Packaging Automation Manager - EMEA Engineering Design

Overview

At PepsiCo, you’ll discover a place where our mission is to create smiles with every sip and every bite. With a portfolio of more than 500 beloved brands, including Pepsi, Doritos, and Lipton Ice Tea, our work touches millions of people every day. At the heart of the company is a team of thinkers, creators, and problem-solvers who collaborate to innovate and turn ideas into action. Driven by innovation and a focus on creating joyful moments through food and beverages, our decisions are guided by consumer centricity, creating opportunities for our associates to do meaningful work and make a lasting impact in the communities we serve. Whatever your role, you’ll be part of a global community that values your ideas and empowers you to make an impact on your career and the world around you.

The EMEA Packaging Automation Manager plays a key role in ensuring the successful due diligence and detailed design of capital projects across the region, including both greenfield and brownfield developments, low-cost automation initiatives, and master planning and debottlenecking projects. This role provides Center of Excellence (CoE) subject matter expertise across Packaging and Automation technologies to support the regional capital agenda, with a focus on design, scoping, and costing activities. The position will lead next-generation automation innovation initiatives and unlock affordable, efficient, and sustainable solutions across secondary packaging and end-of-line operations to deliver productivity and functional goals across EMEA. The role supports approximately 75 Foods plants and acts as the primary gatekeeper of PepsiCo's engineering specifications, standards, and best practices for Packaging and Automation Technologies, in line with PepsiCo Global Engineering strategies. The position covers all primary, secondary, and multi-pack packaging formats and serves as a key liaison with commercialization teams on new go-to-market initiatives, such as canister and e-commerce developments. Technical design support may also be provided to third-party manufacturers, joint ventures, and FOSO partners on an as-needed basis

Responsibilities

• Provide engineering design expertise across approximately 75 Foods plants operating within seven OU/MUs, plus India.

• Contribute significantly to the design and scoping of major Foods capital projects.

• Support the execution team in delivering strategic projects across the region.

• Support Co-Manufacturers and Joint Venture partners in designing and implementing projects in accordance with PepsiCo engineering standards.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering or a related technical discipline.

• Minimum 5 years previous product/process development and programme/project management experience, ideally within FMCG environment.

• First hand in-depth knowledge of Packaging technologies essential.

• Strong technical understanding of process flow and end of line technologies.

• Excellent understanding and application of business knowledge across the broader business environment.

• Exemplary interpersonal skills with ability to influence at senior levels within the organisation.

• First class presentation skills (written & verbal).

• Strong analytical skills – ability to interpret complex data and distil into useful and actionable information

• Ability to explain complex technical issues/solutions to a non-technical audience.

• Cultural sensitivity/flexibility in responding to different cultures.

• Self-starter, self-motivating - able to deal with uncertainty and complexity.

• Knowledge of LEAN systems design principles would be advantageous.

• International travel to meet business needs ~30-60%

Key skills required:

• Independent Execution: Ability to manage and deliver complex tasks autonomously with strong ownership and accountability.

• Tactical and Strategic Thinking: Capacity to balance day-to-day execution with long-term strategic alignment to business objectives.

• Leadership: Skilled in guiding cross-functional teams, influencing without authority, and driving collaboration across diverse stakeholders.

• Collaboration: Strong interpersonal and communication skills to build effective partnerships across Engineering, Operations, and functional teams.

• Technical Proficiency: Solid foundation in Core Process Engineering, Project Management methodologies, and advanced MS Office skills.

• Methodical Thinking: Structured, analytical mindset to ensure disciplined project planning, reporting, and execution.

• Improvisational Agility: Ability to adapt and problem-solve effectively in dynamic and fast-changing project environments.