PepsiCo

R&D Director

PepsiCo • $132K — $262K *
Plano, TX 75025In-Person
Food & Beverages
8 - 10 years of experience
Today
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Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Advanced degree (MS or Ph.D.) in Food Science or related field with strong biological and chemical focus.
  • 10+ years of experience in ingredient applications or food science with a record of innovation.
  • Proven entrepreneurial mindset to operate swiftly in a corporate environment.
  • Deep understanding of food chemistry and managing clinical studies.
  • Experience in mentoring and leading junior team members and fostering career development.
  • Successful in building and executing innovation strategies aligned with business objectives.
  • Strong collaborative and inclusive leadership skills, especially with dispersed teams.

Responsibilities

  • Own and govern the budget for the scientific-led functional platform with significant annual spending.
  • Lead the planning and execution for technology platforms to verify physiological benefits.
  • Develop clean label technologies meeting global compliance and superior product specifications.
  • Collaborate extensively with internal and external teams for technical solutions.
  • Generate scientific evidence and validate health benefit claims for products.
  • Establish cross-functional initiatives to translate scientific advancements into market-ready ingredients.

Benefits

  • Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision benefits.
  • Paid time off, including parental leave, vacation, and sick days.
  • Employee Assistance Programs and various insurance options.
  • Defined Contribution Retirement Plan with potential long-term incentives.
  • Performance-based bonuses and potential equity awards.
Full Job Description
Overview

This role is accountable for defining and delivering the global ingredient technology strategy that underpins PepsiCo's multi-billion-dollar functional growth agenda in science platforms. As an enterprise leader, the role owns end-to-end value creation from scientific discovery through to scaled commercial application, including investment phasing, multi-generational solution trade-offs, and external ecosystem partnerships, including strategic joint development relationships. Operating as a critical node within the Science Platforms leadership team, this role is accountable for integrating Life Sciences, Ingredient Sciences, and regulatory science with Commercial strategy to translate emerging science into defensible, scalable platforms that drive enterprise growth, competitive advantage, and long-term capability build for consumer functional needs.

Responsibilities

  • Owns budget for science led functional platform and governs 1-3MM of platform spend annually. Defines CAPEX and OPEX needs for Functional programs to enable success.
  • Lead the strategic planning and execution of technology platforms to deliver verified physiological benefits, ensuring intellectual property protection and multiple layers of competitive advantage.
  • Develop clean label technology by using natural ingredients with ability for global compliance across food and beverage, meeting all chemical and physical specifications to ensure product stability, scalability, and superior taste.
  • Extensive internal and external collaboration to generate robust technical solutions.
  • Generate robust scientific evidence and conduct comprehensive product validation to substantiate specific health benefit claims.
  • Establish and lead cross-functional initiatives to translate scientific advancements into commercially viable and consumer-relevant ingredient solutions.

Compensation and Benefits:
  • The expected compensation range for this position is between $132,200 - $262,400.
  • Location, confirmed job-related skills, experience, and education will be considered in setting actual starting salary. Your recruiter can share more about the specific salary range during the hiring process.
  • Bonus based on performance and eligibility target payout is 25% of annual salary paid out annually and an additional target payout of 10% of annual salary is paid out over 3 years following the end of the performance period.
  • Long term incentive equity may be awarded based on eligibility and performance.
  • Paid time off subject to eligibility, including paid parental leave, vacation, sick, and bereavement.
  • In addition to salary, PepsiCo offers a comprehensive benefits package to support our employees and their families, subject to elections and eligibility: Medical, Dental, Vision, Disability, Health, and Dependent Care Reimbursement Accounts, Employee Assistance Program (EAP), Insurance (Accident, Group Legal, Life), Defined Contribution Retirement Plan.


