LATAM Variety Trialing and Deployment Lead

Overview

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Responsibilities

The Opportunity

This role leads variety trialing strategies across LATAM to address raw material challenges, develop agritechnologies, and deliver sustainable solutions for supply chain growth. Overseeing a team of 8-10 scientists in ~6 countries, it ensures testing of proprietary varieties to enhance consumer satisfaction, sustainability, and processing efficiency.

Key responsibilities include building strategic partnerships, translating research into deployable solutions, and representing the team in LATAM leadership forums. The position aligns variety testing and agronomic practices with regional needs, ensuring supply chain continuity while meeting pep+ sustainability and quality goals.

Your Impact

Lead the strategy and execution of variety trialing projects across LATAM to address raw material challenges, develop sustainable agronomic practices, and deliver innovative solutions for supply chain growth and continuity. Manage a regional team and foster collaboration with internal and external stakeholders to ensure new potato variety development aligns with business, sustainability, and quality goals.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Leadership and Team Management:
   • Oversee a team of 8-10 scientists across ~6 LATAM countries for variety and agronomic testing.
   • Ensure efficient operations for trialing programs, data collection, and deployment of solutions.
2. Strategic Planning and Execution:
   • Develop and implement short- and long-term strategies for variety testing, technology integration, and grower practice optimization.
   • Align trialing operations with divisional objectives and supply chain needs.
   • Manage budgets, ensuring alignment with organizational goals.
3. Collaboration and Stakeholder Management:
   • Build relationships with universities, industry partners, and internal teams to advance research and deliver actionable solutions.
   • Represent R&D at LATAM leadership meetings, ensuring technical solutions address regional needs and opportunities.
4. Innovation and Product Development:
   • Lead testing and deployment of new proprietary potato varieties with traits for consumer, sustainability, and processing efficiency gains.
   • Guide product life cycle management to optimize supply chain performance and meet market needs.
   • Coordinate technical recommendations and best practices for growers and procurement teams.
5. Pipeline and Market Analysis:
   • Oversee product advancement teams, ensuring effective new product introductions and alignment with strategic priorities.
   • Research market trends, competitive landscape, and opportunities to minimize risks and support business growth.
6. Compliance and Representation:
   • Maintain safety, confidentiality, and compliance with research agreements.
   • Represent PepsiCo in external consortia, government research initiatives, and grant programs.

Qualifications

Who Are We Looking For?

Education:

• PhD or MS in Agronomic/Crop/Horticulture Sciences or related discipline with at least 7 years experience (including graduate school years) in developing solutions for growers in producing potato raw materials.

Experience:

• Track record in corporate setting of testing new varieties from breeding, agronomic practice development and agritechnology to deliver best recommended solutions set for growers to produce top quality potatoes meeting corporate sustainability targets and consumer wants.
• Significant experience agronomy technology development, breeding, biotech, and integrated agricultural solution development and launch is highly desirable.
• Track record of success in managing project execution via external collaborations and partnerships.
• Demonstrated research experience in leading teams in the testing of new variety, growing practices and agricultural technology and final recommendation of solutions for grower on farm use is highly desirable.
• Excellent communication and networking ability with internal and external audiences that have a wide range of scientific expertise.
• A proven ability to work closely with colleagues on complex projects with a high degree of flexibility and comfort with change.
• Ability to balance the need to deliver aggressive business innovation goals with scientific excellence.
• An individual with extensive external discipline-based networks is preferred to foster collaboration and identify a mix of tactical and strategic partners to accelerate project delivery.
• Previous experience in managing teams, developing people, coaching through complex situations, making risk balanced recommendations to business units is preferred.

If this is an opportunity that interests you, we encourage you to apply even if you do not meet 100% of the requirements.

What can you expect from us:

• Opportunities to learn and develop every day through a wider range of programs.
• Internal digital platforms that promote self-learning.
• Development programs according to Leadership skills.
• Specialized training according to the role.
• Learning experiences with internal and external providers.
• We love to celebrate success, which is why we have recognition programs for seniority, behavior, leadership, moments of life, among others.
• Financial wellness programs that will help you reach your goals in all stages of life.
• A flexibility program that will allow you to balance your personal and work life, adapting your working day to your lifestyle.
• And because your family is also important to us, they can also enjoy benefits such as our Wellness Line, thousands of Agreements and Discounts, Scholarship programs for your children, Aid Plans for different moments of life, among others.

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate based on race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. We respect and value diversity as a workforce and innovation for the organization.