Beverage Developer

Vibrant Ingredients; Cranbury Township (NJ); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Vibrant Ingredients is seeking a Beverage Developer to join our Cranbury, NJ team. You will work directly with customers, sales, flavor creation, and applications teams to translate concepts into beverage solutions using our natural ingredient portfolio.

The ideal candidate brings 6+ years of beverage development experience, strong project management skills, and excellent communication and presentation abilities to drive customer success and product innovation.

Qualifications

• Bachelor-level degree in a relevant science with beverage experience.
• Proven track record in beverage development and sales within food service/beverage sectors.
• Strong organizational and time-management abilities.

Responsibilities

• Develop beverage solutions for customers across coffee, tea, protein, energy, and related categories.
• Support project management from concept to commercialization, ensuring stability testing and costing.
• Collaborate with sales, flavor creation, and applications teams to deliver customer-focused beverage concepts.
• Lead or supervise technicians and participate in life cycle management to maximize margins.

Skills

Beverage development

Project management

Communication skills

Presentation skills

Customer collaboration

Education

Science degree (Food Science / Food Engineering)

Tools

MS Office

Salesforce

Job description

If you are unable to complete this application due to a disability, contact this employer to ask for an accommodation or an alternative application process.

Beverage Developer

Full Time Professional Cranbury, NJ, US

JOB SUMMARY:

We are a trusted partner to our customers when it comes to innovation and an industry leader in clean label ingredients, we are a true partner. We collaborate with our customers in ways that respect people and the environment. A commitment to Purely Better™ drives our innovation team to discover new, on trend solutions. Collaborate with flavorists and product development scientists throughout the innovation process.

As a Beverage Developer, they will support the growth of our beverage portfolio. This role will work directly with customers, sales, flavor creation and applications teams to develop winning beverage solutions utilizing Vibrant’s extensive portfolio of natural ingredients.

The ideal candidate is a highly technical beverage expert with strong project management skills and a passion for working with customers to bring innovative beverage concepts to life.

How will you contribute:

At Vibrant, you'll find more than an exciting career opportunity. You'll be working in a new state of the art customer innovation center and join a team passionate about science, innovation, and helping customers succeed. Our collaborative culture encourages curiosity, creativity, and continuous learning while providing opportunities to make meaningful contributions from day one. Whether partnering with world class flavorists, supporting customer innovation, or helping develop the next generation of food and beverage solutions, your work will make a visible impact.

• Beverage Development Skills: > 6 years’ experience, with a proven track record of sales in the beverage categories
• Experience in protein beverages would be an advantage
• Ability to produce a beverage from concept to commercialization
• Excellent technical execution and project management skills
• Highly developed organizational skills
• Well-developed communication skills, with the ability to communicate effectively throughout all levels of the organization.
• Great presentation skills and a love for customers are necessary
• Ability to travel up to 25%

KEY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Develop beverage solutions for customers including coffee, tea, protein, energy, alcohol, refresher type products that are cost effective, stable, utilizing the breath of the Vibrant Ingredient portfolio (Functional ingredients, coffee & tea extracts, flavors). Completes stability testing, documentation, costing and supports commercialization.
• Ability to manage and drive projects to a successful outcome
• Capable of multitasking and prioritizing projects.
• Ability to develop Technical to Technical relationships with customers
• Will be expected to support customer visits with sales.
• Participates in Life Cycle Management of products focusing on reducing costs and maximizing margin. Completing all necessary stability testing.
• Participates in supporting Innovation presentations, Ideation, Rapid Prototyping.
• Supports production runs of new products for select customers.
• Capable of developing a wide range of beverage applications with experience in product processing (Pasteurization, Homogenization, hot-fill, indirect and direct steam processing, carbonation, canning)
• Follows basic GLP, ISO procedures, safety, lab notebooks and/or other electronic record keeping
• May supervise Technicians

Minimum Qualifications:

• Science degree (preferably in Food Science/Food Engineering) from a reputable school
• Proven track record of success in beverage development in the Food Service or beverage industry
• Full working knowledge of Beverage development
• Good knowledge of manufacturing processes and delivery technologies
• Excellent organizational and time management skills.
• Good computer software skills including MS Office (Excel, PPT, Word, etc.), Salesforce.

Physical Requirements:

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit, stand, and walk; use hands and fingers; talk and/or hear. The employee may be required to lift and/or move up to 10 pounds.

About Vibrant Ingredients

Founded in 1954, Vibrant Ingredients is a leading provider of natural, clean label ingredients and systems that power extraordinary food and beverage experiences. The company’s broad portfolio — including natural flavors, botanical extracts, functional nutrition, cold brew coffee, tea essences, and food protection solutions — enhances taste, texture, color, shelf life, and performance across a wide range of applications. Vibrant operates four state-of-the-art facilities across the United States and works with leading brands, manufacturers, and foodservice operators. With vertically integrated capabilities and a proven track record of innovation and execution, Vibrant helps customers accelerate to market without compromise. Learn more at www.vibrantingredients.com