PepsiCo

R&D - Food Product Development Director, Culinary Innovation

PepsiCo  •  Barcelona, ES (Onsite)  •  2 hours ago
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Job Description

Locations: Cornella de Ll., Spain

Job Function: R&D

Req ID: 426724

Relocation Eligible: ['No']

The Product Developer Director is responsible for building and refining Innovation pipelines and MVPs based on chef-created gold standards. This role sits at the intersection of culinary vision and technical feasibility—translating ideas into tangible product forms that work in real-world prep systems and scale through external partners.

Working closely with Food Technologists and the Culinary team, the Product Developer Director brings agility, iteration, and a maker mindset to every phase of development—from concept to pilot.


Responsibilities

- MVP Prototyping: Lead the development of early product prototypes that translate gold standard culinary concepts into testable, scalable formats.
- Packaging Fit & Format Optimization: Collaborate with Food Experience and Design team to ensure MVPs work within packaging, assembly, and consumption contexts.
- Support Agile Sprints prototyping: Participate in sprint cycles to test variations, respond to insights, and iterate quickly the product design with cross-functional teams.
- Partner with Co-Man & Supply Chain: Assist in transferring MVPs into early-stage pilot trials and adjust based on manufacturing or ingredient constraints.
- Document & Communicate: Maintain clear records of product builds, test outcomes, prep protocols, initial cost, and improvements for traceability, product safety and quality and scale-up readiness.

Success in This Role Looks Like
- MVPs that are production-aware, consumer-friendly, and ready for pilot trials.
- Fast, high-quality iteration cycles with documented learnings.
- Culinary integrity retained through prep system design and real-world testing.

-Innovation pipeline, ownership and creation


Qualifications

- Degree in Food Science, Product Design, Culinary Innovation, or related fields
- min 8-10 years in product development and innovation of culinary products including culinary prototyping
-Self-starter with strong hands-on attitude and team player
- Strong experience with consumer preparation systems, packaging integration, and cross-functional development.
-Understanding of basic quality aspects of culinary products.
- Comfortable in operating in ambiguous or high-speed environments.
- Familiarity with co-manufacturing and pilot production processes is a plus.

-Strong communications skills, network.

PepsiCo

About PepsiCo

PepsiCo is a playground for curious people. We invite thinkers, doers, and changemakers to champion innovation, take calculated risks, and challenge the status quo. From executives to team members on the front lines, we’re excited about the future. We take chances. Together, we dare to make the world a better place.

Our associates are the magic ingredient. Each of them plays an integral role in helping create deep connections between people and our products. Think about your last group celebration: Chances are, one of our iconic brands was by your side. At PepsiCo, you’re invited to be a part of a global team of innovators who make, move, and sell these products—which are enjoyed by more than 1 billion people a day.

A career at PepsiCo means working in a culture where everyone’s welcome. Here, you can dare to be yourself. No matter who you are or where you’re from, you can influence the people around you and the world at large. By showing up, you’ll have the opportunity to learn, develop and grow your skills for the future. Our supportive teams can fuel your professional goals to make a global impact on people and the planet.

Join us. Dare for Better.

Industry
Food & Beverage
Company Size
10,000+ employees
Headquarters
Purchase, New York
Year Founded
Unknown
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