Potato Storage Research & Best Practices Manager

Join our PepsiCo Foods North America (PFNA) Potato Team as the Potato Storage Research & Best Practices Manager.  In this role you will lead the establishment of variety specific and general storage Best Practices for the North America region.  The individual in this role will interact with both chip and seed potato growers to audit storages, implement innovative solutions and refine handling practices to maximize storage quality, minimize shrink, and ensure productivity targets are met annually

Storage Research:

• Lead commercial trials from our Storage Research facility on new and existing varieties, considering unique agronomic needs and supply chain requirements.
• Collaborate closely with growers and internal partners on successful storage trialing of new varieties, handling practices and innovative storage technologies.
• Continuously refine best management practices based on trial results, grower performance/feedback, and industry advancements.
• Participate in selection of promising new varieties for commercialization, aligning choices with PepsiCo’s business needs and grower feedback.

Storage Audits:

• Conduct on-farm storage audits assessing performance based on design/construction, ventilation capacity, humidification, refrigeration, control systems, handling practices, sanitation, etc.
• Interpret results, identifying trends and performance gaps to inform decision-making.
• Highlight key findings, recommendations, and areas of improvement in concise reports for both internal stakeholders and external growers.

Grower Engagement:

• Direct Interaction:
  • Collaborate closely with chip and seed potato growers.
  • Visit farms to collect storage data, observe practices, and address grower concerns.
  • Foster strong relationships to facilitate knowledge exchange and generate new variety storage interest.

• Education and Outreach:
  • Develop tailored storage training sessions based on grower and industry needs.
  • Share storage trial results, and best management practices with growers.

Budget Management:

• Manage Storage Research annual budget and ensure investments are aligned to business and commercial priorities.

Ad-hoc Commercial Potato Support:

• Support for the broader commercial potato program may be in-scope given the knowledge and expertise of the individual (e.g. plant pathology, physiology, etc.)

Compensation & Benefits:

• The expected compensation range for this position is between $72,500 - $121,300 based on a full-time schedule
• Location, confirmed job-related skills and experience will be considered in setting actual starting salary
• Bonus based on performance and eligibility; target payout is 8% of annual salary paid out annually
• Paid time off subject to eligibility, including paid parental leave, vacation, sick, and bereavement
• In addition to salary, PepsiCo offers a comprehensive benefits package to support our employees and their families, subject to elections and eligibility: Medical, Dental, Vision, Disability, Health and Dependent Care Reimbursement Accounts, Employee Assistance Program (EAP), Insurance (Accident, Group Legal, Life), Defined Contribution Retirement Plan

Key Education and Experience Required:

• Masters or Ph.D. in Agronomy & Plant Science / Production Agriculture / Ag Engineering / Horticulture or other related fields.
• Minimum of 5 years of commercial potato production experience, preference with experience in storage design & innovation
• Ability to communicate effectively with potato growers regarding Potato Storage and postharvest crop preservation, experience with new variety development is recommended.
• Thorough knowledge of commercial potato production and storage Best Practices. Demonstrating previous success in working with growers to optimize handling practices for maximum quality and minimized shrink.
• Experience with and demonstrated knowledge of electronic data acquisition, instrumentation, and control systems used in and for Potato Storages.
• Computer proficiency with Microsoft Suite products – preference, additional experience with data visualization products, and other spreadsheet analytic tools.
• Must have the indefinite right to work in the U.S.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and Other Competencies:

• Effective technical communication skills at grower, commercial and industry levels
• Proficient analytical, interpretation and presentation skills with commercial, research and survey data
• Ability to identify trends and correlations quickly and accurately in internal and external data sources
• Experience with and demonstrated knowledge of electronic data acquisition and analysis
• Facilitation and Project Management experience.
• Self-starter with strong drive for results and cross functional team leadership skills in a flexible work environment.
• Ability to keep current on emerging research, trends and topics

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, or disability status.

PepsiCo is an Equal Opportunity Employer: Female / Minority / Disability / Protected Veteran / Sexual Orientation / Gender Identity

If you'd like more information about your EEO rights as an applicant under the law, please download the available EEO is the Law & EEO is the Law Supplement documents. View PepsiCo EEO Policy.

 Please view our Pay Transparency Statement