Beverage Development Manager

About the Company

We are a forward-thinking food and beverage enterprise devoted to crafting superior, consumer-centric beverage products by leveraging scientific innovation, creativity, and sustainable methods. Our interdisciplinary teams work synergistically across Research & Development, Product Innovation, Food Science, Quality Assurance, Regulatory Affairs, Manufacturing, Procurement, Supply Chain, Marketing, Sales, and Executive Leadership to produce beverages that meet shifting consumer demands while upholding the utmost standards of quality and safety.

Role Overview

The Beverage Development Manager will spearhead the innovation and commercialization of beverage products. The successful candidate will oversee research, formulation, sensory evaluation, regulatory adherence, scale-up manufacturing, and collaborate cross-functionally to deliver innovative and market-successful beverage solutions that drive organizational growth and customer satisfaction.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and execute beverage innovation strategies, development roadmaps, and formulation guidelines aligned with business goals and market trends.
• Manage end-to-end beverage development from ideation, formulation, prototype creation, pilot trials, validation, launch, and post-market review.
• Collaborate extensively with R&D, Food Science, Quality, Regulatory, Manufacturing, Procurement, Supply Chain, Marketing, Sales, and Leadership teams for successful product innovations.
• Create and refine formulations across diverse beverage types including carbonated drinks, juices, dairy, plant-based, functional, energy, RTD products, coffee, tea, flavored water, among others.
• Assess ingredients, flavor systems, sweeteners, stabilizers, preservatives, colorants, nutritional elements, and ensure packaging compatibility for optimum product integrity and performance.
• Conduct lab trials, pilot plant testing, sensory assessments, shelf-life and stability evaluations as well as performance analysis.
• Ensure all formulations comply with UAE food laws, GCC standards, international safety and labeling regulations, HACCP principles, and internal quality criteria.
• Coordinate manufacturing scale-up activities, technology transfer, process validation, and optimize production to support commercial launches.
• Work with Procurement and Supply Chain to source ingredients, evaluate quality, optimize costs, and maintain strong supplier relations.
• Stay abreast of market trends, consumer insights, competitor products, emergent technologies, and innovation opportunities to guide strategic development.
• Monitor KPIs such as development cycle time, formulation success, commercialization outcomes, sensory quality, compliance, cost efficiency, profitability, consumer feedback, and innovation pipeline progress.
• Lead product benchmarking, ingredient assessments, process enhancements, risk mitigation, root cause investigations, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Manage budgets, laboratory and pilot plant operations, outsourced research collaborations, supplier partnerships, testing labs, and key innovation projects.
• Champion digital transformation utilizing AI-driven formulation optimization, predictive analytics, digital sensory evaluations, laboratory and workflow automation, and business intelligence tools.
• Utilize software and platforms including SAP, Oracle, Microsoft 365, Power BI, Tableau, PLM, LIMS, formulation software, statistical packages, and product development systems to enhance innovation efficiency and insights.
• Prepare high-level presentations, technical documentation, reports, regulatory submissions, strategic roadmaps, and advisories for senior management.
• Provide leadership, mentorship, and development for food scientists, beverage technologists, product developers, lab technicians, and cross-functional teams, promoting a culture of innovation, scientific rigor, collaboration, responsibility, and continuous improvement.

Candidate Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Food Technology, Beverage Technology, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Nutrition, Microbiology, Biotechnology, or a related discipline.
• Master's degree in relevant fields or MBA is considered an advantage.
• Certifications such as HACCP, Food Safety, ISO 22000, FSSC 22000, Lean Six Sigma, PMP, or equivalents are beneficial.
• At least 5 years of progressive experience in beverage development, food product development, formulation, manufacturing, or R&D.
• Minimum 2 years managing beverage innovation projects, product development teams, lab operations, or commercialization initiatives preferred.
• Strong expertise in beverage formulation, ingredient functions, food chemistry, sensory science, microbiology, manufacturing workflows, regulatory compliance, quality systems, and commercialization processes.
• Experience working with SAP, Oracle, PLM, LIMS, Microsoft Office, Power BI, Tableau, formulation and statistical analysis software, and advanced lab technologies.
• Knowledge of AI-driven formulation platforms, predictive analytics, digital laboratory tools, smart manufacturing solutions, workflow automation, and advanced sensory analytics is a plus.
• Excellent leadership, communication, stakeholder engagement, scientific analysis, project and budget management, organization, and problem-solving capabilities.
• Capability to juggle multiple development initiatives balancing innovation, quality, compliance, manufacturing capacity, budgets, deadlines, and corporate objectives.
• Effective working within globally dispersed teams in a remote environment with occasional travel for pilot trials, validations, supplier visits, industry events, and strategic meetings.

What We Offer

• Completely remote working arrangement facilitating collaborative efforts across international research and product development teams.
• Competitive salary with incentive-based rewards.
• Comprehensive health and wellness plans.
• Opportunities for professional growth and leadership in product innovation.
• Access to cutting-edge AI-powered food innovation technologies and smart laboratory systems.
• A collaborative culture emphasizing innovation, excellence, sustainability, accountability, and continuous development.
• Chance to impact the future of beverages by creating high-quality, innovative products that thrill consumers and drive lasting business success.