

Minimum Requirements: 

• BS or higher degree in Chemical Engineering or Mechanical Engineering
• Minimum of 7-10 years’ previous experience in FMCG R&D, process or technology development roles.

• Understanding of Food Science, Food Engineering and Manufacturing an advantage but not essential if experience is from industry sectors with similar R&D complexity

• Established competence of leading process development and a complex overall program/ risk management strategy.

• Exemplary interpersonal skills with ability to influence with integrity through persuasive communication to win support at senior levels within the organization

• Deep understanding and mastery of scale-up science, both theoretical and practical, and related hypothesis testing and experimental design, to drive sound programs and plans that manage risk and maximize chance of success

• First class presentation skills (written & verbal)

• Proven ability to deconstruct development challenges and issues into fundamental problems and design technically sound approaches for determining process solutions.

• Proven ability to leverage open innovation and other external resources to deliver breakthrough results in an externally-leveraged organizational model

• Retains a connection with academic leaders/institutions and ability to leverage network for solutions and results. Possess a formal and informal network with professional and research organizations and universities.

• The ability and interest to work in laboratory, pilot plant, and manufacturing scale environments.

• Proven ability to manage multiple assignments/ tasks

• Location of the role may be based in Plano, TX or Monterrey, Mexico 

• Willingness to travel 25-50%

Relocation Eligible: Eligible for Standard Relocation
Job Type: Regular


All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, or disability status.

PepsiCo is an Equal Opportunity Employer: Female / Minority / Disability / Protected Veteran / Sexual Orientation / Gender Identity

Our Company will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of the Fair Credit Reporting Act, and all other applicable laws, including but not limited to, San Francisco Police Code Sections 4901 - 4919, commonly referred to as the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance; and Chapter XVII, Article 9 of the Los Angeles Municipal Code, commonly referred to as the Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance.