Product Development Lead AMESA

Please Note: The deadline for applying is 23.59 the day before the job posting end date.

Job Title: Product Development Lead AMESA

Business Function: R&D

Location: Colworth Science Park

Work-Level: 2A/2B

JOB PURPOSE

Pepsi Lipton is a joint venture between Unilever and PepsiCo to capitalise on growth of the Ready-To-Drink Tea segment and operates globally with three well-established brands Lipton, Brisk and Pure Leaf. Our global business is worth ~3,0 billion USD, growing volume at the rate of 4-5% and with a double digit increase in net revenues. Our vision is to expand our global leadership and enter new benefit areas with current and additional brands.

A role in Pepsi Lipton is a unique experience in which to develop and add value to your career. Pepsi Lipton although a Joint Venture between Unilever and PepsiCo operates as a company and has its own Board of Directors. Whilst we have the full backing and support of our two parent companies, our entrepreneurial set up gives us real autonomy. Our roles are broad, our responsibilities big and our experiences even bigger. We have high visibility and great exposure - to senior leadership and to talented colleagues all over the world. It means we need to be impactful, smart influencers. And it means that we can get involved in the end-to-end business in a way that's just not possible at our parent companies.

We have an established global R&D function which includes the Colworth, UK `hub' from where the team focus on the European, AMESA and APAC businesses, whilst also supporting global programmes. Expertise in Colworth R&D covers product development and packaging working together to develop products across our core, functional and premium platforms that meet a wide range of consumer benefits and needs.

We have an exciting opportunity for a Product Design Lead AMESA to join our Product Development team in Colworth to provide sound technical leadership for AMESA (Africa, Middle East & South Asia) programmes in line with our strategic priorities. This role reports into the JV VP of R&D and business partners with the General Manager for Pepsi Lipton AMESA. Actively participates as a member of the JV R&D LT and is part of extended JV leadership team.

RESPONSIBILITIES

The Product Design Lead AMESA will assume leadership and drive of R&D AMESA multi-year strategy and innovation roadmap, and OTIF technical programme delivery through disruptive product design in line AOP Annual Operating Plan (AOP) for AMESA. Our PD team in Colworth is the driving force behind the creation and delivery of Better-for-You, innovative iced tea products across our world-renowned core, functional and premium platforms. The team embrace agile ways of working and innovation and are fully connected to regional cross-functional teams to land innovation and renovation projects in the markets.

In this role, you will partner with the AMESA GM to help shape the strategic agenda for the region, define and deliver the regional strategic R&D initiatives and program, identifying market trends and collaborating closely with cross-functional teams. Through deep understanding of emerging technologies, you will drive innovation and foster strong partnerships with the JV AMESA team and 3rd parties, ensuring the successful execution of the AMESA programmes. A talent catalyst, you will co-manage our agile Product Development in all R&D activities related to the delivery of the regional AOP, ensuring impactful team leadership, and progressive and empowered talent development.

The Product Design Lead AMESA will assume leadership and drive of R&D AMESA multi-year strategy and innovation roadmap, and OTIF technical programme delivery through disruptive product design in line AOP Annual Operating Plan (AOP) for AMESA. Our PD team in Colworth is the driving force behind the creation and delivery of Better-for-You, innovative iced tea products across our world-renowned core, functional and premium platforms. The team embrace agile ways of working and innovation and are fully connected to regional cross-functional teams to land innovation and renovation projects in the markets.

In this role, you will partner with the AMESA GM to help shape the strategic agenda for the region, define and deliver the regional strategic R&D initiatives and program, identifying market trends and collaborating closely with cross-functional teams. Through deep understanding of emerging technologies, you will drive innovation and foster strong partnerships with the JV AMESA team and 3rd parties, ensuring the successful execution of the AMESA programmes. A talent catalyst, you will co-manage our agile Product Development in all R&D activities related to the delivery of the regional AOP, ensuring impactful team leadership, and progressive and empowered talent development.

Main responsibilities:

Managing the active AMESA innovation roadmap to meet annual targets. Ensuring that all contributors are held accountable for on-time, in full delivery and where this is at risk, highlight issues and provide solutions at decision-making forums. Overseeing AMESA projects, supporting Product Developers and project teams, you will drive robust innovation and effective project management processes using stage gate techniques, deliver functional specifications and ensure speed and efficiency through engagement and utilisation of digital tools (e.g. SAP PLM, modelling etc).

