Global Head of Coffee R&D (opens in new tab)

Nestle SA; Romont (FR), Vevey; Remote; CHF 300,000 - 500,000; Full time

Job summary

Nestlé in Romont/Vevey, Switzerland, seeks a Global Head of Coffee R&D to define the future of premium coffee. You will lead a multidisciplinary Coffee and Sensory organisation, uniting science, consumer insight and business ambition to deliver distinctive experiences across B2C and B2B.

You will champion coffee excellence throughout Nestlé, from origin to consumer, and partner with internal teams and external stakeholders to shape strategy, investments and long-term impact.

Qualifications

• End-to-end expertise in coffee R&D from origin to sensory and product experience.
• Visionary, strategic thinking linking science to business opportunities.
• Track record turning science and technology into premium experiences and scalable outcomes.
• Leadership of world-class specialists through trust, clarity and performance.
• Excellent communication skills with senior stakeholders in English.

Responsibilities

• Set the global Coffee R&D vision and strategy translating into roadmaps and priorities.
• Mobilise Nestlé's R&D network from origin to roasting and sensory.
• Shape the coffee portfolio for evolving B2C and B2B platforms.
• Define principles of coffee and sensory excellence ensuring quality and sustainability.
• Forge partnerships to accelerate breakthroughs and measurable impact.
• Build and lead a world-class Coffee and Sensory organisation.
• Represent coffee excellence externally to colleagues, boutiques, industry and academia.

Skills

Coffee R&D

Strategy

Leadership

Stakeholder mgmt

English fluency

Job description

Location: Romont & Vevey, Switzerland

Work model: On-site / Full time 100%

Contract type / duration: Permanent

Shape & pioneer the next generation of Nespresso coffee experiences.

As Global Head of Coffee R&D at Nespresso, you will help define the future of premium coffee. Bringing deep, end-to-end Coffee R&D expertise from origin at the farm through green coffee transformation to the final consumer experience, you will serve as Nespresso's highest coffee authority. You will champion Nespresso Coffee Excellence and ensure the integrity of the consumer coffee experience is sustained over time. Combining your own expertise with the breadth of the Nestlé coffee R&D network, you will unite science, consumer insight and business ambition behind a bold vision. Leading a multidisciplinary Coffee and Sensory Organisation, you will turn pioneering advances into distinctive experiences across our B2C and B2B platforms and embed coffee excellence throughout Nespresso, bringing it to life for colleagues and consumers, in our boutiques and beyond.

How you'll make an impact as Global Head of Coffee R&D

• Set the global Coffee R&D vision and strategy, translating it into technology roadmaps, investment priorities and portfolio choices that shape our long-term competitive advantage
• Mobilise the full Nestlé coffee R&D network, from plant science to transformation, roasting and sensory, behind Nespresso's coffee ambition
• Shape the coffee innovation portfolio across Nespresso's evolving B2C and B2B coffee platforms, making decisive choices on value, risk, quality, investment and speed
• Be the voice of the consumer coffee experience in critical end-to-end decisions, defining the principles of coffee and sensory excellence and ensuring cost, operational and sustainability choices strengthen Nespresso’s quality & distinctiveness.
• Forge strategic partnerships that accelerate scientific breakthroughs and deliver measurable impact across the organisation
• Build & lead a world class multidisciplinary Coffee and Sensory organisation, building the talent, capabilities and accountability needed to deliver at scale
• Embed coffee excellence throughout Nespresso and serve as its highest coffee authority externally, bringing our expertise to life with internal colleagues, in our boutiques and across industry, academia, media and thought leadership.

What will make you successful

• Demonstrated end-to-end expertise in coffee research and development, covering origin, green coffee, transformation, roasting, extraction, sensory science, and product experience, complemented by multiple leadership roles in the coffee and FMCG sectors.
• Visionary & strategic thinking, with the ability to connect emerging science, consumer needs and business opportunities into a compelling long-term direction
• A strong record of turning science and technology into distinctive, premium experiences and scalable commercial outcomes
• Leadership of world-class specialists through purpose, trust and clarity, creating high performance without micromanagement
• Enterprise influence and strategic judgement, with excellent communication, fluency in English, influencing senior stakeholders with purpose, trust, clarity and sound judgement
• Commercial courage to prioritize investment, challenge established thinking, manage trade-offs and stop work that will not create sufficient value
• Bringing our WE CAN mindset to life through collaboration, courage, speed and continuous learning, while driving performance with respect and care at the foundation.

What to expect from our hiring process

We are committed to an inclusive and respectful hiring experience and are happy to provide reasonable accommodation if needed. Our workplaces are fully accessible and supported by a strong safety culture, with modern installations and procedures to ensure a safe environment for everyone.

The hiring process typically includes an interview with Talent Acquisition, an interview with the hiring team, and a final discussion and offer. We review applications as they are received and close the role once a strong list of relevant candidates is identified, all information is treated confidentially.

Stay vigilant: Nestlé will only contact candidates via official company email addresses and will never ask for payments or sensitive personal information at any stage of the hiring process.