Job description

Job Description:

Job Title: Beverage Development Scientist

Job Type: Full-Time

Location: Herefordshire

Reports To: Founder

Our client is a fast-growing and highly innovative beverage business with a diverse portfolio spanning proprietary brands and white-label product development. With an ambitious growth strategy and expanding product pipeline, they are seeking a talented Beverage Development Scientist to join their R&D function.

This is an exciting opportunity for a technically strong and commercially aware scientist to play a key role in bringing cutting-edge beverage concepts to life.

The Role

The successful candidate will drive New Product Development (NPD) across a broad range of beverage categories. You will take ownership of projects from initial concept and bench formulation through pilot trials and commercial scale-up, ensuring the delivery of high-quality, shelf-stable products.

The portfolio includes functional wellness beverages, fortified drinks, and alcoholic Ready-to-Drink (RTD) products, so versatility and strong formulation expertise are essential. This role requires someone comfortable operating in a dynamic, entrepreneurial environment, capable of managing multiple projects simultaneously while maintaining rigorous technical and regulatory standards.

Key Responsibilities

Full-Lifecycle New Product Development: Direct the beverage development process from initial ideation and benchtop prototyping through pilot trials and commercial-scale production.
Complex Formulation: Architect and optimize formulations across a broad spectrum of categories, including but not limited to: CBD-infused beverages, fiber-fortified drinks, nootropics, non-alcoholic functional beverages, and alcoholic Ready-To-Drinks (RTDs).
Quality & Stability Testing: Design and execute rigorous testing protocols, encompassing sensory evaluation, pH/Brix analysis, accelerated shelf-life testing, and stability studies to guarantee commercial viability and product safety.
Regulatory Compliance: Serve as the internal subject matter expert on food and beverage regulations. Ensure all formulations, ingredient dosages, and product claims strictly adhere to industry standards and legal requirements.
Scale-Up & Manufacturing Oversight: Translate laboratory-scale formulations into commercial manufacturing specifications. Collaborate closely with co-packers and contract manufacturers to ensure product integrity and quality control during large-scale production.
Strategic Sourcing: Identify, evaluate, and collaborate with ingredient suppliers to procure high-quality, innovative, and cost-effective raw materials.

Qualifications & Requirements

Education: Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Food Science, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, or a closely related scientific discipline.
Professional Experience: Minimum of 3 years of proven experience in beverage formulation and NPD, with a comprehensive portfolio of products successfully taken from concept to commercial launch.
Technical Versatility: Demonstrated expertise working with functional and complex ingredients (e.g., CBD, nootropics, fibers) as well as formulating both alcoholic and non-alcoholic bases.
Regulatory Knowledge: Deep understanding of food safety standards, compliance, and labeling regulations, particularly concerning functional claims and highly regulated ingredients.
Operational Agility: Highly organized project manager capable of driving multiple complex NPD pipelines simultaneously in a dynamic, fast-paced environment.
Communication Skills: Excellent technical writing and verbal communication skills, with the ability to liaise effectively between internal stakeholders, suppliers, and external manufacturing partners.

Compensation & Benefits

Competitive base salary commensurate with experience.
Flexible hybrid work model.
Opportunities for professional growth within a rapidly expanding portfolio of brands.