Senior Liquid Development Manager (12-Month FTC)

An exciting opportunity has arisen to join a globally recognised premium drinks brand in a pivotal 12-month fixed-term contract. This is a senior, high-impact role heading up global liquid development projects, playing a key part in shaping the future innovation pipeline of a market-leading business known for quality, craft and natural ingredients.

The Opportunity

Reporting into the Director of Quality & Technical, you will lead liquid-led NPD and EPD projects from concept through to commercial launch. Working closely with Innovation and cross-functional technical teams, you will ensure that every formulation is technically robust, fully compliant and delivers exceptional taste and consumer experience. This role sits at the heart of product delivery — balancing creativity with scientific rigour, and innovation with operational excellence.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the end-to-end delivery of global liquid development projects as part of a cross-functional team
• Formulate and optimise beverage products, managing scale-up from laboratory through to full production
• Plan and lead factory trials, troubleshooting on-line issues where required
• Ensure all formulations meet regulatory and internal quality standards
• Own and manage technical documentation including specifications, formulations and manufacturing instructions
• Oversee and support sensory evaluation programmes, including flavour profiling and panel training
• Collaborate closely with Innovation to define technical feasibility during early-stage scoping
• Drive process improvements to enhance efficiency within the liquid development function
• Manage supplier relationships to support quality, innovation and on-time delivery
• Support co-packer scoping and commissioning where required

This is a hands-on role requiring a minimum of three days per week in the London office/laboratory, alongside travel to production facilities and supplier sites.

About You

• Degree-qualified (or equivalent) in Food Science, Chemistry or a related scientific discipline
• 8+ years’ experience within beverage or liquid development in an FMCG environment
• Strong technical expertise in formulation, ingredients and processing
• Proven experience scaling products from bench to factory
• Confident leading full production trials and resolving technical challenges
• Skilled in sensory evaluation and flavour assessment
• Detail-oriented with excellent documentation and compliance standards
• Experienced in cross-functional project leadership
• Proactive, solutions-focused and commercially aware

This role would suit a senior liquid development professional who thrives in a fast-paced, quality-driven environment and enjoys taking ownership of global innovation projects.

Please note: applicants must have the right to work in the UK, as visa sponsorship is not available.

If you are interested in exploring this opportunity confidentially, please apply with your CV and current salary details.