Research & Development Industrial Placement - Food Safety Quality Assurance + Regulatory Affairs

Overview

You’ve learned a lot as a student already. Want to put it into practice at Pepsi Co?

Our placement programmes are structured to give you the chance to make an impact on some of the world’s biggest brands. From day one, you’ll be working on projects that matter. You will shake things up, shape trends, and get guidance and development to help you discover your potential.

We are looking for enthusiastic undergraduates to join our R&D teams on a 12-month placement programme starting in July 2027 on a full-time basis.

Innovation takes centre stage at Pepsi Co! That means our Global R&D team are at the heart of the action and are kept busy creating the products of the future, for our global consumers. In a fast-paced consumer environment, our research and development capability is crucial to provide a fresh twist to our favourite brands as well as creating new to the world healthy choices that we need to succeed in the market.

Our research and development focusses on building a consumer-centric understanding, enabling us to design products for the latest consumer needs - whether nutrition, refreshment, or indulgence – driving our growth both now and in the future.

You’ll have lots of autonomy where your decisions will really make a difference to our business and in return, you’ll have the chance to develop your skills and experience in a fast paced, energetic environment.

Overview of the role:

This is a unique opportunity to work for a leader in the food and beverage industry in a broad technical role that encompasses Regulatory Affairs (RA), Food Safety and Quality Assurance (FSQA).

You’ll play a key role in ensuring products meet the highest standards of food safety, quality, and regulatory compliance. Working with many partners across functions—including supply chain, product development - you’ll support new product launches, assess ingredients and labelling, and help uphold compliance with evolving legislation. This varied, hands-on role offers the chance to learn from industry experts and gain experience with real projects, building valuable technical and professional skills for your future in the food and beverage industry.

You will also experience attending manufacturing sites and meeting suppliers, with some travel expected.

What will you be doing?

• Reviewing the compliance of raw materials for Pepsi Co foods (supporting new product launches and maintenance of existing products)
• Supporting the transition to an automated way of working for ingredient data collection.
• Assessing finished product labels and leading a project around artwork consistency.
• Supporting business process improvements in FSQA and Regulatory Affairs.
• Support real world FSQA projects gaining exposure to risk assessment, compliance strategies and regulatory frameworks.
• Work with cross functional teams across supply chain, product development and regulatory affairs to uphold quality and food safety standards
• Support in new product launches and ongoing product maintenance by assessing suppliers, ingredients, and new innovations.
• Support the digital agenda for predictive risk and AI in food safety and regulatory.

What we are looking for

• Currently pursuing a degree level qualification in Food Science/Technology, Nutrition, Life Sciences, Chemistry or similar
• Strong and broad range of digital skills
• Attention to detail
• Interested in learning food regulation and developing technical skills
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Good interpersonal skills, able to work with a range of stakeholders across multiple functions and countries
• Digitally aware and have an understanding of the use of Artificial Intelligence.
• Concise and persuasive communicator with first class written and verbal presentation…