Commercial R&d Manager

Seniority Level:
Dream big. Craft your legacy. Own your future.

AB InBev is seeking a Commercial R&D Manager for the Global Innovation & Technology Center (GITEC), in Belgium.

Who We Are

At AB InBev, we are brewing the world’s most loved beers and building brands that bring people together. This is a place where ownership, ambition, and action thrive. We empower you to dream big, lead change, and turn bold ideas into real results.

GITEC—our Global Research & Development Center located at our headquarters in Leuven, Belgium—is at the heart of this mission. In this facility, over 120 specialists from more than 20 nationalities work together to pioneer innovation. Their impact goes far beyond Belgium: GITEC teams collaborate globally to develop breakthrough technologies, new products, and consumer-loved experiences.

This is who we are. This is where you can make a lasting impact. Come and OWN IT

Purpose:
As a Commercial R&D Manager, you will play a pivotal role in shaping the long-term product portfolio strategy. You will lead the strategic direction of the long-term innovation pipeline and manage a network of external R&D partners to identify, assess, and prioritize opportunities.

Your focus will be on evaluating opportunities based on consumer desirability, market trends, feasibility, and competitive advantage to ensure the successful valorization of the long-term product pipeline. Working in close collaboration with the product development team, you will ensure that new offerings align with evolving consumer needs, regulatory standards, and business objectives.

In this role, you will drive cross-functional collaboration between R&D, Consumer Insights, and Marketing teams to foster product innovation and create a cohesive approach to future growth.

The role:

- Drive value creation through cross-functional collaboration, fostering strong partnerships between R&D, Marketing, and Sales to accelerate product innovation.
- Lead and manage partnerships with suppliers (flavor houses, ingredient suppliers, and others) to continuously improve ingredient quality, formulation performance, cost efficiency, sensory experience, and product stability.
- Oversee the development and optimization of scalable liquid production processes, ensuring efficiency and reproducibility at commercial scale.
- Lead copacker scouting and coordination, securing reliable partners to support production and innovation goals.
- Collaborate closely with the ABI Packaging Development team to deliver new packaging solutions and guarantee liquid quality across different formats.
- Optimize product-concept and product-market fit by designing superior, profitable products that meet consumer needs and preferences.
- Proactively develop and test prototypes inspired by consumer trends, insights, and competitive analysis.
- Lead continuous monitoring of consumer preferences and competitive landscape in partnership with Consumer Research and Consumer Science teams.
- Build, maintain, and leverage a robust external network of partners and experts in fields such as Pharmacokinetics, Biosynthesis, Botanical Science, Physiology, Nutrition, Applied Data Science, and Design of Experiments (including suppliers, consultants, and research labs).
- Collaborate with Legal and Tax teams to develop formulations aligned with desired claims, labeling requirements, and compliance needs.
- Oversee seamless product transition from concept to market, ensuring adherence to global and local regulatory standards.
- Partner with Procurement to identify, assess, and validate suppliers that align with innovation and quality objectives.
- Lead, mentor, and develop a team of technical experts to enhance innovation capability and execution excellence.
- Drive long-term beverage and wellness trend scouting, translating insights into actionable product opportunities.
- Lead the design and implementation of a valuation model to assess product segments and innovation opportunities.
- Ensure a risk-adjusted, prioritized pipeline of long-term horizon projects that deliver agreed business value.
- Support the Commercial R&D GITEC Director in project and investment prioritization, ensuring strategic alignment.
- Own and manage the FEI Gate process for the portfolio of long-term horizon initiatives, ensuring disciplined governance and progress tracking.
- Who we’re looking for:

- Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Food Science, Chemistry, or a related scientific discipline.
- Minimum of 5 years’ experience leading or contributing to R&D projects within the Pharma, FMCG, Cosmetics, and/or Food Nutrition industries.
- Proven experience in product development and product innovation is a strong asset.
- Strong scientific mindset with in-depth knowledge of supplements, beverages, and consumer science.
- Demonstrated track record of understanding and interpreting market and product trends to inform innovation strategy.
- Expertise in innovation management, product lifecycle management,