Food Science Job at PepsiCo
If you are searching for a rewarding Food Science Job in the FMCG industry, this latest opportunity from PepsiCo could be your next career breakthrough. PepsiCo is hiring a Deputy Manager – R&D in Hyderabad, offering professionals a chance to work on product specifications, SAP migration, food safety compliance, and ingredient management. This PepsiCo Job is ideal for candidates with expertise in Food Science, Food Technology, Food Safety, Microbiology, and Product Development who are looking for exciting Jobs in Hyderabad with a global organization.
About PepsiCo
PepsiCo is one of the world’s leading food and beverage companies, serving consumers across more than 200 countries and territories. The company owns globally recognized brands and continuously invests in innovation, research, sustainability, and product development. Through its world-class R&D centers, PepsiCo develops cutting-edge food and beverage solutions while maintaining the highest standards of food safety, quality, and consumer satisfaction. A PepsiCo Job offers employees the opportunity to work in a collaborative and innovation-driven environment while building a successful global career.
Position Details
| Job Title | Deputy Manager – R&D |
| Location | Hyderabad, India |
| Function | Research & Development (R&D) |
| Job ID | 450126 |
| Travel Requirement | Yes – Standard |
Job Overview
A vacancy is available for the position of Deputy Manager – R&D in Hyderabad, India. The role focuses on specification writing, legacy specification migration, SAP implementation support, and collaboration with Product Development teams to ensure ingredient (ING) and non-ingredient (Non-ING) specifications comply with organizational standards and requirements.
The selected candidate will play a key role in supporting specification development, data migration, supplier collaboration, compliance management, and continuous process improvement initiatives.
Job Purpose
As a Product Development (PD) Specification Writer, the incumbent will be responsible for ensuring that all necessary criteria and requirements for building Ingredient (ING) and Non-Ingredient (Non-ING) specifications (excluding Packaging and Label specifications) are met.
The role will initially focus on driving legacy specification migration into SAP systems and subsequently support Product Developers in creating new ING and Non-ING Product Development specifications that comply with established standards and requirements following system rollout.
Key Responsibilities
General Responsibilities
- Understand the organization’s Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) and Specification Writing (SW) ways of working in both legacy systems and SAP.
- Gain proficiency in the CAST Program and associated IT applications.
- Drive accurate migration of legacy Ingredient and Non-Ingredient specifications into SAP systems.
- Validate migrated specifications with regional teams before CAST Go-Live.
- Collaborate with regional teams to review and update ING and Non-ING specifications according to renewal schedules.
- Support Product Developers in developing specifications that are clear, concise, and accurate.
- Ensure compliance with defined Service Level Agreements (SLAs).
- Identify opportunities for process improvements and recommend solutions to R&D leadership.
- Raise Change Requests (CRs) on behalf of sector R&D teams when required.
ING Specifications Responsibilities
The role involves working closely with suppliers and internal stakeholders to develop and maintain ingredient specifications.
Specification Development & Supplier Support
The incumbent will:
- Guide suppliers in completing specification requirements through relevant tools such as ISSQ.
- Support specification development in the following areas:
- Ingredient Composition
- Chemical, Physical, and Other Parameter Requirements
- Claims and Compliance Requirements related to QA/FS
- Food Safety Requirements
- Allergen Management
- Test Methods and Limits for Food Safety and Performance Parameters
- Ingredient Micro Sensitive Assessment
- General Specification Information
- Specification Validation & Compliance
- Validate accurate migration of data into the Global Ingredient Specification System.
- Review supplier-provided information and supporting documentation.
- Work with functional approvers to review and align specifications.
- Communicate specification changes with operations teams and vendors.
- Coordinate uploads with SDSA teams.
- Collaborate with Functional Approvers from:
- Regulatory
- Quality
- Food Safety
- Product Development
- Analytical
- Microbiology
Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Facilitate engagement with stakeholders including GP, SQA, and QC.
- Enrich specifications according to global business workflows.
- Maintain and update specifications to ensure ongoing compliance.
- Collaborate with LiSU to assess impacts on higher-level specifications.
- Manage changes with regional partners as required.
Documentation & Workflow Management
- Upload supplier specifications and material qualification documents into SAP.
- Track specification workflows throughout the approval process.
- Maintain supplier relationships and serve as the primary contact for specification-related information.
- Conduct timely follow-ups to ensure completion of specification requirements.
Non-ING Specifications Responsibilities
Scope
- Formula Specifications
- Process Specifications
- FGE Specifications
Key Activities
The incumbent will:
- Collaborate with regional Product Development (PD), Technical Development Center (TDC), and Packaging teams.
- Guide stakeholders through specification requirements using:
- AMESA Specification Request Form
- PLM Templates
- Align ER releases according to project classifications, including:
- Innovation
- Productivity
- TBS
- Ingredient Change
- Other Project Types
- Digitize Non-ING specifications accurately based on information received from Product Developers.
- Monitor ER progress against agreed timelines.
- Ensure timely ER closure through collaboration with:
- Product Development Teams
- Technical Development Teams
- Packaging Teams
- Work with SDSA, Regulatory Affairs (RA), and Packaging teams to ensure required documentation uploads in R&D repositories.
- Escalate risks and challenges to stakeholders in a timely manner.
- Maintain and update existing specifications to ensure compliance.
System-Associated Activities
The selected candidate will:
- Participate in User Acceptance Testing (UAT) of specification-related systems, including SAP.
- Identify and report:
- System gaps
- Roadblocks
- Process issues
- Testing findings
- Support solution development and closure activities with IT Subject Matter Experts (SMEs).
- Contribute to successful implementation and optimization of specification management systems.
Educational Qualifications
Required Qualification
- Bachelor’s degree in one of the following disciplines:
- Food Engineering
- Food Safety
- Food Technology
- Food Science
- Microbiology
- Related or Adjacent Subjects
Preferred Qualification
- Master’s Degree (MS) is desired.
Experience Requirements
Minimum Experience
- 2–3 years of experience in:
- Regulatory Affairs
- Quality Assurance (QA)
- Quality Control (QC)
- Food Analytical Functions
- Other Food-Related FMCG Technical Roles
Preferred Experience
- 1–2 years of experience in:
- Product Development
- Specification Writing
Required Skills & Competencies for Food Science Job
Technical Skills
- Knowledge of Regulatory, QA/QC, Food Safety, and Food Analytical processes.
- Understanding of Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) systems.
- Familiarity with SAP-based specification management systems.
- Strong proficiency in Microsoft Office applications.
- Advanced working knowledge of Microsoft Excel.
Communication Skills
- Strong verbal communication skills.
- Strong written communication skills.
- Ability to prepare reports and professional emails.
- Ability to conduct presentations and participate in conference calls effectively.
- Fluency in English.
Leadership & Professional Competencies
- Confidence to communicate and present to senior leaders.
- Strong learning agility.
- Self-motivated with a continuous improvement mindset.
- Strong problem-solving capabilities.
- Ability to work independently.
- Ability to take initiative and ownership.
Collaboration Skills
- Effective team player.
- Ability to work with:
- Cross-functional teams
- Cross-regional teams
- Cross-cultural teams
- Strong stakeholder management capabilities.
