About the position
At Keurig Dr Pepper (KDP), our mission is simple yet powerful: Drink Well. Do Good. Our Research & Development (R&D) team fuels innovation and drives productivity to grow our brands, reshape our portfolio, and enhance product profitability. We are seeking a visionary R&D Technical Leader to drive the technical agenda for Future Coffee Systems, with a focus on designing, developing, scaling, and validating innovative consumer-focused beverages and packaging-notably K-Rounds-within our Coffee Business Unit. This role blends strategic thinking with hands-on leadership in a highly dynamic, collaborative, and fast-paced environment, working cross-functionally with the Appliance Organization, Marketing, Commercial, Manufacturing, Procurement, and Finance. The ideal candidate is a natural collaborator with strong interpersonal skills, ready to embody and advance KDP's values and culture.
Responsibilities
- Lead a multidisciplinary R&D team including product developers, ingredient scientists, process & packaging engineers, and sensory experts
- Drive the strategy and execution for developing and scaling K-Rounds products and packaging, collaborating closely with the Appliance, Commercial, and Marketing teams
- Provide expert guidance across product formulation, process development, and packaging innovation-advancing products from bench to pilot scale and full commercialization for U.S. and Canadian markets
- Partner with Appliance and Supply Chain teams to deliver profitable and technically sound medium- to long-term optimization strategies
- Mentor, empower, and grow a high-performing team of scientists and engineers; support their decisions while influencing key internal stakeholders
- Recruit and develop talent aligned to near-term goals and future innovation pipelines
- Lead technical assessments, workshops, and strategic planning sessions with cross-functional teams; advocate for sound financial and technical evaluation of new ideas
- Oversee third-party partnerships and intellectual property strategy while providing thought leadership to shape technology direction
- Strong partnership with commercial and the cross functional team in delivering a sound overall P&L
- Communicate critical business updates and R&D developments to executive stakeholders
- Champion process improvements, promote high-impact team behaviors, and resolve complexities with agile thinking
- Inspire a forward-looking, resilient, and people-focused team environment
Requirements
- Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Biology, Chemical Engineering, or a related field (Advanced degree preferred)
- 12+ years' experience in R&D, product development, food manufacturing, or R&D engineering (Food & Beverage sector required)
- 5+ years leading and developing direct reports
- Experience with coffee, powders, or granulation processes is a plus
- Strong business acumen, leadership, and influencing skills across cross-functional teams
- Proven expertise in concept generation, consumer insights, problem-solving, and collaborative development
- Deep consumer empathy and a passion for crafting meaningful product experiences
- Willingness and ability to travel as needed
Benefits
- Robust benefits to support your health and wellness
- Employee programs designed to enhance your professional growth and development
- Culture and opportunities that empower our team of ~29,000 employees to grow and develop
