Emerging Innovation Manager

Overview

About PepsiCo PepsiCo products are enjoyed by consumers more than one billion times a day in more than 200 countries and territories around the world. PepsiCo generated more than $79 billion in net revenue in 2021, driven by a complementary beverage and convenient foods portfolio that includes Lay’s, Doritos, Cheetos, Gatorade, Pepsi-Cola, Mountain Dew, Quaker, and SodaStream. PepsiCo's product portfolio includes a wide range of enjoyable foods and beverages, including many iconic brands that generate more than $1 billion each in estimated.

Guiding PepsiCo is our vision to Be the Global Leader in Beverages and Convenient Foods by Winning with PepsiCo Positive (pep+). pep+ is our strategic end-to-end transformation that puts sustainability and human capital at the centre of how we will create value and growth by operating within planetary boundaries and inspiring positive change for planet and people. For more information, visit www.pepsico.com.

Responsibilities

What we’re looking for:

This role will provide leadership in complex and matrixed teams in Global, Sector and BU by leading the execution of strategic workstreams end-to-end in close collaboration with internal and external cross-functional partners. Internal customers (Sectors), Consumer Needs (customers, Marketing, Customer insights), and Internal Experts (TDC, Marketing, Sustainability, GP)

Building team capability in Innovation in R&D SSA (Foods):

• G0-G1:  Build capability and apply best practices in Prototyping and Ideation
• G1-G2:  Build capability in Design Thinking to apply in refinement of validated, winning Concepts
• Influence others to adopt new ways of working by defining, developing, and coaching Lean Innovation

Design and Lead Long Term Innovation Building in R&D SSA (Foods) to explore and build Innovation Platforms for Categories

• Lead/collaborate and co-ordinate local Hopper program annually to ensure strong pipelines for all categories
• Collaborate on Explore minimum 2 priorities per annum and develop from G0 to G2
• Facilitate and coach teams for ~2 Build priorities per annum for PSP

Translate Science ‘Push’ into actionable prototypes and ideas to identify consumer value and commercial potential.

To develop sustainable Foresight practice in Sector and integrate into Sector business cycle (PSP/IBP) by generating the relevant set of Foresight Scenarios in line with ‘Where do we play’ priorities from PSP and leading/facilitating discussion with Sector LT and Global teams

Qualifications

What will qualify you for the role:

• 5-8 years customer experience in R&D Product Development
• Completed BSc degree in Food Science, Biotechnology or Chemical Engineering or relevant field
• Strong analytical skills – the ability to interpret complex data and distill into useful and actionable information
• Technical and scientific reporting
• The ability to work alongside cross-functional peers, across levels and occasionally global colleagues
• Budget Spend management relating to pilot plant expenses
• Communication skills and stakeholder updates to R&D Manager and Directors, with manager support
• Cross functional interface is primarily with Supply Chain, Marketing, Insights, Commercialization, and all R&D functions
• Good computer skills and the ability to adapt to new technical platforms
• Strong analytical skills – the ability to interpret complex data and distill into useful and actionable information
• Communication skills, reporting and presenting stills and stakeholder updates to R&D Manager and Directors, with manager support
• Global networking skills
• SAP knowledge and skills an advantage

“PepsiCo is an Equal Opportunity Employer in line with the Employment Equity Act"