Head of Innovation (Drinks)

Halecroft Recruitment; England; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading company in the health and wellness sector seeks a Head of Innovation to drive the creation of a next-generation functional drinks portfolio. This role involves leading NPD from inception to production, leveraging strong technical expertise and commercial insight. The ideal candidate will have a degree in Food Science or related fields and significant experience in drinks NPD, alongside a passion for emerging health trends.

Benefits

Competitive Salary

Benefits package

Qualifications

• 5+ years of drinks NPD experience in functional food/drink, health and wellness, or FMCG.
• Strong lab capability and hands-on experience in formulation.
• Experience in start-up, scale-up, or agile environments is a bonus.

Responsibilities

• Leading NPD from concept to pilot production across multiple drink categories.
• Translating trends into commercially viable functional products.
• Working collaboratively with stakeholders and suppliers.

Skills

Commercial acumen

Hands-on formulation

Knowledge of health trends

Ingredient trends

Packaging trends

Education

Degree in Food Science, Chemistry, Nutrition, or similar

Job description

Head of Innovation

Are you a hands-on innovator in the drinks space with a passion for trend-led product development?

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a dynamic and commercially-minded Head of Innovation to lead the creation of a next-generation functional drinks portfolio. This is a confidential appointment on behalf of a fast-growing business at the forefront of product innovation within the health and wellness category.

The Opportunity

This role is ideal for a forward-thinking food scientist or NPD leader who blends technical expertise with entrepreneurial drive. You ll lead the end-to-end development of functional beverages, from energy drinks and RTDs to vitamin waters and clean-label innovations, bringing new products to life ahead of the market curve. With in-house pilot capabilities and creative freedom, you ll play a critical role in shaping what s next in the drinks category.

What You ll Be Doing

• Leading NPD across multiple categories and formats, from concept to pilot production
• Translating health, flavour, ingredient, and packaging trends into commercially viable products
• Creating a ready-to-go library of functional drink formulations
• Working hands-on in the lab, formulating, testing, and refining prototypes
• Partnering with flavour houses, packaging suppliers, and internal stakeholders
• Supporting costing, feasibility analysis, and go-to-market planning
• Influencing packaging, process, and machinery decisions based on innovation needs

What We re Looking For

• A degree in Food Science, Chemistry, Nutrition, or similar
• 5+ years of drinks NPD experience (functional food/drink, health and wellness, or FMCG)
• Hands-on formulation experience with strong lab capability
• Commercial acumen and understanding of cost structures, margins, and scalability
• Passionate about emerging trends in consumer health, ingredients, and packaging
• Entrepreneurial, proactive, and excited by the pace of growth and innovation
• Bonus: experience working in start-up, scale-up, or agile environments

Package: Competitive Salary (Depending on experience) + Benefits

Location: Sunderland (37.5hrs per week)
Contract: Full-time, Permanent
Sector: FMCG / Food & Beverage

Please note: Applicants must have the right to work in the UK