Variety Advancement & Development Lead - NA - Plano, Texas

PepsiCo is a major food enterprise sourcing a variety of plant raw materials, including potato, small grains, corn, and various fruit and vegetable crops.  An experienced variety and agronomic assessment scientist is required to lead and develop PepsiCo’s variety development efforts in potato, including recommendations for best agronomic and agritech packages high performing and quality potatoes for supply chain continuity.  Through internal research projects and external partnerships, this person will deliver knowledge and insights on target best varieties to support PepsiCo’s sustainable agriculture goals and address business challenges in productivity, raw material quality, food safety, and supply chain resilience. They will work in a multi-disciplinary team complementing PepsiCo’s genetics, breeding, systems biology, agronomy, and sustainability activities. 

This position sits in the Ag Science Division of the Research and Development.  

You will lead a team responsible for the yield/phenotyping organization for the North America R&D Ag Science Variety Trialing organization.  The Commercial Testing Manager will lead commercial variety advancement and development as it aligns with the business trait and germplasm priorities. Collaborate closely with potato Breeders to develop and select varieties. You will support development and implementation of performance and quality testing programs to capture environmental data, phenotype data and define experimental designs that support robust decisions, strengthen go to market message and inform breeding models. Collaborate across senior business leaders in commercial, supply chain, procurement, processing, and consumer insights to understand needs, develop strategies and work with breeding and crop technology teams to ensure a pipeline of business relevant solutions.

As the North American Variety Advancement and Development Trialing Lead, you deliver smiles with every bite by ………

• Leading the North American R&D testing team to develop and select varieties. Creating a phenotyping and yield trial program that supports commercial decisions, delivers data to the global breeder center, and facilitates go to market value propositions, delivering on sustainability and consumer targets.
• Developing collaborative relationships with internal partners including the breeding team, trait discovery team, and variety specific agronomy crop technology team. Supporting the development of product profiles with input from the processing, quality, sensory, business, supply chain, and procurement teams.
• Collaborate with R&D sector leads, business unit General Managers, supply chain VPs/directors, and R&D research teams to understand regions specific needs/opportunities both short- and long-term. Develop strategic plans to fill short-term variety pipeline gaps/needs and provide variety profile needs to breeding and crop technology teams forecasting future needs/solutions.
• Engaging staff in their personal  development and fulfillment/goals, ensuring each has the skills needed for success in their roles and continued growth, while continuously evaluating their fit in their position, their desire and training to accomplish tasks safely, and the resources required to help them achieve beyond their goals.
• Leading process improvements, that work to achieve more with less, or more expeditiously and generating optimum processes that enable team/business needs. Developing a culture of safe practices and full implementation of safety guidelines/training.
• Align and track resources, people, and work objectives, that stretch goals to always achieve more, while creating value and future growth of team members.

Compensation and Benefits

• The expected compensation range for this position is between $114,700 - $192,100 based on a full-time schedule.
• Location, confirmed job-related skills and experience will be considered in setting actual starting salary.
• Bonus based on performance and eligibility; target payout is 15% of annual salary paid out annually.
• Paid time off subject to eligibility, including paid parental leave, vacation, sick, and bereavement.
• In addition to salary, PepsiCo offers a comprehensive benefits package to support our employees and their families, subject to elections and eligibility: Medical, Dental, Vision, Disability, Health and Dependent Care Reimbursement Accounts, Employee Assistance Program (EAP), Insurance (Accident, Group Legal, Life), Defined Contribution Retirement Plan.

• Have a PhD (with >5 years experience in an Ag Seed and Chemical Company) with plot trial experience, crop trait valuation, strategic needs assessment, triat/variety portfolio management, commercial agronomy and/or technology development of new variety solutions
• Previous experience leading a team of scientists executing/managing trials working to support development and implementation of performance and quality testing programs to capture environmental data, phenotype data and define experimental designs that support robust decisions, strengthen go to market message and inform breeding models. 
• Possess relevant experience in crop yield trialing, high throughput phenotyping, crop modelling, crop management and experimental designs
• Strategy develop of regions specific product needs for new variety and agronomic solutions to deliver product specifications
• Have knowledge in leadership and understanding of brand management, sales and market analysis.
• Ability to productively interact with people at all levels worldwide.
• Ability to day travel ~20% of the time domestically

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

If you'd like more information about your EEO rights as an applicant under the law, please download the available EEO is the Law & EEO is the Law Supplement documents. View PepsiCo EEO Policy.

Please view our Pay Transparency Statement