SBFE R&D Operational Excellence Director

About you

Process Optimisation and Process Excellence is the heart of everything you do! You are passionate about driving change and continuous improvement within the Research and Development space – ensuring we are leveraging the full value chain together with our Supply Chain teams. You thrive in environments where process optimisation, innovation, and strategic thinking are valued. You’re not just a technical expert, you’re a collaborator, a motivator, and a visionary. You enjoy working across functions, influencing without formal authority, and building strong relationships. You’re curious about new technologies (including IT) , hungry to understand and improve processes, and you bring a proactive, problem-solving mindset to everything you do. Whether your background is in R&D, Supply Chain, Quality, or Process Engineering, you’re excited by the challenge of future-proofing new product commercialization, execution of innovation and embedding a culture of excellence

What You'll Do

As the Suntory Beverage and Food Europe Research & Development Operational Excellence Director, you’ll accelerate innovation and productivity across R&D by leading the optimisation and future proofing of critical processes and tools. You’ll deliver fully integrated, efficient end-to-end systems that enable faster, more reliable product commercialisation . You’ll champion continuous improvement and the Gemba (the place where value is created), making R&D capabilities and tools more Gemba-centric throughout the value chain, and you’ll embed Suntory values in everything you do.

Your remit covers:

- Upgrading and streamlining R&D processes and tools, identifying opportunities for improvement, and leading cross-functional teams to deliver change.

- Driving major projects such as Product Lifecycle Management implementation, digitalisation of R&D, and embedding artificial intelligence into processes.

- Building Kaizen (continuous improvement) capabilities and a culture of operational excellence across Suntory Beverage and Food Europe.

- Leading and mentoring a diverse team, managing change, and ensuring engagement and accountability across functions.

- Collaborating with internal and external partners, including system suppliers, copackers, and manufacturing equipment providers.

You’ll be exposed to a wide range of strategic projects, from risk management frameworks to digital transformation, and you’ll play a key role in shaping the future of R&D at Suntory Beverage and Food Europe.

What's in it for you

- The opportunity to lead transformational projects that will shape the future of R&D, including Product Lifecycle Management implementation, digitalisation, and AI integration.

- A highly visible leadership role, reporting to the CRDO (Chief R&D Officer) and engaging with senior stakeholders across Suntory Beverage and Food Europe and Suntory Holdings.

- The chance to build and mentor a high-performing team, driving engagement and operational excellence.

- Exposure to a broad network across R&D, supply chain, quality, and manufacturing

- Flexibility to be based in our offices in Amsterdam, Uxbridge, Tordera (Spain) or other key SBFE locations.

- A culture that values innovation, empowerment, and accountability, where your ideas and leadership will make a real impact.

- Competitive package and the opportunity to work on a rolling innovation pipeline and influencing the future of our “Must Win Brands”.

What You need to be successful

- A continuous improvement mindset and a passion for process optimisation.

- Strong interpersonal and collaborative skills, with the ability to influence and drive change across functions.

- Experience in FMCG (food/beverage) or a related industry, ideally in R&D, supply chain, or technical roles.

- Proven project management skills, with experience leading cross-functional teams and delivering complex change initiatives.

- Commercial acumen and strategic thinking, with the ability to balance operational detail and big-picture vision.

- Technical fluency, including an understanding of digitalisation, AI, and data management in an R&D context.

- Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, and fluency in English (additional market languages a plus).

- A degree in science, technology, engineering, or a process-related field, with significant experience at senior management or executive level.

- A genuine interest in building a culture of excellence, mentoring others, and future-proofing R&D through innovation and continuous improvement.

Our DEI Commitment

At Suntory, we recognize that diverse knowledge, perspectives, and backgrounds contribute to our collective success. We are committed to fostering a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace where all individuals can bring their whole selves to work every day, regardless of race, color, religion, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, or any other protected characteristic.

Our recruitment and selection processes are designed to highlight what Suntory offers as an employer while allowing candidates to share their unique skills and experiences. We understand that career trajectories vary, and if you believe your experience/background can benefit our team, we encourage you to apply. We endeavor to make our interview process as inclusive as possible and offer reasonable accommodations as needed. Together, we can cultivate a workplace where everyone can thrive and propel our mission of Growing for Good.