Senior Product Development Technologist - Liquid Milk

a2M Career Site; Sydney; On-site; AUD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

The a2 Milk Company is seeking a Senior Product Development Technologist - Liquid Milk to lead technical development from concept to commercial launch. You’ll drive innovation across liquid milk portfolios, including ESL, UHT and fortified products, collaborating with cross-functional teams in ANZ, China and beyond.

You will leverage food science expertise to optimise formulations, manage sensory evaluation, and deliver high-quality, market-ready products while navigating regulatory and

Qualifications

• Degree in Food Technology, Food Science, Nutrition or related discipline.
• Approximately five years' experience in consumer-focused dairy product development with market launches.
• Strong knowledge of liquid/dairy formulation, fortification, manufacturing and shelf-life validation.
• Hands-on scaling from benchtop to commercial production.

Responsibilities

• Take ownership of product development from concept to commercialisation across liquid milk and related categories.
• Create and optimise formulations and prototypes to meet claims, sensory expectations and quality standards.
• Lead multiple innovation, reformulation and cost-optimisation projects across ANZ, China and other markets.
• Guide products from benchtop to scale-up and production, including pilot trials and shelf-life validation.
• Collaborate with Procurement, Quality, Regulatory, suppliers and manufacturing partners.

Skills

Food science

Formulation development

Shelf-life validation

Project management

Education

Degree in Food Technology/Science/Nutrition

Job description

Our Story

At The a2 Milk Company, we believe in doing dairy differently.

The a2 Milk Company, driven by science and a pioneering spirit, disrupted the dairy and infant milk formula industry. Our vision is to create an A1-free world where dairy nourishes all people and our planet. The a2 Milk Company seeks to achieve this through the naturally occurring a2 Milk® difference and by bringing a more sustainable approach to dairy.

Our Opportunity

We have a rare opportunity for an experienced Senior Product Development Technologist - Liquid Milk to join our Product Development team in Sydney.

This is a hands-on, technically challenging role for an experienced FMCG product development professional who enjoys taking ideas from concept through to successful commercial launch.

You’ll lead the technical development and commercialisation of innovation and renovation projects across our liquid milk portfolio and adjacent dairy categories. This includes pasteurised, extended shelf life (ESL) and UHT milk, flavoured and fortified milk, as well as opportunities across fortified milk powder, yoghurt and other emerging dairy categories.

Working across projects for ANZ, China and other markets, you’ll have the opportunity to combine your technical expertise, commercial thinking and passion for food innovation to create products that meet consumer needs and deliver against quality, performance and commercial expectations.

More specifically, you will be involved in:

• Taking ownership of product development from concept to commercialisation, across liquid milk, fortified milk powders and emerging categories such as yoghurt.
• Creating and optimising formulations and prototypes that deliver against consumer needs, product claims, sensory expectations, quality standards and commercial targets.
• Leading multiple innovation, reformulation and cost-optimisation projects across ANZ, China and other markets.
• Taking products from benchtop through to commercial production, including pilot trials, scale-up, sensory assessment and shelf-life validation.
• Collaborating with Procurement, Quality, Regulatory, suppliers and manufacturing partners to successfully deliver products to market.
• Solving technical challenges and managing risks, developing practical solutions that keep projects moving.
• Exploring new ingredients, processes and technologies that can support future product and category innovation.
• Sharing your technical expertise, including supporting the development of the Product Development Associate.

About You

You’re an experienced FMCG Product Development Technologist who enjoys combining food science with commercial thinking and seeing products move from an idea on the bench to successful production and launch.

You’ll bring:

• A degree in Food Technology, Food Science, Nutrition or a related science discipline.
• Approximately five years' experience in consumer-focused dairy product development, with demonstrated experience launching new products into market.
• Strong knowledge of liquid and/or dairy formulation, functional and nutrient fortification, manufacturing processes and shelf-life validation.
• Hands-on experience scaling products from benchtop development through to commercial production.
• A track record of managing multiple product development projects of varying complexity.
• The ability to provide strong technical advice across ingredients, formulation, manufacturing technology and factory scale-up.
• Strong analytical and critical-thinking skills and a solutions-focused approach.
• The ability to partner with and influence stakeholders across Quality, Regulatory, Operations, Marketing, Procurement, suppliers and manufacturing partners.
• Excellent communication and attention to detail, together with the adaptability to operate effectively in a fast-paced environment.
• The capability to coach and develop another team member.
• Experience working with third-party manufacturers or across a broader dairy portfolio would be advantageous. Sensory evaluation is also an important part of this position, so relevant allergies will need to be declared

Why join a2MC now?

Bring your technical expertise to a varied product development role across dairy categories, markets and projects, from optimisation to new product innovation. If you’re curious, enjoy solving technical challenges and want greater ownership from concept to commercialisation, we’d love to hear from you.

The a2 Milk Company Australia is a certified Family Inclusive Workplace, dedicated to enhancing our team members' work-life wellbeing through leading policies and practices on flexible work, parental leave, family care, and family wellbeing. This role can be worked flexibly, allowing us to support our team members in balancing their personal and professional lives. Our family-friendly culture aims to foster workforce participation, career development, and mental health and wellbeing