Peet's Coffee

Reporting to the President & CEO the Vice President of Research and Development and Quality Assurance leads research for the adoption of new technology and equipment to improve the organization's operations and business. This is a senior leadership role and is accountable for sustainable value creation for all Peets Coffee segments, identifying winning product and packaging propositions. This role will work closely with cross-functional teams, including coffee sourcing, manufacturing, supply chain, and marketing. They will advise on advanced methods to design new food products or enhance processes for production capacity and capabilities. This role approves the specifications of final products, packaging, and processes to meet technical, quality, and regulatory standards. This role will ensure compliance to global JDE Peets quality management systems and will ensure end to end quality focus. This role is based in Emeryville, CA and is required to work onsite 4 days a week.

Key Responsibilities:

• Develop and execute value creation initiatives
• Develop innovation and research roadmaps for Peets coffee segments
• Accountable for Peets QMS ensuring end to end compliance and adherence to JDE Peets commitments
• Lead PMO initiatives and cross program initiatives to ensure OTIF delivery of all projects , manage innovation pipeline fill value and in market performance
• Evaluate outcomes of new products and processes to deliver improved business results.
• Establish and maintain robust quality assurance processes to ensure product consistency, safety, and compliance with industry regulations.
• Collaborate with manufacturing and supply chain teams to integrate quality standards into production processes, ensuring seamless and efficient operations.
• Monitor industry trends, technological advancements, and regulatory changes to keep the organization competitive and compliant.
• Develop and manage budgets for R&D and quality assurance initiatives, ensuring optimal allocation of resources to meet business objectives.
• Recruit, train, and mentor team members, fostering a culture of continuous improvement, innovation, and excellence.
• Conduct regular audits and assessments to identify areas for improvement and implement corrective actions as needed.
• Ensure connection and collaboration with Global R&D JDE Peets central organizations for best practice and knowledge sharing
• Communicate effectively with stakeholders, including senior management, to align R&D and quality goals with overall business objectives.
• Drive the implementation of best practices and innovative solutions to enhance product quality and operational efficiency.
• Oversee the development and execution of product testing protocols, ensuring that all products meet or exceed quality standards before reaching the market.
• Represent the organization in industry forums, conferences, and regulatory meetings to stay abreast of developments and advocate for the company's interests.
• Ensure delivery of and compliance to 2030 JDE Peets ESG commitments
• Collaborate with Marketing to lead cross-functional development to ensure timely and successful product changes, Innovation and cost optimization launches, addressing any quality or regulatory issues that may arise

Qualifications:

• Proven track record of effective innovation for value creation and designing and developing winning product portfolios
• Bachelor's degree in a relevant field (e.g., Food Science, Engineering, Chemistry).
• 10+ years of experience in quality assurance for a global manufacturer.
• Experience in QMS (Quality Management Systems) and certifications like ISO 9001, Six Sigma, or Lean.
• Experience with popular PLM systems like Teamcenter, Windchill, or Enovia.
• Extensive experience in R&D and quality assurance within the food and beverage industry.
• Strong project management skills.
• Excellent communication and collaboration abilities.
• Knowledge of regulatory requirements and industry standards.
• Proven leadership experience in creating a culture of quality and building high-performing teams

Peet’s Home Office is a Hybrid worksite, which requires any Home Office employees who are Directors and above to work onsite a minimum of 4 days/ week (Emeryville, California).

At Peet’s we hire the best people and are committed to supporting our employees and rewarding them for their work. The target annual base salary range for this position is $285,000- $300,000. The actual base salary offered depends on a variety of factors, which may include, as applicable, the applicant’s qualifications for the position; years of relevant experience; specific and unique skills; level of education attained; certifications or other professional licenses held; other legitimate, non-discriminatory business factors specific to the position; and the geographic location in which the applicant lives and/or from which they will perform the job. Peet’s offers a generous benefits package to full-time employees, which includes comprehensive health, dental and vision plans; a superior 401(k) plan, various paid time off programs; employee discount/perks; life insurance; disability insurance; flexible spending accounts; and an employee referral bonus program.