R&D Senior Principal Scientist - Portfolio of the Future

Overview
The PepsiCo Foods North America (PFNA) R&D organization is a fast-paced and multi-faceted organization delivering innovation, productivity, technical brand stewardship and technical capabilities to enable future growth opportunities. In order to sustain aggressive growth targets over the long-term, the PFNA business is committed to transforming into a Portfolio of the Future, underpinned by technologies that are better for people and better for the planet through the PepsiCo Positive (pep+) program.
R&D Senior Principal Scientist, reporting to the PFNA R&D Senior Director of Portfolio of the Future, and will be responsible for strategic planning to transform the portfolio, with a focus on Portfolio Innovation across the 3-7 year time horizon.
Responsibilities

• Serve as R&D Lead for innovation planning projects, using sound front-end innovation and design thinking techniques to understand unmet consumer needs, identify solutions and evaluate opportunities using a 3 lens approach across desirability, feasibility and viability; innovation scope is inclusive of whitespace, product, packaging and science & technology enabled claims/benefits
• Accountable for program management for multifaceted / multiyear initiatives
• Partner across Global R&D and leverage internal / external experts to bring forward ideas and science & technology solutions that drive advantage and insulation for the innovation strategy
• Build strong cross-functional relationships and credibility as the R&D thought leader and liaison to the business for strategic innovation planning initiatives
• Identify and translate consumer insights, foresights and market trends into strategic new product, package, science & technology or business opportunities
• Perform consumer research to develop knowledge that drives advantage and identifies business opportunities
• Establish deep and broad knowledge of PFNA business, competition, technology levers and consumer needs
• Support PFNA R&D Leadership in cross functional alignment; including presentations, communications and reporting for strategic initiatives
• Demonstrate strong project management skills to effectively drive a complex project portfolio working across Global R&D and other PFNA cross-functions.
• Understand and advocate for pep+ agenda as a driver of growth for the Portfolio of the Future

Qualifications

• Education/Certifications: BS, MS or PhD. Degree in Food Science or Engineering
• Work Experience: 10 years with BS, 7 years with MS or 5 years with PhD in CPG industry
• Strong product development skills with knowledge of Food or Beverage industry, ingredient/product functionality and processing technologies
• Experience in product development life cycles that include new idea generation, prototype development, product optimization, production start-up for test market and national launching of new products
• Strategic innovative/creative mindset with a positive and results-driven, "can-do" attitude
• Intellectual Curiosity to engage in continual learning and connecting new insights to business opportunities, ask questions to understand history and shape future
• Collaborative team player with strong interpersonal skills and proven ability to work across functions, motivate/inspire team members and influence both above and below level
• Ability to prioritize and manage complex projects end-to-end or multiple projects with flexibility/adaptability
• Strong communication skills (oral and written) needed to provide project updates both within the technical community and with our business partners
• The ability and interest to work in the laboratory, pilot plant and manufacturing scale environments
• Willingness to travel
• This position is limited to persons with indefinite right to work in the United States

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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.
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