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Head of NPD (European role)

Requisition ID:  11802

👋 About you

You are a curious, forward‑thinking leader with a true passion for innovation in food & beverages 🧃✨. You feel at home in complex, international environments and love turning bold ideas into reality.
You enjoy developing people, leading senior teams and building high‑performance cultures. You’re energised by creating products that consumers love — and by shaping what comes next.

💡 About the role

As Head of SBFE R&D – New Product Development, you will define and lead the NPD vision for Suntory Beverage & Food Europe 🌍.
You’ll oversee three NPD teams across four key markets (GB&I, SBFF, Iberia and EECM), driving innovation, sustainability and execution excellence across the portfolio.

The role is based in Tordera, at our R&D Technical Centre — just a short distance from the Mediterranean and the stunning Costa Brava 🌊. Here, you’ll combine a truly global, strategic leadership role with an unbeatable lifestyle: sea, nature, outdoor living and great food, all while building the SBFE R&D Centre of Excellence.

You’ll collaborate closely with Marketing, Consumer Insights, Supply Chain, Quality, Procurement and our Japan NPD teams to deliver breakthrough beverage innovations 🚀.

🎁 What’s in it for you

A high‑impact, senior leadership role with real influence on business growth and long‑term strategy.Responsibility for leading and inspiring an international team of 25 talented professionals, including 4 direct reports 💪.The opportunity to work for a values‑driven company with a strong purpose and long‑term vision.Broad international exposure and collaboration across markets and functions.

What You need to be successful

  • A Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Chemistry, Biochemistry, Biology or Agricultural Engineering 🎓.
  • Solid experience in New Product Development within the food industry. 
  • Strong expertise in formulation, ingredients and industrial processes.
  • Proven experience leading large, multi‑disciplinary, multi‑location teams, developing senior leaders along the way.
  • Excellent stakeholder management, communication and influencing skills 🤝.
  • A strategic mindset, passion for continuous improvement and strong results orientation.
  • Fluent English is a must; French and/or Spanish are a plus 🌍.

✨ Lead innovation across Europe. Build the future of beverages.

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.

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