R&D Innovation Assoc Manager - AZCAPOTZALCO, Mexico

We Are PepsiCo  

Join PepsiCo and Dare for Better! We are the perfect place for curious people, thinkers and change agents. From leadership to front lines, we're excited about the future and working together to make the world a better place.  

Being part of PepsiCo means being part of one of the largest food and beverage companies in the world, with our iconic brands consumed more than a billion times a day in more than 200 countries.   

Our product portfolio, which includes 22 of the world's most iconic brands, such as Sabritas, Gamesa, Quaker, Pepsi, Gatorade and Sonrics, has been a part of Mexican homes for more than 116 years.  

A career at PepsiCo means working in a culture where all people are welcome. Here, you can dare to be you. No matter who you are, where you're from, or who you love, you can always influence the people around you and make a positive impact in the world.  

Know more: PepsiCoJobs 

Join PepsiCo, dare for better. 

The Opportunity 

Your Impact  

As R&D Innovation Assoc Manager your scope would consist of:

• Innovation agenda in AOP: Participate in the execution of the BU’s Innovation agenda in AOP across PMF and CARICAM. Main accountabilities lead product development and start up, provide information, assess risks, contribute with product proposals. Impacted groups: Marketing, Sales, Finances
• Product Transformation: Implement product transformation for Flat Potato Chip Category to comply with PepsiCo Global guidelines. Main accountabilities are lead, make decisions, provide information, assess risks, execute actions. Impacted groups: Manufacturing, Operations, Marketing, Sales, Finances, Procurement
• Productivity: Increase product manufacturing efficiency through validation and execution of product, ingredients and process productivity. Main accountabilities are lead, provide information, assess risks, execute actions. Impacted groups: Manufacturing, Operations, Marketing, Sales, Finances, Procurement
• Guarantee flawless and consistent execution of the activities related to brand stewardship of Flat Potato Chip portfolio transformation projects.
• Lead the Flat Potato Chip category, understanding the technologies and capabilities to design and produce and formulate new products, product updates focusing on PMF and CAR consumers, delivering innovation, brand stewardship and productivity projects according to business plan.
• Connect and participate with global Potato Chip team to troubleshoot projects as well as develop Lift and Adapt regional projects taking into consideration local legislations and requirements.
• Deep understanding of business objectives and needs to be able to propose new products and solutions to deliver short and medium-term projects.
• Oversee Flat potato chip product developer’s performance, provide guidance, support, identify development needs.
• Leverage cross-functional networks within R&D Technical Teams (Plant Executives, Operational Excellence, Seasonings, Regulatory, Sensory, Analytical, Food Safety, QD, Nutrition Science, Packaging), the overall Business Teams (Excite, Marketing, Finance, Commercialization, Procurement) as well as the Operations Teams (Plant Management, Plant Operations, Planning, Engineering) to build and execute product strategies with successful results in market.
• Identify and gather consumer insights future trends, being able to translate them into a product design in collaboration with extended R&D team.
• Lead prototypes and formulas development, supporting operational excellence team, sharing required information on raw materials, semi-finished and finished product specifications, job aids to ensure the operations team has all required information to comply with the developed design.
• Lead and executes zero mass balances to deliver raw materials usage factors and costs developing cost effective solutions for the business.
• Lead and coordinate scale up and start up for all new products/innovation for Flat Potato Chip platform, ensuring compliance with deadlines, quality and product design.
• Leads and defines analytical, microbiological, consumer tests, shelf life, studies to gather and generate the required data and information that helps to determine product insights to develop innovation, productivity, and brand stewardship projects in collaboration with R&D SCPI and Analytical teams.
• Understands PepsiCo´s and Local legislation Product, Regulatory and Nutrition guidelines applying them as well as ensuring project feasibility according to each region.
• Provides analysis and information support Regulatory team with Nutritional Facts elaboration and Nutrition Table elaboration.
• Lead the R&D processes delivering projects and technical documentation (TSG, PQP, SAP) by leading the cross functional R&D teams through Stage Gate process from Initial Feasibility to Launch and Learn Gates.
• Perform end-to-end risk analysis for all projects, setting and communicating clear mitigation plans during the project development phases.
• Provide technical coaching as well as leadership to less experienced product developers.

¿Who Are We Looking For?  

Education:

• Bachelor’s Degree in food engineering, Food Chemistry, Food Technology, Process Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Food Science, or related discipline.

Experience:

• A minimum of 3-5 years’ experience in product development or project management experience is desired.
• Excellent time management and prioritization skills.
• Basic knowledge on raw materials functionality
• Ability to manage a multi-disciplinary team in a hybrid virtual and on site and matrixed organization.
• Manufacturing processes knowledge
• Language: Spanish, and Fluent English.
• Results driven
• Communication
• Negotiation 

Competencies required:

• Fast learner with previous experience in Research and Development or innovation processes.
• Strong interpersonal skills with ability to communicate and negotiate effectively across all levels and functions.
• Creative and Strategic Thinking with a good understanding of the business, technical and commercial knowledge with a high degree of ownership.
• Focused, proactive, result oriented and able to lead, balance and prioritize projects without losing focus or momentum during project executions.
• Honest, reliable, trustworthy self-starter, self-driven, accountable resilient person who can manage stressful projects in a constant volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous environment.

If this is an opportunity that interests you, we encourage you to apply even if you do not meet 100% of the requirements. 

What can you expect from us: 

• Opportunities to learn and develop every day through a wide range of programs.  
• Internal digital platforms that promote self-learning.  
• Development programs according to Leadership skills.  
• Specialized training according to the role.  
• Learning experiences with internal and external providers.  
• We love to celebrate success, which is why we have recognition programs for seniority, behavior, leadership, moments of life, among others.  
• Financial wellness programs that will help you reach your goals in all stages of life.  
• A flexibility program that will allow you to balance your personal and work life, adapting your working day to your lifestyle. 
• And because your family is also important to us, they can also enjoy benefits such as our Wellness Line, thousands of Agreements and Discounts, Scholarship programs for your children, Aid Plans for different moments of life, among others.  

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate based on race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. We respect and value diversity as a work force and innovation for the organization.