Shaping and actively contributing to the regional multi-year innovation and market expansion strategies, ensuring continuous, sharp programme prioritisation. You will actively influence and define the strategy and innovation & renovation roadmap for AMESA iced tea portfolio. With passion for iced tea and urgency to meet consumer and customer needs, you will shape and deliver brilliant, better-for-you and sustainable product experiences. Within your portfolio, you will manage innovation, quality, and complexity reduction, in addition to waste and cost management. You will fully embrace relevant flavour, nutrition, sustainability, and market trends.

Through effective partnering with AMESA business partners, including senior leadership team, and collaborating with other internal functions and key external partners and suppliers (e.g. 3PM, Flavour and Ingredients suppliers), you will ensure OTIF delivery of all the projects in the AMESA AOP and Future of tea innovation roadmaps.

Drive agile ways of working across project teams and with business partners, and actively collaborate with EU R&D resource manager in managing PD resource allocation for AMESA Program.

You will ensure rigour through end-to-end functional excellence, risk assessment, HACCP studies and regulatory compliance, and compliance with all relevant Code of Business Principles, SHEQA policies, supporting development of compelling product claims and effective risk management.

Actively share best practice developments across the global JV PD network, to foster team learnings and enable further business growth and market penetration through innovation scale up.

R&D Business partner for the AMESA markets. In this high visibility role you will lead the product innovation and project delivery for AMESA region, collaborating closely with the regional JV and Parent Company teams, as well as 3rd parties to support the business on a wide range of topics requiring R&D technical expertise and support, scoping impact and responding to local legislation changes, answering authority challenges, providing technical expertise in incidents, building product love and expertise in the regional team through technical know-how, assessment of products against local competition, upskilling and guiding the stakeholders through the innovation & renovation process.

You will be the main point of contact for AMESA business partners & bottlers for product and ingredient related queries for formulations developed for the region. You will manage and lead cross-functional resources and open innovation partners to deliver projects, including full technical delivery, required CDA's and service agreements.

Technical Project Lead for AMESA. Technical delivery of R&D projects to deliver the growth, sustainability, productivity and quality agenda for all brands and countries through products ready for launch. Manage and lead all technical workstreams to deliver projects personally and indirectly through teams, including product development, CTI and Pilot Plant.

Responsible for a team of Product Developers and required to ensure their safety, wellbeing and continuous professional development. You will coach and mentor the team and assist them to plan and execute Pilot Plant trials, lab experiments and tasting sessions, to ensure that these activities are conducted safely and efficiently. As a member of the R&D Manager community contribute to the development and training of the product development team.

Actively support and drive cross-regional R&D team connectedness across our R&D sites - Colworth, Shanghai and Valhalla.

Direct Reports

• Product development technologists


Key Interfaces

• JV VP R&D (Line Manager)


• R&D AMEA Commercialise Senior Manager


• AMESA Regional Teams (Marketing, SC, Insights, Finance team)


• EU R&D Director/Managers


• APAC R&D Managers


• North America R&D Director/Managers


• R&D Product Development Team


• CTI


• Pilot Plant


• JV Global Functions


• Key bottler, 3rd party contacts and supplier partners


• Unilever and PepsiCo R&D and cross-functional community


ALL ABOUT YOU

Key Skills

• A deep knowledge of and passion for product design and creative product development with proven ability to translate consumer habits and needs into in-market product innovation.


• A collaborative end-to-end mindset and experience is essential.


• Excellent communication and project/risk/time management skills, and priority setting.


• Strong business acumen with knowledge of key drivers of margin and waste.


• Strong business partnering to drive portfolio simplification.


• High level of communication and influencing skills are required to manage multiple stakeholders.


• Building relationships with colleagues from different cultures.


Relevant Experience

• Relevant years of working experience in AMESA markets and/or serving consumers in Middle East and South Asia.


• Knowledge and understanding of regional consumer preferences and local taste preferences is critical.


• Degree (or equivalent) in Food Science, Chemical Science or Engineering with proven experience in FMCG in fields related to product or process development/ manufacturing in Foods or Beverages.


• Proven Technical Project Leadership capability.


• Experience of delivery and landing products in market ensuring full compliance with regulatory and legal requirements.


