Beverage R&D & Innovation Lead

Tljus; California; Hybrid; USD 43,000 - 51,000; Full time

Job summary

Tljus is seeking a Beverage R&D Specialist in Commerce, CA. This role leads the development and management of the café's beverage portfolio, including coffee, tea, and seasonal offerings, to enhance guest experience and drive sales.

You will work across Operations, Marketing, Supply Chain, QC, and Procurement to translate consumer insights into viable beverage concepts and ensure successful implementation across café locations.

Qualifications

• Developing and managing the bakery café's beverage portfolio.

Responsibilities

• Lead development of new beverage products across coffee, tea, and specialty beverage categories.
• Create seasonal, LTO, and core menu beverage offerings.
• Develop and optimize recipes for taste, quality, consistency, profitability, and operational execution.
• Conduct product research, formulation, testing, and sensory evaluations.
• Manage products through the full innovation process from ideation to launch.
• Create and implement product quality evaluation standards for new and existing beverages.
• Develop and maintain NSO beverage manuals, training materials, standards, and evaluation criteria.
• Monitor consumer preferences, beverage trends, and competitor activity.

Skills

Beverage development

Portfolio management

Cross-functional collaboration

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 R&D Specialist

Full Time G4 Commerce, CA, US

30+ days ago Requisition ID: 1110

Salary Range: $31.25 To $37.50 Hourly

JOB TITLE:

Beverage R&D Specialist

REPORTS TO:

Beverage R&D Manager

Job Type

Full Time

DEPARTMENT:

R&D

LOCATION:

Commerce, CA

SUMMARY

The Beverage R&D Specialist is responsible for developing and managing the bakery café's beverage portfolio, including coffee, tea, refreshers, specialty beverages, seasonal offerings, and emerging beverage concepts. This role leads beverage innovation from concept through commercialization, creating products that enhance the guest experience, support brand strategy, drive sales, and complement the food menu.

Working cross-functionally with Operations, Marketing, Supply Chain, QC, and Procurement, this individual will identify consumer trends, develop best-in-class beverage offerings, and ensure successful implementation across café locations.

JOB DUTIES (include but are not limited to the following)

• Lead development of new beverage products across coffee, tea, and specialty beverage categories.
• Create seasonal, LTO, and core menu beverage offerings.
• Develop and optimize recipes for taste, quality, consistency, profitability, and operational execution.
• Conduct product research, formulation, testing, and sensory evaluations.
• Manage products through the full innovation process from ideation to launch.

Quality Control

• Create and implement product quality evaluation standards for new and existing beverages.
• Test and evaluate new and existing products for quality, consistency, and operational efficiency.
• Visit corporate and franchise storesfor quality assurance.
• Identifyany quality problems and recommend changes in quality standard where necessary.

Documentation

• Create and maintain up-to-date beverage recipe documentation.
• Develop and maintain NSO beverage manuals, training materials, standards, and evaluation criteria.
• Monitor and maintain recipe cost information.
• Partner with Operations to implement preparation procedures and execution standards.
• Work closely with Marketing on product positioning and launch support.
• Collaborate with Supply Chain and Procurement on ingredient sourcing and supplier partnerships.
• Support pilot testing, market validation, and post-launch optimization.

Trend & Consumer Insights

• Monitor consumer preferences, beverage trends, and competitor activity.
• Identify opportunities for menu innovation and category growth.
• Translate market insights into commercially viable beverage concepts.

Success Profile

The ideal candidate is a creative and consumer-focused innovator who combines strong beverage development expertise with commercial acumen. They are passionate about crafting beverages that elevate the café experience, drive business growth, and strengthen the brand's leadership in beverage innovation.