This position will support our Plant-Based Beverage team, focused on the Functional platform in Plant Based. This role will be responsible to lead innovation projects, while contributing to maintaining business needs, driving cost optimizations, and improving the current portfolio.  We’re looking for someone who can drive and manage the complete product development life cycle with a focus on functional benefit-led projects.

This position will span across ideation, rapid prototyping, engaging with consumers for concept development, hands on bench work, pilot plant test work, conducting industrial tests in plants, leading industrial product launches, analytical and organoleptic evaluation, and the management of R&I tasks to ensure stage gate progression. The candidate must be able to represent R&I interests to internal cross functional partners, external partners, as well as inspire the business and our R&I team to pursue consumer centric innovation opportunities.

This position will be located in Louisville, CO.

In this role, you will be responsible for:

• Supporting the Plant Based Beverage Business with broad to advanced understanding of R&I strategy, category/business strategy and the ability to leverage diverse methods for executing projects
• Manage medium to high technical complexity innovation, renovation and productivity projects across plant beverages, with primary focus on functional benefit-led products
• Deliver product innovation, renovation, and productivity programs, including complex programs (new platforms, high visibility programs) while anticipating challenges and building contingencies
• Independently plan and execute bench, pilot, and plant trials for new and improved products, analyze test results and effectively translate these into effective next steps that lead to project successes
• Contribute to scoping and design of new ideas or technical solutions that contribute to R&I and product category strategy
• Use technical and manufacturing insights to develop formulations and processes to deliver on consumer expectations, food safety, cost, and timing requirements
• Develop and commercialize product formulas, processing procedures and raw material specifications that support business objectives
• Collaborate with suppliers and provide technical briefs to pursue new technologies, capabilities, and novel ingredients
• Collaborate in the design of consumer tests, organize sample production and shipments, and ensure product quality for consumer tests
• Deliver fundamental training and information sharing to cross functional partners or junior team members; Optimize and/or champion new ways of working

The base compensation range for this position is $87,000-107,000 commensurate with experience. Danone North America additionally offers a performance-based bonus and has a strong benefits package including Medical, Dental, Vision, Prescription Drug Coverage, 401k Plan, Wellness Program, Life Insurance, Tuition Reimbursement, Flexible Time Off, and Paid Parental Bonding Leave, among other benefit plan options.