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For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead innovation in coffee products and enhance quality for a global brand.
- Company: Join Costa Coffee, a part of Coca-Cola, reimagining coffee experiences worldwide.
- Benefits: Enjoy perks like share ownership, discounts, private healthcare, and a smart pension.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on coffee culture while growing your career in a supportive environment.
- Qualifications: Bring your coffee expertise, creativity, and project management skills to the table.
- Other info: This is a hybrid role, with 3 days a week in Basildon.
The predicted salary is between 43200 - 72000 £ per year.
At Costa Coffee, we are what we craft. We’re reimagining coffee experiences in over 50 countries and counting, as a key part of the Coca-Cola System. Whether you get your coffee in a store, from a machine, at home, or on the go – we’ve got you covered.
In this role, you will help shape our future coffee range by driving innovation, enhancing quality, and bringing bold new ideas to life. Our teams make a difference. Whether that’s working on new tech for the perfect pour, helping our teams grow, creating award-winning campaigns, crunching the numbers, or developing the latest exciting menu item; together, we stir up success.
We may be a global brand, but we haven’t forgotten our roots. That’s where the Costa Foundation and our fantastic community agenda come in. Whatever your role, you can help us change lives in coffee growing communities, and help your local community too. We also want to help you grow in your career through amazing experiences, our apprenticeship scheme, and development programmes. At Costa, you can go beyond the day-to-day.
And as a R&D Manager, Coffee, there’s never been a better time to join.
So, why Costa? We didn’t become a global coffee brand by sitting back. When you work here, you join a community that values passion, progression and integrity, with some pretty brilliant perks to sweeten the deal:
- Own a piece of Costa’s success by becoming a share owner in Coca-Cola with our Share Investment Plan (SIP)
- Annual discretionary bonus scheme, based on business results and individual contribution
- A smart pension that saves you money on tax and national insurance, and matches your contributions up to 10%
- The Costa Financial Support Fund, supporting team members who find themselves in unexpected financial pressure with grants
- 50% discount in all Costa-owned stores, and 25% off in other participating stores
- Private medical cover thanks to our Private Healthcare scheme
We’re passionate about being a great place to work, where you can bring your unique self into our mix. We firmly support diversity, equity and inclusion, and continue to work with our teams to shape the future of our culture and values: Disciplined to Deliver, Passion for Progress, Win with Warmth, Courage to Challenge and Trusted Team Players.
What you’ll do:
Being a R&D Manager is about so much more than bringing our coffee to the world. It’s your chance to stir up real success – which means you’ll be:
- Supporting the development of new coffee products for global retail and FMCG channels
- Enhancing and optimising our existing coffee range to stay ahead of the curve
- Collaborating with suppliers and partners to ensure quality and innovation
- Driving cost-effective production improvements without compromising standards
- Mentoring teams and sharing your expertise to build a world-class coffee culture
Who you are:
It’s your unique ingredients we’re interested in:
- A coffee expert with deep knowledge of origin, roasting, sensory evaluation and brewing
- A creative thinker with a flair for product innovation in an FMCG setting
- A skilled communicator and collaborator who thrives in a global environment
- A project driver with experience launching products from concept to shelf
- A passionate ambassador for great coffee and continuous improvement
This role is a hybrid role (3 days a week in Basildon).
Contact Detail:
Costa Coffee Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land R&D Manager Coffee
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with Costa Coffee's current product range and recent innovations. Understanding their offerings will help you articulate how your skills and experience can contribute to enhancing and optimising their coffee products.
✨Tip Number 2
Network with professionals in the coffee industry, especially those who have experience in R&D roles. Engaging with industry experts can provide insights into trends and challenges, which you can leverage during discussions with Costa.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare to discuss specific examples of your past projects where you've driven product innovation or improvements. Highlighting your hands-on experience will demonstrate your capability to lead new coffee product development effectively.
✨Tip Number 4
Showcase your passion for coffee and sustainability. Costa values community impact and environmental responsibility, so be ready to share your thoughts on how you can contribute to their mission beyond just product development.
We think you need these skills to ace R&D Manager Coffee
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights relevant experience in R&D, particularly in coffee or FMCG. Emphasise your skills in product innovation, project management, and collaboration, as these are key for the role.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: In your cover letter, express your passion for coffee and innovation. Mention specific examples of how you've driven product development or improvements in previous roles, showcasing your creativity and expertise.
Showcase Your Knowledge: Demonstrate your understanding of coffee origins, roasting techniques, and sensory evaluation in your application. This will show that you have the deep knowledge required for the R&D Manager position.
Highlight Team Collaboration: Since the role involves mentoring and collaborating with teams, include examples of how you've successfully worked with others in a global environment. This will illustrate your ability to thrive in Costa's team-oriented culture.
How to prepare for a job interview at Costa Coffee
✨Show Your Passion for Coffee
As an R&D Manager at Costa Coffee, your love for coffee should shine through. Be prepared to discuss your favourite coffee origins, brewing methods, and any innovative ideas you have for new products. This will demonstrate your genuine interest in the role and the brand.
✨Highlight Your Innovation Skills
Costa is looking for a creative thinker who can drive product innovation. Come equipped with examples of past projects where you've successfully launched new products or improved existing ones. Discuss the challenges you faced and how you overcame them to showcase your problem-solving abilities.
✨Emphasise Collaboration Experience
In this role, you'll be working with various teams and suppliers. Share specific instances where you've collaborated effectively in a global environment. Highlight your communication skills and how you foster teamwork to achieve common goals.
✨Prepare Questions About Company Culture
Costa values diversity, equity, and inclusion, so it's important to show that you align with their culture. Prepare thoughtful questions about their community initiatives and how they support employee growth. This shows you're not just interested in the job, but also in being part of their mission.
