Hybrid Innovation Lead - Liquid Product Development

Carlsberg Group; Hemel Hempstead; Hybrid; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Monthly product allowance

Private Medical options

Life Assurance

Company bonus scheme

Access to 24/7 GP services

Enhanced pension contribution

Discounts at high street retailers

Job summary

Carlsberg Britvic is actively seeking a Product Development Manager in Hemel Hempstead (Hybrid) to lead the liquid development of new soft drinks from concept through to scale-up and factory implementation. You will champion technical excellence, manage liquid workstreams across diverse teams, and partner with Marketing, Supply Chain and external suppliers to meet ambitious business objectives.

This role blends scientific rigor with strategic leadership in a fast-moving consumer goods

Qualifications

• Experience leading delivery of technical projects in FMCG as part of a cross-functional team.
• Technical liquid development and project leadership with track record of delivering results.
• Liquid knowledge of ingredients, formulations and sensory.
• Experience working with manufacturing departments and process scale up from Lab to final site.
• Proficient IT skills including MS Project and Office suite.
• Strong interpersonal, written and verbal communication skills.
• Experience in mentoring or coaching others is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Lead the liquid development of new soft drink products from concept to commercialisation.
• Influence the product innovation pipeline using trends and external partnership.
• Project manage technical workstreams with multi-disciplinary teams ensuring compliance with Britvic processes and legal requirements related to soft drinks.
• Provide technical liquid expertise and coaching to technologists, factories and supply chain teams ensuring project objectives are met on time in full.
• Build effective collaborative partnerships with Marketing, Supply Chain and Suppliers to enable project delivery of key business objectives.
• Use strong technical knowledge, leadership and influence to enable cross-functional teams meet project objectives and drive innovation.
• Provide direction & leadership to project teams across all levels of the business.
• Create testing plans and reports to share with the wider technical team, rolling out appropriate training where needed.
• Develop and maintain accurate liquid specifications and methodologies, ensuring they are validated and IP protected.
• Understand risk profiles of liquid solutions and actively manage associated risks and mitigations.
• Implement and contribute to the liquid development strategy.
• Establish external relationships to maximise competitive advantage.
• Maintain knowledge of liquid development, new ingredients, technologies and trends.

Skills

Technical leadership

Liquid development

Cross-functional collaboration

Project management

Sensory & ingredients knowledge

Process scale-up

MS Project / IT tools

Education

Honours or Degree in Chemical Engineering / Food Science / Chemistry

Tools

MS Project

Job description

Carlsberg Britvic is actively seeking a Product Development Manager in Hemel Hempstead (Hybrid) to lead the liquid development of new soft drinks from concept through to scale-up and factory implementation. You will champion technical excellence, manage liquid workstreams across diverse teams, and partner with Marketing, Supply Chain and external suppliers to meet ambitious business objectives.

This role blends scientific rigor with strategic leadership in a fast-moving consumer goods