R&D Manager

Job Overview

The Product Development team’s purpose is to lead the innovation and productivity agendas to grow KDP brands, transform beyond its core, and improve the profitability of our products. At KDP, our inspiration is to bring meaningful impact and that starts with our company vision -- Drink Well, Do Good!

This Technical Leadership role within Research and Development will lead the Owned & Licensed Brand product Development agenda to create consumer-centric beverages across existing and new platforms, and categories within the Coffee Business Unit. The incumbent will be a strategic thinker, natural collaborator, and lead the development and commercialization of new concepts and prototypes.

Position Responsibilities

The R&D Manager, Product Development will work in a dynamic, fast paced, and highly collaborative environment where strategic thinking, creativity, leadership, and a self-motivated drive for excellence & results is critical. The ideal candidate will develop & implement holistic product solutions that contribute to the overall Innovation agenda of KDP. There will be a high degree of interaction and collaboration with R&D, Marketing, Supply Chain, Procurement, Sales, and External Suppliers.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Manages team of Scientists, where role is empowered to make product decisions & recommendations while influencing key stakeholders and Brand owners on the purpose, functionality & role of the product
• Co-creates the Product Innovation strategy across brands influencing stakeholders, peers, and team to sell and execute the strategic vision and road map
• Provides technical leadership to develop new products & product categories from bench to pilot scale up, and through full commercialization for the US market across brands such as The Original Donut Shop, Green Mountain Coffee Roaster, McCafe, and many more.
• Manages technical feasibility assessments and studies on new products platforms with cross-functional R&D partners
• Actively influences and participates in Marketing and Consumer Research programs to gain consumer insights, and translate into key product concepts
• Develop and communicate business updates on initiatives to stakeholders
• Manage and optimize the product development process
• Develop robust Performance and Development plans for each direct report to ensure talent development is key priority within High Performance Team culture
• Build strong relationships with internal and external partners
• Positively influence and engage in a creative, performance driven culture
  
  
  

Requirements

• BS in Food Science, Biology, Chemical Engineering. MS/MBA is a plus.
• 8+ years of experience in Product Development, Food Manufacturing, R&D, or related function (Food and Beverage experience required)
• Minimum of 2 years’ experience managing, leading, and developing direct reports
• Additional experience with powders, coffee, granulation processes is a plus.
• Extremely strong skills in business acumen, influencing, leading cross-functional teams
• Proficient concept generation, consumer research, problem solving, and collaboration skills
• Demonstrated consumer empathy for developing consumer centric propositions
• Ability to travel is required
  
  
  

CAPABILITIES:

• Ability to manage ambiguity and complex problems. Create solution paths reflecting a range of sustainable, functional, and technically feasible options.
• Must have Excellent presentation and communication skills
• Understanding of and experience in managing the inter-dependences and relationships between all aspects of R&D, Marketing, Finance, Commercial, and Supply
• Self-motivated, takes initiative, highly collaborative with strong problem-solving skills
• Positively influence peers and stakeholders
• Change readiness, resiliency and flexibility to thrive in fast moving organization
  
  
  

Company Overview

Keurig Dr Pepper (NASDAQ: KDP) is a modern beverage company with a bold vision built to deliver growth and opportunity. We operate with a differentiated business model and world-class brand portfolio, powered by a talented and engaged team that is anchored in our values. We work with big, exciting beverage brands and the #1 single-serve coffee brewing system in North America at KDP, and we have fun doing it!

Together, we have built a leading beverage company in North America offering hot and cold beverages together at scale. Whatever your area of expertise, at KDP you can be a part of a team that’s proud of its brands, partnerships, innovation, and growth. Will you join us?

We strive to be an employer of choice, providing a culture and opportunities that empower our team of ~28,000 employees to grow and develop. We offer robust benefits to support your health and wellness as well as your personal and financial well-being. We also provide employee programs designed to enhance your professional growth and development, while ensuring you feel valued, inspired and appreciated at work.

Keurig Dr Pepper is an equal opportunity employer and affirmatively seeks diversity in its workforce. Keurig Dr Pepper recruits qualified applicants and advances in employment its employees without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, disability or association with a person with a disability, medical condition, genetic information, ethnic or national origin, marital status, veteran status, or any other status protected by law.