Malt & Barley Technical Specialist

Diageo; Elgin; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 54,000; Full time

Job summary

Diageo in Moray House is seeking a Malt & Barley Technical Specialist for a 15‑month secondment to lead barley and malt quality across Malt Distilling. You’ll work with suppliers, operations, and laboratories to ensure quality, performance and supply resilience while using data-driven insight and strong collaboration to drive continuous improvement.

You’ll apply malting expertise, manage projects, coach teams, and engage with external industry partners to shape the future of our barley and malt

Qualifications

• Degree in a Science-related field, or equivalent experience.
• MAGB Malting Diploma or equivalent experience.
• Proven malting process operational experience.
• Experience building strong internal and external collaborator relationships.
• Track record of leading technical projects and delivering expert support and advice.
• Experience partnering with operational teams to drive quality and efficiency improvements.
• Strong communication, engagement and coaching skills.
• Passion for developing capability and embedding continuous improvement.
• Full clean driving licence held for more than one year.
• Advantageous Lean / Six Sigma qualification or experience.
• Knowledge of Supplier Performance Management (SPM) processes.
• Experience using statistical analysis tools and information management systems.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical expertise on barley and malt quality, performance, and supply across Malt Distilling.
• Analyse quality and performance data, identifying trends, opportunities, and risks to drive informed decisions.
• Partner with suppliers, merchants, maltsters, and operational teams to deliver exceptional quality and value.
• Champion quality governance and compliance, ensuring adherence to ISO, HACCP, TACCP, and quality assurance standards.
• Lead and support root cause investigations, continuous improvement activities, and data-driven problem solving.
• Coach and develop stakeholders, building technical capability and promoting a growth mindset.
• Support barley allocation, crop quality assessments, and central initiatives across the business.
• Represent Diageo within industry forums and trade bodies, bringing external insights and guidelines into the organisation.
• Build strong supplier partnerships through reviews, audits, benchmarking, and performance management.
• Identify future opportunities, industry trends, and innovations that enhance quality, efficiency, and supply resilience.

Skills

Science degree

MAGB Malting Diploma

Malting process

Data analysis

Communication

Lean / Six Sigma

SPM knowledge

Statistics tools

Education

Degree in a Science-related field

Tools

Statistical analysis tools

Information management systems

Job description

Job Description : Malt & Barley Technical Sepcialist Moray House 15 month Secondment Closing Date: Midnight 21st September

Join our Supply Chain and Manufacturing teams! Supply Chain & Manufacturing is where our brands are made, moved and delivered to the world. With over half of our people working across more than 100 sites, this is a complex, large-scale operation that brings together production, logistics, engineering and supplier partnerships. It’s fast-paced and hands-on, with teams working together to ensure quality, efficiency and sustainability at every stage. From sourcing ingredients to getting products into customers’ hands, you’ll play a role in delivering the brands people know and love.

About the Role

Exceptional quality starts with exceptional ingredients. As our Malt & Barley Technical Specialist, you'll be the technical expert for barley and malt across Malt Distilling, helping to ensure the quality, consistency, and performance that underpin some of the world's most iconic brands. Working across suppliers, operations, laboratories, procurement teams, and industry partners, you'll use data-driven insight, technical expertise, and strong collaboration skills to drive continuous improvement, solve complex challenges, and shape the future of our barley and malt supply chain.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide technical expertise on barley and malt quality, performance, and supply across Malt Distilling.
• Analyse quality and performance data, identifying trends, opportunities, and risks to drive informed decisions.
• Partner with suppliers, merchants, maltsters, and operational teams to deliver exceptional quality and value.
• Champion quality governance and compliance, ensuring adherence to ISO, HACCP, TACCP, and quality assurance standards.
• Lead and support root cause investigations, continuous improvement activities, and data-driven problem solving.
• Coach and develop stakeholders, building technical capability and promoting a growth mindset.
• Support barley allocation, crop quality assessments, and central initiatives across the business.
• Represent Diageo within industry forums and trade bodies, bringing external insights and guidelines into the organisation.
• Build strong supplier partnerships through reviews, audits, benchmarking, and performance management.
• Identify future opportunities, industry trends, and innovations that enhance quality, efficiency, and supply resilience.

About You

You’re a technically minded problem-solver who is passionate about quality, continuous improvement and helping others succeed. Combining malting expertise with strong collaborator management skills, you’ll bring energy, credibility and a collaborative approach to driving performance across our malt distilling operations. You’ll be equally comfortable leading projects, providing expert technical guidance, coaching teams to achiee excellence and holding internal and external stakeholders to account.

Key Skills, Experience & Qualifications

• Degree in a Science-related field, or equivalent experience.
• MAGB Malting Diploma or equivalent experience.
• Proven malting process operational experience.
• Experience building strong internal and external collaborator relationships.
• Track record of leading technical projects and delivering expert support and advice.
• Experience partnering with operational teams to drive quality and efficiency improvements.
• Strong communication, engagement and coaching skills.
• Passion for developing capability and embedding continuous improvement.
• Full clean driving licence held for more than one year.
• Advantageous Lean / Six Sigma qualification or experience.
• Knowledge of Supplier Performance Management (SPM) processes.
• Experience using statistical analysis tools and information management systems.

Working with us

Our purpose is crafting iconic drinks chosen for life’s moments. And it’s our people, with their different experiences, perspectives and talents, who make that possible. We value diversity in its broadest sense and want everyone to feel they can belong, contribute and strive for their personal best. You’ll work alongside people with different backgrounds, experiences and perspectives — challenging, supporting and learning from one another as one outstanding team. Together, we’re constantly learning and improving, combining the strength of our people, capabilities and iconic brands to raise the bar, grow and win. Wherever you join us, you’ll have the opportunity to contribute, make an impact and play your part in making life’s moments mean a little more.

Worker Type :Fixed Term Contract (Fixed Term) Primary Location:Moray House Additional Locations : Job Posting Start Date : 2026-09-07