R&D manager (maternity cover)

Starbucks EMEA; Greater London; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days holiday

Bonus up to 10%

Life assurance

Private medical insurance

Starbucks Global Academy

Free coffee

Partner discounts 30%

Headspace subscription

Home Sweet Loan

Bean stock options

Employee Assistance Programme

Job summary

Starbucks UK is seeking an R&D manager on a fixed-term contract to lead category development, drive sales and margins in the UK retail business, and deliver consumer-led product ranges. You will set strategic direction for product development, manage the annual operating plan, and work with suppliers to bring innovative products to market.

You'll lead category strategies, forecast demand, and monitor performance to ensure top and bottom-line growth, while aligning with brand values and store

Qualifications

• Experience in category management within retail or hospitality environments.
• Ability to develop brand-consistent, consumer-led product ranges.
• Track record of delivering top and bottom-line growth within categories.

Responsibilities

• Set strategic direction for product development in the UK.
• Create annual operating plan for the product category, including pricing and packaging.
• Manage products through their lifecycle and provide recommendations to stakeholders.
• Monitor performance and highlight insights to address or accelerate growth.
• Define and execute detailed implementation plans for new initiatives.
• Develop content and tools to support stores and marketing campaigns.

Skills

Category management

Strategic planning

Forecasting

Supplier management

Retail/hospitality experience

Job description

We're looking for an R&D manager to join our team here at Starbucks UK on a fixed term contract. A place where you're valued, challenged, and inspired. Where your voice is brewed into everything we do. At Starbucks, we're all about you.

As part of this role, you'll be responsible for growing the sales and margins of the food and beverage categories in the UK retail business through the development and implementation of effective strategic and operational plans for Starbucks products, including the development of brand consistent, consumer-led, innovative product ranges and display.

We'll look to you to bring your category management experience, with a key understanding of how to access category growth levers. You'll have experience in leading category strategies, operational business plans and trend understanding and interpretation. We're looking for someone with a track record in delivering positive top and bottom-line growth within categories, ideally within a similar retail or hospitality environment. You'll be commercially minded with the ability to develop food or beverage offerings which meets our consumer needs and brand values.

About

The best part about this role is that no two days are ever the same! Working as our R&D manager, you'll get involved in:

• Setting the strategic direction for product development in the UK, including long term strategy and annual business planning activity to achieve vision.
• Creating the annual operating plan (AOP) for the product category including products, pricing, packaging and distribution.
• Managing products through their lifecycle and bringing recommendations for the direction of category to stakeholders across the business.
• Managing the in-year plan, continuously assessing and monitoring the performance of categories, making this visible to the wider business, highlighting and acting upon emerging themes or insights to address or accelerate performance.
• Setting, reviewing and adjusting product forecasts.
• Continuously monitoring market and consumer trends and insight, creating action plans with suppliers to create products that place Starbucks in a place to exploit the emerging trends.
• Leading suppliers in the development of innovative new products, packaging or concepts from concept through implementation to ensure they meet the needs of the UK market and consumer, ensuring they are based on financial viability and brand fit & regional guidelines.
• Working with suppliers to ensure Starbucks has the right equipment in store to allow the delivery of high-quality food products in line with speed of service requirements and understanding how Starbucks can continue to evolve as its store portfolio does.
• Defining and executing detailed implementation plans for product and new initiative roll-outs.
• Creating content and tools for communication to stores for day to day management of product categories. Ensuring the wider marketing function is briefed on required support for food categories in campaigns.
• Working alongside procurement team to ensure that supplier base is reviewed for both cost and quality on a regular basis.

In return, we'll offer you a competitive salary and benefits that include:

• 25 days holiday a year (plus Bank Holidays).
• Flexible benefits - in addition to the benefits listed here we'll also provide you with an additional 4% to allow you to select the benefits that suit you.
• Up to 10% bonus.
• Life assurance and private medical insurance for yourself.
• Comprehensive training (including coffee knowledge!) and access to Starbucks Global Academy (our online learning platform to help continuously develop yourself).
• Free bag of coffee each week and a 30% partner discounts on food, beverages, and merchandise.
• Discounts with local and national retailers (cell phones, gym memberships, entertainment tickets, hotels, etc.) through Perks at Work platform.
• Subscription to Headspace.
• Home Sweet Loan (Interest-free loans that can be paid back over 12 months to help pay your rental deposit).
• Bean stock options for all partners (own part of Starbucks!).
• A free 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme available to you and your family.

So, if you're looking for a new opportunity, with us you'll be welcomed, you'll be challenged, you'll be inspired. Here you'll be heard. Because here, you're a part of it all. Here you belong.

Starbucks is committed to building an inclusive and diverse workforce. All applicants and partners will be treated fairly, without regard to race, religion, sex, nationality, age, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, marital status, gender identity and expression.

Know someone who would be a perfect fit? Share this opportunity with them! At Starbucks, there's always room for one more.