Senior Product Technologist (Innovation)

AG Barr Group; Middlebrook (NC); Hybrid; USD 60,000 - 87,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Uncapped bonus

Defined contribution Pension

Up to 34 days holiday

Flexible holiday trading

Healthcare Cash Plan

Life assurance

Staff sales discount

Annual salary review

Professional development

Job summary

AG Barr Group is seeking a Senior Beverage Technologist to lead formulation projects from concept to launch and to develop outstanding liquid products. The role requires strong sensory skills, quality system knowledge, and collaboration with suppliers and manufacturing.

You will contribute to product ideas with the innovation team and ensure scale-up from lab trials to production while maintaining quality across shelf life.

Qualifications

• 5 years of experience in a formulation R&D environment or equivalent.
• Excellent sensory skills to detect subtle differences in flavour, aroma and appearance.
• Strong understanding of food/beverage quality systems and COA documentation.
• Highly effective communication and ability to coordinate complex projects.
• Able to work independently with proactive problem-solving and travel to sites.

Responsibilities

• Lead the formulation aspects of projects from concept through to launch.
• Create and develop great tasting liquid formulations.
• Validate prototypes using robust sensory and product knowledge.
• Value engineer existing recipes without compromising quality.
• Benchmark competitor products and research new ingredients.
• Collaborate with the innovation team to develop drink ideas.
• Introduce new materials using our material and recipe management system.
• Coordinate with suppliers and manufacturing to scale up from lab to production.
• Ensure shelf life quality and generate nutritional and recipe specifications.
• Provide technical support on consumer and trade inquiries.

Skills

Sensory evaluation skills

Project coordination

Excellent communication

Independent learner

Education

Degree in Food Science

Tools

Hamilton Grant specification system

Job description

Job Title: Senior Beverage Technologist

Location: Hybrid from Middlebrook and home

Contract and working pattern: 37.5 hours per week

Are you ready to Be Your Best Barr None?

Lets Grow!!!

We are all about Being Your Best Barr None and having a career with real Moments that Matter!

Employing around 850 people across the UK, we are proud to be a responsible business that takes care of our people, values diversity, gives something back to our communities and works to minimise our environmental impact.

For 150 years AG Barr has been building great brands and is home to some of the nations favourite flavours.

At our core is IRN-BRU, launched in 1901 and still going strong today, the vibrant RUBICON fruit based brand, Boost making every moment better with a caffeine kick, hydration hit or tasty treat, and FUNKIN where real fruit means authentic taste.

We also have a number of exciting owned brands within our portfolio including MOMA, which crafts quality oats into great tasting oat drinks and porridges.

There's never been a better time to join us!

What we’re looking for…

Within R&D at AG Barr we believe that the quality, taste and pack presentation of our products is right at the heart of the success of the business. We pride ourselves in delivering a superior product experience through our rigorous consumer research programme and ensuring the authenticity of our flavours

This role is to design, develop & validate great tasting products in line with consumer expectations whilst leading the formulation aspects of projects, supporting from concept to launch.

As our Senior Beverage Technologist, you will be responsible for:

• Leading the formulation aspects of projects from concept through to launch.
• Creating & developing great tasting liquid formulations.
• Use of strong product development & sensory knowledge to validate prototypes.
• Value engineering existing recipes without impacting on product quality.
• Benchmarking of competitor products.
• Researching & sharing knowledge on new ingredients
• Working with the innovation team and attending innovation workshops to develop new drink ideas.
• Managing the introduction of new raw materials into the business using our raw material and recipe management system.
• Working closely with suppliers and manufacturing teams to ensure the successful scale up from lab trials into production.
• Ensuring product quality is consistent throughout shelf life.
• Generating accurate nutritional and recipe specifications using our raw material and recipe management system.
• Providing technical support on consumer & trade enquiries.

What you’ll bring…

• Educated to degree level, ideally in a Food Science or equivalent discipline.
• 5 years of experience in a formulation R&D environment or equivalent with a strong knowledge of sensory evaluation tools & techniques.
• Excellent sensory skills with the ability to detect subtle differences in flavour, aroma, and appearance to ensure product matching.
• Strong understanding of food/beverage quality systems, specification management (ideally Hamilton Grant or similar), and raw material documentation requirements (e.g COAs).
• Highly effective communication skills, comfortable coordinating complex projects and following up with external suppliers and internal cross-functional teams.
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision, demonstrating strong self-motivation and proactive problem-solving skills.
• Good interpersonal skills with the ability to build and maintain effective working relationships.
• Flexible and adaptable approach to work, with the ability to manage changing priorities and demands.
• Available to travel to manufacturing sites and to visit suppliers.

You will also demonstrate our AG Barr behaviours of Being Honest, Accountable, Connected and Brave.

What we offer…

We believe in creating a diverse and inclusive culture where your voice can be heard. Our skilled, loyal and committed people are critical to the future success of AG Barr which is why we are continually investing in our employees to develop their talent.

We look after our employees by offering a competitive salary and benefits package which includes;

• Uncapped bonus linked to business performance
• Defined contribution Pension
• Up to 34 days holiday (depending on shift pattern)
• Flexible holiday trading
• Flexible cash pot to spend on benefits
• Healthcare Cash Plan
• Flexible benefits e.g. discounts & cashbacks, gym memberships, technology purchases etc
• Life assurance
• Save as you earn scheme
• Staff sales discount
• Free AG Barr products throughout your working day and staff sales
• Annual salary review
• Ongoing professional development and access to Learning and Development programmes and content

And much more!

To find out more about what it is like to work for AG Barr, please visit our careers platform here.

We are an equal opportunities employer and happy to discuss any reasonable adjustments that may be needed for successful candidates with a disability, health or mental health condition.