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

Compensation package 

The salary range for this position is EUR 80,000 – EUR 90,000 gross annual fixed compensation (RAL), corresponding to Level DIR of the CCNL Metalmeccanico (Code: C011), and determined by Versuni’s objective, gender-neutral career framework. The role also includes a variable compensation component linked to company performance and/or structured incentive schemes, as well as work-from-home and phone allowances to support home office setup and business connectivity.

At Versuni, we are committed to pay transparency and the principle of equal pay for equal work or work of equal value. The final offer within the stated range will be determined based on objective, non-discriminatory criteria, including the specific competencies, professional qualifications, and measurable skills required for the role.

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?