Qualifications

  • Educational Background: Advanced degree (MS or Ph.D.) in Food Science, Analytical, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, or a related discipline. A strong foundation in biological and chemical systems is essential.
  • Innovation & Technical Experience: Minimum of 10 years of experience in ingredient applications, food science, or related fields, with a demonstrated track record of driving innovation, from early-stage discovery through to commercialization, operating at the enterprise level, influencing senior executive decision-making.
  • Entrepreneurial Mindset: Proven ability to operate with entrepreneurial agility within a corporate setting-rapid prototyping, iterative development, and fast learning cycles. Comfortable evaluating and integrating external technologies to accelerate development.
  • Scientific and Clinical Rigor: Deep understanding of food chemistry, ingredient functionality, and scientific substantiation. Experience designing or managing clinical studies and interpreting scientific validation data is highly desirable.
  • People Leadership: Demonstrates proficiency in managing and mentoring junior team members who contribute to the technical platform. Offers comprehensive technical guidance and strategic direction. Provides leadership focused on fostering career growth and advancing professional development.
  • Strategic Leadership: Demonstrates success in building and execute innovation strategies that align with long-term business objectives shaping cross-sector R&D teams and local business strategies. Ability to think across systems and spot scalable opportunities in emerging science and technology.
  • Collaborative & Inclusive Leadership: Strong leadership and team development skills, with a passion for fostering cross-functional collaboration across technical, regulatory, and commercial functions. Experience leading geographically dispersed or matrixed teams is a plus.
  • External Innovation & Partnerships: Proven ability to build, and manage relationships with academic institutions, startups, ingredient vendors, and research partners. Familiarity with co-development models is a strong advantage.
  • Communication & Influence: Excellent verbal and written communication skills with the ability to tailor complex technical concepts to varied audiences, including senior executives, cross-functional peers, and external collaborators.
  • Analytical & Problem-Solving Ability: Strong analytical thinking, scientific curiosity, and structured problem-solving skills. Able to navigate ambiguity and deliver solutions in dynamic, fast-paced environments.


Differentiating Competencies Required
  • Enterprise mind-set - Balances global optimization vs local market delivery, making trade-offs that maximize enterprise value and growth opportunities.
  • Entrepreneurial Agility - Combines scientific depth with a startup-like mindset to move quickly from discovery to prototyping and commercial validation.
  • System Leadership - Leads across depth and breadth-deep technical authority combined with enterprise-wide integration and influence to build internal and external networks extending internal capabilities.
  • Strategic Influence - Connects emerging technologies to business outcomes and articulates a compelling case for investment, experimentation, and scale.
  • Bias for Scalable Innovation - Prioritizes ideas with a clear path to implementation, using pilot-ready frameworks and KPI-based assessments.


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About PepsiCo

PepsiCo Careers

Joining PepsiCo's global team offers more than just a chance to excel in your career; it's an opportunity to be part of a dynamic and diverse environment where innovation thrives. Work You’ll Do At PepsiCo, we are committed to producing great leaders and fostering a culture of innovation. Our team is dedicated to empowering professionals to master their career paths with PepsiCo. As a leader in the food and beverage industry, we offer unique job opportunities that intersect with cutting-edge technology and market leadership. Lead with Unique Opportunities PepsiCo stands at the forefront of the industry, not only in terms of product quality but also in our approach to leadership and professional growth. We offer a variety of employment paths, including full-time positions, internships, and leadership training programs that are designed to foster diversity and accelerate career development. Work with a Global Team Collaborate with over 260,000 employees worldwide who are united in delivering joy not only to our consumers but also in driving innovation and growth within the company. PepsiCo’s commitment to global diversity and inclusive culture makes it a prime environment for professional development and networking. Introducing PepsiCo’s Professional Growth and Development Programs We are committed to nurturing talent through comprehensive training programs and robust benefits that support both personal and professional growth. Our programs are tailored to help employees at every level of their career to advance and succeed. Innovate and Lead Join the largest team of food and beverage industry experts—dedicated professionals at the intersection of consumer needs, innovative technology, and sustainable practices. Deliver targeted solutions and drive industry leadership through a depth and breadth of knowledge and innovation that’s second to none. Be Part of a Great Team Engage in meaningful work that impacts millions of lives worldwide. At PepsiCo, you’ll harness the power of our global resources and the creativity of our people to improve the way the world accesses the foods and beverages it loves. Future-Proof Your Career With PepsiCo, the sky is the limit when it comes to where your ambition can take you. We offer unmatched opportunities for career advancement along with the training, internship programs, and certification support needed to thrive in your professional journey. Explore Discover how PepsiCo is leading the way in digital innovation and sustainable practices while maintaining a steadfast focus on diversity and employee well-being. Stay Connected Join Our Team Search for open positions that match your skills and interests. We look for passionate, curious, creative, and solution-driven team players ready to take their career to the next level. SEARCH PEPSICO JOBS Keep Up to Date Stay ahead with career tips, insider perspectives, and industry-leading insights you can put to use today—all from the people who work here. READ CAREERS BLOG Job Alert Emails Customize your subscription to receive job alerts, latest news, and insider tips tailored to your preferences. Discover the exciting and rewarding career opportunities that await at PepsiCo.
Learn more about PepsiCo
Size
309,000 employees
Market Cap
$250.5 billion
Industry
Food & Beverages
Net Income
$7.1 billion
Founded
1965
5 Year Trend
+4.8%
Revenue
$70.3 billion
NASDAQ
PEP
* Ladders Estimates

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