R&D Technician in Leicester

Overview

The R&D Technician supports the Europe Foods R&D product development teams through a variety of activities, including sample preparation, management and analysis, data and sample collection during trials, and the creation of prototype samples.

The role operates across both Pepsi Co and third‑party facilities, requiring the ability to balance rigour, creativity and initiative while consistently maintaining compliance with R&D, food safety and quality standards.

Activities supported include, but are not limited to, DODs, shelf‑life studies, Europe‑wide trials, stock ordering and movement, gold‑standard logistics and PVQ.

Responsibilities

• Plan, organise, execute and communicate assigned project support tasks with autonomous ownership while maintaining confidentiality and integrity.
• Support the team to ensure all base samples, raw materials and documentation are delivered, labelled, stored, controlled and dispatched appropriately, in line with site, food safety and quality requirements and customs and transportation regulations.
• Contribute to product testing activities by ensuring samples are prepared, handled and delivered in a timely manner and meet required quality standards, demonstrating a clear understanding of the role of testing in supporting R&D decision‑making.
• Support Technologists and Project Managers during plant trials across European production sites, completing assigned operational tasks and ensuring accurate, timely and complete reporting of trial activities and outcomes.
• Develop and prepare prototype samples under the direction of the project manager, using safe and best‑practice operation of bench‑scale and pilot‑scale equipment.
• Contribute to local workstreams aimed at improving R&D Operations ways of working, including improvements to business processes, efficiency, knowledge sharing and day‑to‑day collaboration across the team.

Support seasoning functionality testing and reporting the data to Product Developers in line with agreed methods and timelines.

Qualifications

• Practical experience within a food production environment, including R&D laboratory, pilot plant and/or site‑based operations in an FMCG context; experience with seasoning and/or packaging is advantageous.
• Sound understanding of food safety, quality and compliance requirements, including knowledge of AIB standards, to ensure products are prepared, handled and delivered appropriately.
• Understanding of R&D operational processes, including sampling, trials support, testing, logistics, documentation and compliance activities.
• Demonstrated ability to organise, plan and autonomously execute operational and project support tasks, maintaining confidentiality, integrity and attention to detail.
• Computer literate – familiar with Microsoft Office applications (Outlook, Word, Excel, Power Point) and online collaboration tools, with the ability to maintain accurate operational records and planning tools.
• Self‑starter with a collaborative mindset, able to work independently and as part of a team, demonstrating resilience and perseverance to achieve delivery objectives.
• Ability and willingness to work safely in laboratory, pilot plant and manufacturing‑scale environments, with flexibility to travel as required.
• Fluent spoken and written English.
• Numerate to GCSE standard (Maths, Science and English).
• Full UK driving licence.
• Differentiating Competencies Required
• Ability to manage workload and work to a defined timeline.
• Attention to detail.
• Self‑starter, self‑motivating: able to work with agility without losing momentum and manage uncertainty with ability to deal with change.
• Good team worker.
• Able to communicate verbally and in writing to all levels internally and to commercial partners when required.
• To be able to manage priorities by full alignment with Line Manager and Execution and Planning Lead on a day to day basis.
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