Head of R&D- Beverage sector

At
Fritz & Muller
, we are currently partnering with a
leading multinational company in the beverage sector
to recruit a
Head of R&D
who will lead the innovation, formulation, and research strategy for its
beverage portfolio
.

This role is
strictly focused on beverages
and will play a critical role in driving the development of new beverage concepts, optimizing existing formulations, and leading a multidisciplinary R&D team specialized in drinks. The mission is to translate market trends and consumer insights into
commercially successful, high-quality beverage products
, ensuring regulatory compliance, efficiency, and scalability.

Our client is a
fast-growing multinational organization exclusively specialized in beverages
, developing innovative and premium solutions for the global drinks market. By combining technical expertise, creativity, and deep beverage market knowledge, the company creates products that set trends and inspire consumers worldwide.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Beverage Innovation & Strategy

• Define and execute the
  R&D roadmap specifically for beverage product
  s, aligned with business objectives and global market trends.
• Lead, mentor, and develop a
  high-performing beverage R&D tea
  m focused on formulation, scaling, and product testing.
• Identify new beverage opportunities through market research, consumer insights, and competitive analysis within the drinks sector.
• Oversee ideation, prototyping, pilot production, and successful launch of
  new beverage product
  s.

Project Management & Quality

• Manage multiple
  beverage R&D project
  s, ensuring on-time delivery and budget control
• Collaborate closely with sales, procurement, quality, regulatory, and production teams within a beverage manufacturing environment.
• Ensure all beverage products comply with
  food safety regulations, quality standards, and market-specific requirement
  s.
• Implement best practices in sensory evaluation, stability studies, and shelf-life testing for beverages.

Collaboration & Communication

• Partner with ingredient suppliers, external laboratories, co-packers, and customers within the beverage ecosystem.
• Present beverage R&D concepts, progress, and results to senior management and key stakeholders.

Continuous Improvement

• Drive efficiency, cost optimization, and continuous innovation across
  beverage R&D processe
  s.
• Stay up to date with industry trends, new ingredients, and emerging technologies
  specifically related to beverages and beverage compound
  s.

REQUIREMENTS (EXCLUSIVE)

• Master's degree in Food Science, Food Engineering, or a related field.
• Minimum 7 years of proven experience in R&D or product development within the beverage industry — this experience is mandatory and non-negotiable.
• Demonstrated hands-on experience developing beverage formulatio
  ns (candidates without direct beverage experience will not be considered).
• Proven track record of successfully launching beverage products to market.
• Mandatory experience managing and developing high-performing R&D teams.
• Strong technical knowledge o
  f beverage compounds, formulation, blending, and scaling process
  es.
• Solid understanding of food safety regulations and quality standards applicable to beverages.
• Strong project management, organizational, and leadership skills.
• High level of creativity, flexibility, and innovation mindset.
• Analytical thinking and strong problem-solving capabilities.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills.
• Practical experience in sensory evaluation and beverage product testing.
• Experience with alcoholic and/or non-alcoholic beverages, sustainability initiatives, or global beverage environments will be considered a plus.