R&D Product Development Assistant Scientist

PepsiCo is looking for R&D Product Development Assistant Scientist (Europe Foods) to join in Leicester.

The R&D Assistant Scientist supports the effective delivery of projects within the Europe Foods R&D Team in support of the EMEA AOP, including prototyping, leading factory trials and providing support to cross functional partners (e.g Specifications, ZBR's, resolving Quality issues etc) related to the portfolio.

• Reporting to the R&D Manager, support the execution of multiple Product Development projects for Europe Foods including renovation and innovation workstreams to enable the Europe Foods AOP delivery and innovation pipeline building.
• Lead aspects of product development independently escalating issues as required.
• Lead benchtop recipe development and prototyping against marketing led concepts, and provide R&D input to concept development.
• Contribute to workstreams to improve ways of working across the team e.g. improvement of business processes to drive greater efficiencies, sharing of knowledge to create better team cohesion & developing others through embedding best practise.
• Work effectively in collaboration with cross-functional and R&D discipline partners.
• Leverage a combination of functional and business expertise to shape and develop the technical elements of winning consumer propositions that drive sustainable business growth.
• Execute complex technical projects utilising solid technical project management tools and skills to ensure objectives are accomplished on time, to the agreed standards and within budget.
• Demonstrated application of consumer product testing, sensory, analytical data to ensure excellent product launches through creation of accurate technical product specifications.
• Apply Technical & Business Governance processes effectively from feasibility stage right through to scale-up & post launch support.

• Graduate in Food, Science or Engineering discipline or equivalent or equivalent experience.
• At least 2-3 years experience in FMCG R&D product or technology development roles, managing NPD projects from concept to launch, ideally in the snack food product categories.
• Demonstrated understanding & application of consumer product testing, sensory & analytical methods.
• Co-ordination of 3rd party manufacturers &/or suppliers to meet business goals.
• Experience of working across different product areas.
• In-depth analytical skills to interpret complex data and distil into meaningful information e.g. interpreting process data, experimental design and statistical inference.
• Good understanding/appreciation of the broader business environment and application of technical and commercial knowledge during project execution.
• Good interpersonal skills with ability to influence with integrity through persuasive communication to win support at more senior levels within R&D and Supply Chain and to build effective relationships with a wide range of stakeholders from different levels, backgrounds and cultures.