Job Title:  Innovation & Development Lead

About the role:

At Gaggia, we are passionate about creating authentic espresso experiences and bringing innovation to one of the most iconic brands in household coffee. As our Innovation & Development Manager, you will play a key role in shaping, defining, and executing the Household Espresso innovation roadmap in line with the business strategic plan.

In this position, you will lead the development of meaningful, consumer-centric innovations while ensuring excellence across product development, quality, certification, and lifecycle management. You will work within a dynamic, entrepreneurial, and highly collaborative environment where innovation, agility, and passion for espresso culture come together.

Gaggia operates with a high level of autonomy as an end-to-end organization within Versuni, offering a unique opportunity to make a visible impact in a fast-growing business segment.

The impact you’ll make:

As Innovation & Development Manager, you will:

• Lead and manage the Innovation & Development (I&D) team, reporting directly to the Gaggia Business Leader and serving as a member of the Gaggia Management Team.
• Drive the execution of the Innovation & Development roadmap by directing, guiding, and coordinating projects, resources, timelines, budgets, and deliverables.
• Manage the end-to-end product proposition development process — from idea generation and concept design through development, validation, certification, launch, and lifecycle management.
• Collaborate closely with testing activities and ensure product quality, compliance, and continuous improvement throughout development cycles.
• Ensure adherence to internal Quality Management System (QMS) processes, procedures, and standards while identifying opportunities for optimization and efficiency.
• Foster strong cross-functional collaboration between I&D and departments including Marketing, Operations, Procurement, Supply Chain, After Sales, HR, and Finance.
• Act as the primary technical interface toward commercial partners and their technical teams.
• Review, analyze, and report on project progress, risks, and outcomes while actively contributing to business decision-making processes.
• Coach, mentor, and develop team members, driving a culture of ownership, growth, innovation, and continuous improvement.

The skills and knowledge you’ll bring:

We are looking for a hands-on and entrepreneurial leader who combines technical expertise with strong business acumen and people leadership skills.

You bring:

• A technical degree, preferably in Mechanical Engineering, Electronics, or a related field, combined with a solid background in technical product development.
• Minimum 5 years of experience in an Innovation & Development leadership role, including managing and coordinating teams.
• Strong project management and quality process management capabilities (Six Sigma, Design of Experiments, or similar methodologies are considered a strong advantage).
• Solid knowledge of mechanical engineering and fluid dynamics.
• Good understanding of electronics and embedded product development.
• Financial and budget management awareness, including investment evaluation and product costing fundamentals.
• Knowledge of regulatory requirements and certification processes, including electrical safety, EMC, food contact compliance, REACH/RoHS, and related standards.
• Native-level Italian and fluent English communication skills.
• A proactive, can-do attitude with an entrepreneurial mindset and strong focus on business growth.
• The ability to make decisions, define priorities, and drive progress even when information is incomplete or evolving.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities with the ability to translate complex technical findings into practical solutions.
• Excellent stakeholder management skills, with the ability to communicate effectively across all organizational levels — from senior leadership to laboratory and production teams.
• An adaptive communication style suited for internal stakeholders, distributors, commercial partners, and external regulatory or certification bodies.
• The ability to synthesize insights from multiple data sources and test reports into clear, effective, and timely actions.

What we’ll give you in return:

• Internationally competitive base salary, benchmarked against global industry and markets leader
• Performance-based Annual Incentive Program
• Hybrid working model, effectively combining working from the office and home, depending on team dynamics and personal needs
• High-growth environment, offering exciting learning and career development perspectives beyond your first role
• Inclusive working culture and family spirit; we embrace our international community and diversity as a competitive advantage

Ready to make an impact?

From developing game-changing air fryers to perfecting the art of coffee making, Versuni’s purpose is turning houses into homes — and we’re calling on your talent to bring it to life. Join our global team of 6,000+ passionate individuals, work with world-class brands, and shape the future of home living. We’re ready for you — are you ready for us?