At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the launch and growth of innovative food ventures in your territory.
- Company: Join PepsiCo, a global leader with over 500 beloved brands.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, dynamic work environment, and opportunities for innovation.
- Other info: Fast-paced, collaborative culture focused on experimentation and impact.
- Why this job: Be a mini-CEO, shaping the future of food ventures.
- Qualifications: 8-15 years in management or venture building; strong leadership and analytical skills.
The predicted salary is between 80000 - 100000 £ per year.
At PepsiCo, you'll discover a place where our mission is to create smiles around the world. With a portfolio of more than 500 beloved brands including Gatorade, Lay's and Quaker, our work touches millions of people every day. At the heart of the company is a team of thinkers, creators, and problem-solvers who collaborate to innovate and turn ideas into action. Driven by innovation and a focus on creating joyful moments through food and drinks, our decisions are guided by consumer centricity, creating opportunities for our associates to do meaningful work and make a lasting impact in the communities we serve.
Business Unit Lead - Food Ventures (Territory) based in Reading, UK.
The Opportunity
Are you excited by the challenge of building a business from the ground up and scaling it into a market success story? We are looking for a Business Unit Lead - Food Ventures to drive the launch, execution, and expansion of innovative food business models within a designated territory. This role combines the agility of a startup environment with the scale and resources of a global organization. As the territory lead, you will act as the single-threaded owner of the business, leading everything from market entry and operational setup to commercial growth and financial performance. You will work at the intersection of strategy, operations, and innovation, transforming bold ideas into scalable, profitable ventures. This is a high-impact leadership opportunity for someone who thrives in fast-paced environments, embraces ambiguity, and is passionate about building new businesses.
What You'll Do
- Launch & Build New Ventures: Lead the end-to-end launch of new food venture concepts within the territory. Translate global business models into locally relevant, operationally viable solutions. Ensure launch readiness across operations, supply chain, marketing, finance, compliance, and people. Drive rapid execution while maintaining operational excellence and customer experience.
- Own Business Performance: Act as the territory's business owner with full accountability for growth and profitability. Manage key business drivers including revenue, pricing, demand generation, cost structure, and productivity. Monitor performance metrics and implement fast test-and-learn cycles to optimize results. Drive sustainable unit economics and scalable operating models.
- Scale & Expand: Identify opportunities to scale successful concepts across locations, cities, and channels. Build repeatable playbooks and operational standards that enable rapid replication. Lead expansion planning including site readiness, resource allocation, and operational deployment.
- Lead Cross-Functional Execution: Orchestrate cross-functional teams across Supply, Operations, Marketing, Finance, Legal, QA, and HR. Create strong execution rhythms, governance routines, and decision-making processes. Align stakeholders on priorities, trade-offs, risks, and business objectives.
- Drive Innovation & Continuous Improvement: Continuously improve customer experience, operational efficiency, and commercial performance. Leverage insights and analytics to refine the business model and value proposition. Explore new channels, partnerships, and growth opportunities to accelerate scale.
Qualifications
What We're Looking For
- 8-15 years of experience in general management, commercial operations, multi-site operations, or venture building.
- Proven experience launching and scaling new business models, startups, or high-growth ventures.
- Strong P&L management and financial acumen.
- Experience operating in fast-changing, ambiguous environments.
- Strong leadership skills within matrix organizations.
- Data-driven mindset with strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities.
- Ability to balance strategic thinking with hands-on execution.
- High ownership mentality, resilience, and bias for action.
Why Join Us?
This is more than a traditional operations or commercial leadership role. It is an opportunity to:
- Build innovative food businesses from 0 to 1.
- Scale successful ventures from 1 to N.
- Operate like a mini-CEO within your territory.
- Shape the future of food ventures within a globally recognized organization.
- Combine entrepreneurial speed with enterprise-level impact.
You'll join a highly dynamic environment where experimentation, innovation, and execution excellence are critical to success - and scale across markets.
Reporting Structure
Reports to: Director, Venture Platform (Global)
Key Cross-Functional Partners: Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing, Finance, Legal, Quality Assurance, and Human Resources.
Business Unit Lead - Food Ventures - UK employer: Job Search Place Limited
At PepsiCo, we pride ourselves on fostering a vibrant work culture that encourages innovation and collaboration. As a Business Unit Lead in Food Ventures based in Reading, UK, you'll have the unique opportunity to build and scale new food business models while being supported by a global network of resources. We offer competitive benefits, a commitment to employee growth, and a dynamic environment where your ideas can truly make an impact on both your career and the communities we serve.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Business Unit Lead - Food Ventures - UK
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the industry. Attend events, join online forums, and don’t be shy about reaching out to folks on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its culture. Understand their mission and values, especially how they create smiles through food and drinks. Tailor your answers to show how you can contribute to their goals and make an impact.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice makes perfect! Do mock interviews with friends or use online resources to get comfortable with common questions. Focus on articulating your experience in launching and scaling businesses, as that’s what they’re really looking for.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in being part of the PepsiCo family and ready to take on the challenge of building innovative food ventures.
We think you need these skills to ace Business Unit Lead - Food Ventures - UK
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Business Unit Lead role. Highlight your experience in launching and scaling new business models, as this is key for us at PepsiCo. Show how your skills align with our mission to create smiles through innovative food ventures.
Showcase Your Leadership Skills:We want to see your leadership style! Share examples of how you've led cross-functional teams or driven business performance in previous roles. This will help us understand how you can operate like a mini-CEO within your territory.
Be Data-Driven:Since we value a data-driven mindset, include specific metrics or results from your past experiences. Whether it’s revenue growth or operational efficiency, numbers speak volumes and show us your impact in previous roles.
Apply Through Our Website:Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it gives you a chance to explore more about our culture and values.
How to prepare for a job interview at Job Search Place Limited
✨Know Your Business Inside Out
Before the interview, dive deep into PepsiCo's food ventures and their market strategies. Familiarise yourself with their brands and recent innovations. This will not only show your enthusiasm but also help you discuss how your experience aligns with their goals.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Prepare examples that highlight your leadership experience, especially in fast-paced or ambiguous environments. Be ready to discuss how you've successfully launched and scaled new business models, as this is crucial for the role of Business Unit Lead.
✨Demonstrate a Data-Driven Mindset
Since the role requires strong analytical skills, come prepared with examples of how you've used data to drive decisions and improve business performance. Discuss specific metrics you've monitored and how they influenced your strategies.
✨Emphasise Cross-Functional Collaboration
Highlight your experience working with diverse teams across various functions. Be ready to discuss how you've orchestrated collaboration between departments like marketing, finance, and operations to achieve business objectives.
