Liquid Development Specialist

Liquid Development Specialist

International Supply Technical Centre - Menstrie, Scotland

Permanent Contract

Closing Date, 29th April 2025

About Us

With over 200 brands sold in nearly 180 countries, we’re the world’s leading premium drinks company known for our wonderful collection of iconic brands such as Johnnie Walker, Smirnoff, Baileys, Captain Morgan, Tanqueray, Guinness and more.

Bring your passion and use your curiosity as you explore, collaborate and innovate to build brands consumers love. Together with passionate people from all over the world, you’ll test new ideas, learn and grow, and unlock a brighter, more exciting future. Join us to create a career worth celebrating.

About the Function

Our Supply Chain and Manufacturing team are problem-solvers, sourcing, producing, and delivering our much-loved brands to delight customers around the globe. Over half of Diageo’s 30,000+ people work in Supply Chain and Manufacturing. It’s an intricate and sophisticated operation that’s the product of logistical, manufacturing, and technical collaborations.

Our teams in 100 sites in over 30 countries cover production facilities, supplier relationships, customer collaborations and third-party agreements. We’re committed to realising our ‘Society 2030: Spirit of Progress’ goals, to protect the environment and support our farmers and suppliers. Whatever your skills and experience, we’ll help you to thrive in our inclusive culture.

About the Role

This role reports to the Head of Brand Change and Innovation (BC&I), via the Liquid Team Leaderwithin the Europe Spirits category. It plays a vital part in Diageo’s ambition to become the most innovative, trusted and respected consumer goods company in the world.

The Liquid Technical Project Managerholds dual responsibilities:

• Supporting R&D during the liquid concept development stage for new-to-world innovations

• Being responsible for the commercialisation of liquids across a broad range of products – from low/no-alcohol options and cocktails to distilled spirits and other formulated beverages

• Contributing to productivity and sustainability initiatives

The BC&I Team within the European Spirits category handles one of the most complex portfolios in the business. This is due to the wide variety of liquid types, formats, and supply chain models, as well as the emerging technologies being explored. The pipeline for European Spirits is a complex matrix across multiple spirit categories, brands, markets, and innovation hubs. It is driven via a diverse supply footprint including Diageo-owned sites, joint ventures, and numerous third-party operations located throughout Great Britain and Continental Europe.

Working closely with teams across Innovation, Brand, R&D, Global Technical, Spirit Supply, production sites and external suppliers, the Liquid Technical Project Manager will deliver world-class "concept to commercialisation" execution. This will be done in line with the Brand Legacy Framework specific to each brand.

Key Responsibilities

• Compliance: Ensure all processes prioritise the health and safety of our consumers and are fully aligned with Diageo’s Code of Business Conduct (including health & safety, HMRC, financial compliance, etc.).

• Technical Expertise: Maintain and continually develop technical skills to be recognised as a global lead in the production of distilled spirits and formulated products. Apply this knowledge to tackle complex technical challenges within the business.

• Project Delivery: Delivery of fully commercialised liquids to the designated production site, ensuring readiness for launch.

• Productivity Agenda: Collaborate with technical functions to drive Diageo’s productivity goals, enabling growth and improving profitability through cost and cash optimisation.

• Technical Consultancy: Provide technical advice and problem-solving across both Diageo-owned and third-party production sites.

• Stakeholder Engagement: Build and nurture strong working relationships with key partners – including Brand Teams, Innovation, Markets, Suppliers, and Technology Providers – to ensure successful project delivery.

• Brand Support: Support Brand Teams in early concept development, storytelling, and media activities where required.

About You

We are looking for someone who will bring a strong mix of technicalexpertise, hands-on experience and a collaborative approach. To succeed in this role, you’ll ideally have:

• A degree or equivalent experience in a relevant science or engineering field (e.g. Food Technology, Chemistry, or similar) 

• Experience working in food and beverage development and production such as processing, microbiology, flavours, packaging, food safety, and understanding legal or market requirements would be beneficial.

• Knowledge of the science and technology of distilled spirits' production including co-products and process control

• Experience applying innovative scientific or technical knowledge, such as regenerative agriculture or breakthrough innovation

• Background in project and organisational change with good networking abilities

• The ability to work across both research and commercialisation phases

• A strong understanding of customer and business needs

• Cultural awareness and the ability to adapt your communication style

• Excellent interpersonal and relationship-building skills with a team-oriented attitude, high energy and strong work ethic

• A proactive, inclusive approach and the ability to lead by example

Working with Us

Our purpose is to celebrate life, every day, everywhere. And creating an inclusive culture, where everyone feels valued and listened to, is a crucial part of this. We believe the most inclusive and diverse culture makes for a better business and a better world. We know that for our business to thrive and for Diageo to realise its ambition, we depend on having diverse talent with a range of backgrounds, skills, and capabilities in each of the countries in which we operate and to reflect our broad consumer base.

Join us, and you will be part of an organisation that embraces diversity in the broadest possible sense. This means that you will be welcomed and celebrated for who you are just by being you. You will be part of — and help build — an inclusive culture that celebrates people of different gender, ethnicity, ability, age, sexual orientation, social class, educational backgrounds, experiences, attitudes, and more. And you will help us champion inclusion and diversity across our entire business: with our employees, our suppliers, across our brands, and within the communities in which we operate.

We value each other and celebrate different perspectives. In our inclusive culture, you will have the backing you need to test innovative ideas and learn from them. Harness your passion and desire to grow as you make your mark. Let us unlock a brighter, more exciting future together.

Our ambition is to create the best performing, most trusted and respected consumer products companies in the world. To achieve this, we need the world’s best people. We are looking for people with curiosity, creativity, boldness, and a sense of purpose to take Diageo and our timeless, pioneering brands to the next level.

Feel inspired? Then this may be the opportunity for you!