R&D Agricultural Science Seed Technology Innovation Lead

PepsiCo - Saint Paul, MN

Full-time

Saint Paul, MN

Beverage and Tobacco Product Manufacturing

About the position

The R&D Agricultural Science Seed Technology Innovation Lead at PepsiCo is responsible for driving growth and innovation in the deployment of new potato varieties. This role focuses on transforming raw material challenges into effective solutions by ensuring the adoption of advanced seed technologies that meet local market demands, including consumer preferences and sustainability goals. The position involves collaboration with various internal and external stakeholders to enhance seed science and technology solutions, ultimately delivering high-quality crop raw materials.

Responsibilities

• Implement strategy to drive quality and efficiency in seed ramp operations in alignment with Ag Science LT and wider business agenda.
• Provide technical leadership in seed science, technology, and practices, collaborating with seed producers to support the adoption of new varieties.
• Act as a subject matter expert in seed science and technology for critical crop raw material streams.
• Deliver projects that support quality and efficiency in seed ramp operations, managing the experimental lifecycle from strategy development to reporting.
• Provide AOP budget for global trialing activities and track spending against all projects.
• Provide regular project progress updates to senior stakeholders to ensure alignment with business objectives.
• Negotiate with external parties to deliver cost-effective programs and secure proprietary positions for PepsiCo.
• Work collaboratively with a diverse team of scientists and agronomists, maintaining external relationships and driving cultural evolution around seed science.

Requirements

• PhD in Agronomy, Plant Science, Horticulture, Agriculture Management, Agricultural Sciences or related discipline with a minimum of 5 years of commercial experience, or a Master's degree with over 8 years of experience.
• 3+ years of commercial experience in seed science and technology at an Agricultural Science company.
• Expertise in seed science and technology, including regulatory aspects and commercialization.
• Good understanding of agriculture, crop management, and plant breeding principles.
• Experience in vegetable, fruit, and/or grain crops preferred.
• Thorough understanding of R&D processes and ability to identify critical issues.
• Track record of success in managing project execution through collaborations and partnerships.
• Experience in managing data streams and conducting quantitative and statistical data analysis.
• Proven leadership skills with a history of achieving results without direct reporting lines.
• Excellent communication and networking abilities with diverse scientific audiences.