R&D manager (maternity cover) in London

We are looking for an R&D manager to join our team here at Starbucks UK on a fixed term contract. A place where you are valued, challenged, and inspired. Where your voice is brewed into everything we do. At Starbucks, we are all about you.

As part of this role, you will be responsible for growing the sales and margins of the food and beverage categories in the UK retail business through the development and implementation of effective strategic and operational plans for Starbucks products, including the development of brand consistent, consumer-led, innovative product ranges and display.

We will look to you to bring your category management experience, with a key understanding of how to access category growth levers. You will have experience in leading category strategies, operational business plans and trend understanding and interpretation. We are looking for someone with a track record in delivering positive top and bottom-line growth within categories, ideally within a similar retail or hospitality environment. You will be commercially minded with the ability to develop food or beverage offerings which meet our consumer needs and brand values.

The best part about this role is that no two days are ever the same! Working as our R&D manager, you will get involved in:

• Setting the strategic direction for product development in the UK, including long term strategy and annual business planning activity to achieve vision.
• Creating the annual operating plan (AOP) for the product category including products, pricing, packaging and distribution.
• Managing products through their lifecycle and bringing recommendations for the direction of category to stakeholders across the business.
• Managing the in-year plan, continuously assessing and monitoring the performance of categories, making this visible to the wider business, highlighting and acting upon emerging themes or insights to address or accelerate performance.
• Setting, reviewing and adjusting product forecasts.
• Continuously monitoring market and consumer trends and insight, creating action plans with suppliers to create products that place Starbucks in a position to exploit the emerging trends.
• Leading suppliers in the development of innovative new products, packaging or concepts from concept through implementation to ensure they meet the needs of the UK market and consumer, ensuring they are based on financial viability and brand fit & regional guidelines.
• Working with suppliers to ensure Starbucks has the right equipment in store to allow the delivery of high-quality food products in line with speed of service requirements and understanding how Starbucks can continue to evolve as its store portfolio does.
• Defining and executing detailed implementation plans for product and new initiative roll-outs.
• Creating content and tools for communication to stores for day to day management of product categories.
• Ensuring the wider marketing function is briefed on required support for food categories in campaigns.
• Working alongside the procurement team to ensure that supplier base is reviewed for both cost and quality on a regular basis.

In return, we will offer you a competitive salary and benefits that include: 25 days holiday a year.