Food & Beverage Product Development Manager (EMEA)

Aquent GmbH; London; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

An innovative firm is seeking an experienced professional to lead food and beverage product development in collaboration with renowned brands. This role is pivotal in shaping exciting products that resonate with consumers across various age ranges. With a focus on creativity and storytelling, you will manage cross-functional teams and oversee the entire product lifecycle, ensuring alignment with brand vision and quality standards. If you have a passion for F&B trends and a strong background in creative direction, this opportunity offers a chance to make a significant impact in a dynamic environment.

Qualifications

• 8+ years in creative direction for food and beverage product development.
• Strong communication skills for managing agency relationships.

Responsibilities

• Drive food and beverage product development across local markets.
• Collaborate with Brand Partnerships team on F&B initiatives.

Skills

Creative Direction

Food and Beverage Product Development

Brand Partnerships

Project Management

Communication Skills

Multilingual Skills

Tools

Adobe Illustrator

Adobe Photoshop

Job description

We are seeking an experienced professional with a strong background in food and beverage product development—ideally within a licensing environment—and a keen understanding of brand partnerships. This role offers an exciting opportunity to shape innovative F&B products in collaboration with some of the world’s most recognizable brands.

Key Responsibilities

1. Serve as a key member of the EMEA Product Development & Creative (PDC) team, driving all aspects of food and beverage product development across local markets within the Consumer Products (CP) business.
2. Collaborate closely with the Brand Partnerships team on cross-functional F&B initiatives.
3. Oversee freelancers and external agencies in creating visual tools such as mood boards, product mock-ups, and concept presentations to support product storytelling and creative direction across all age ranges—from Infant to Adult.
4. Partner with licensees to foster innovation and provide feedback throughout the product lifecycle, ensuring alignment with brand vision, design standards, and product quality.
5. Manage product approvals efficiently through the internal approval system to ensure timely delivery and compliance.
6. Build strong cross-functional relationships with Licensing, Market Strategy & Development (MSD), and Retail Marketing teams to support broader brand objectives.
7. Coordinate with key stakeholders—including Content, Brand Partnerships, Business & Legal Affairs (BLA), Creative Marketing, and Regional Marketing—to amplify the impact of strategic initiatives.

What We’re Looking For

1. 8+ years of experience in creative direction for food and beverage product development, ideally within entertainment licensing, brand partnerships, or retail.
2. Demonstrated creativity and innovation in product development, with a passion for storytelling and delivering joyful consumer experiences.
3. In-depth knowledge of F&B trends and new product development (NPD), with the ability to translate insights into commercially viable and brand-aligned products.
4. Solid understanding of the European retail landscape and competitive brand positioning.
5. Strong communication skills to effectively manage agency relationships and creative project workflows.
6. Excellent project management and organizational abilities.
7. Multilingual skills are a plus.
8. Prior experience in the EMEA region required.
9. Proficiency in Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop is essential.

Client Description

Our Client is the world’s leading streaming entertainment service. Headquartered in California, they’re proud of their unique company culture. This organization has offices worldwide and has continued to grow for almost 25 years. They actively participate in the production and distribution of original, award-winning content.

Aquent is dedicated to improving inclusivity & is proudly an equal opportunities employer. We encourage applications from under-represented groups & are committed to providing support to applicants with disabilities. We aim to provide reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment process, to those with a medical condition, disability or neurodivergence.