• PLM user experience


Leadership Behaviours

• Purpose & Service


• Personal Mastery


• Agility


• Business Acumen


• Talent Catalyst


• Consumer Love


• Passion for High Performance


NOTES

Please apply via this portal as e-mail applications may not be processed and include your Future Fit Plan if possible.

By applying for this vacancy, you are confirming that you have made your Line Manager aware of your application and that you are at a point in your career with Unilever where it is appropriate for you to be applying for other positions.

Should you require additional information or reasonable adjustments to allow you to present your best self during this process, please contact your Talent Partner Juli Molina on Juli.Molina@unilever.com

What we offer

Whilst the role is advertised on a full-time basis, we would be happy to discuss possible flexible working options and what this may look like for you. We strive to achieve a family-friendly and inclusive workplace and to, above all, create possibilities for all.

Diversity at Unilever is about inclusion, embracing differences, creating possibilities, and growing together for better business performance. We want to push boundaries, and have the flexibility needed to keep adapting in an ever-changing, more dynamic world. This means giving full and fair consideration to all applicants, regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, marriage and civil partnership, and pregnancy and maternity.

As part of your hiring journey, we are happy to support requests for reasonable adjustments, to improve your recruitment experience.

To find out more, including more information about our Employee Resource Groups, please click here.

Relocation to the UK

Please be aware if you are applying for this role from outside the UK, if successful, your application will be treated as a self-initiated Change Location Outside of Country (CLOC) transfer. This means any relocation costs must be self-funded with the potential to reclaim some specific pre-approved expenses up to £5,000. Please speak to your Talent Partner if you have any questions.


• A deep knowledge of and passion for product design and creative product development with proven ability to translate consumer habits and needs into in-market product innovation.


• A collaborative end-to-end mindset and experience is essential.


• Excellent communication and project/risk/time management skills, and priority setting.


• Strong business acumen with knowledge of key drivers of margin and waste.


• Strong business partnering to drive portfolio simplification.


• High level of communication and influencing skills are required to manage multiple stakeholders.


• Building relationships with colleagues from different cultures.


Relevant Experience

• Relevant years of working experience in AMESA markets and/or serving consumers in Middle East and South Asia.


• Knowledge and understanding of regional consumer preferences and local taste preferences is critical.


• Degree (or equivalent) in Food Science, Chemical Science or Engineering with proven experience in FMCG in fields related to product or process development/ manufacturing in Foods or Beverages.


• Proven Technical Project Leadership capability.


• Experience of delivery and landing products in market ensuring full compliance with regulatory and legal requirements.


• PLM user experience


Leadership Behaviours

• Purpose & Service


• Personal Mastery


• Agility


• Business Acumen


• Talent Catalyst


• Consumer Love


• Passion for High Performance
  
  Pepsi Lipton is a joint venture between Unilever and PepsiCo to capitalise on growth of the Ready-To-Drink Tea segment and operates globally with three well-established brands Lipton, Brisk and Pure Leaf. Our global business is worth ~3,0 billion USD, growing volume at the rate of 4-5% and with a double digit increase in net revenues. Our vision is to expand our global leadership and enter new benefit areas with current and additional brands.


A role in Pepsi Lipton is a unique experience in which to develop and add value to your career. Pepsi Lipton although a Joint Venture between Unilever and PepsiCo operates as a company and has its own Board of Directors. Whilst we have the full backing and support of our two parent companies, our entrepreneurial set up gives us real autonomy. Our roles are broad, our responsibilities big and our experiences even bigger. We have high visibility and great exposure - to senior leadership and to talented colleagues all over the world. It means we need to be impactful, smart influencers. And it means that we can get involved in the end-to-end business in a way that's just not possible at our parent companies.

We have an established global R&D function which includes the Colworth, UK `hub' from where the team focus on the European, AMESA and APAC businesses, whilst also supporting global programmes. Expertise in Colworth R&D covers product development and packaging working together to develop products across our core, functional and premium platforms that meet a wide range of consumer benefits and needs.

We have an exciting opportunity for a Product Design Lead AMESA to join our Product Development team in Colworth to provide sound technical leadership for AMESA (Africa, Middle East & South Asia) programmes in line with our strategic priorities. This role reports into the JV VP of R&D and business partners with the General Manager for Pepsi Lipton AMESA. Actively participates as a member of the JV R&D LT and is part of extended JV leadership team.