Sr. Manager of Beverage Development

At Niagara, we’re looking for Team Members who want to be part of achieving our mission to provide our customers the highest quality most affordable bottled water.

Consider applying here, if you want to:   

• Work in an entrepreneurial and dynamic environment with a chance to make an impact.   
• Develop lasting relationships with great people.   
• Have the opportunity to build a satisfying career.

We offer competitive compensation and benefits packages for our Team Members.

Sr. Manager of Beverage Development

The Sr. Manager of Beverage Development will lead a department which is responsible for the design, development, and commercialization of all new flavored beverages and product reformulations. This position will utilize expert-level knowledge of beverage development to grow Niagara’s capabilities as a world class beverage manufacturer.

Essential Functions

• Develop new world class beverage formulations based on customer or marketing requests for new products
• Manage the beverage development process for all new product launches and ingredient reformulations from benchtop testing through commercialization
  • Ensure that the proper workflow process is followed and that all critical items are considered in the beverage development cycle
  • Work with quality team to develop specifications and requirements for new products (Aseptic, Flavored Waters, CSD, Hot Fill, etc.)
  • Create project timelines and milestones for all new beverage projects and communicate to all involved stakeholders
  • Validate independent flavor testing, shelf life studies, and all other relevant testing prior to product launches
• Support the Sales team on new business development and contract manufacturing
  • Provide beverage related inputs to the business case analysis for developing and validating new products and services
  • Serve as Niagara’s resident flavor expert in customer meetings
  • Provide feedback on operational feasibility of various beverage projects
  • Act as a technical beverage consultant for all issues related to new beverage development
  • Communicate effectively with sales team to ensure they are updated with all beverage projects and initiatives
• Follow industry trends regarding flavors and formulations to make recommendations on new products and develop new flavors for existing products
• Develop standards and requirements for beverage processing procedures and parameters required for new lines or batch room installations
• Develop and manage a strategic product roadmap that quickly leverage the current product offering and expand adjacent product categories and customer base
• Stay apprised and current of technologies used in the industry by reviewing technical literature and attending seminars. Share learning in cross-functional setting and apply learnings  to new development projects and innovations
• Establish and implement procedures, polices, process within the beverage development department
• Develop and maintain key alliances and long term relationships with customers, flavor houses, and ingredient suppliers
• Lead, motivate, coach, and continually develop the beverage development team members
• Please note this job description is not designed to contain a comprehensive list of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without prior notice.

Qualifications

• Minimum Qualifications:
  • 6 Years – Experience in flavor Development in the Food and Beverage Industry
  • 6 Years – Experience in specific Beverage Development
  • 4 Years – Experience managing people/projects

                *experience may include a combination of work experience and education

• Preferred Qualifications:
  • 10+ Years – Experience in flavor Development in the Food and Beverage Industry
  • 10+ Years – Experience in specific Beverage Development            
  • 6 Years – Experience managing people/projects

*experience may include a combination of work experience and education

Competencies

• Proven track record of commercial success in beverage development with a minimum of 7 years of progressive flavor development experience
• Strong understanding of Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), Safe Quality Food standards (SQF) and safety rules (including Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
• Experience developing beverages for different manufacturing processes like hot-fill, cold-fill, aseptic, CSD, etc.
• Strong understanding of sensory language required and of ingredients used in the beverage industry, such as flavors, preservatives, sweeteners, colors, vitamins, etc.
• Experience working with private label buyers and brand managers
• Excellent leadership skills, including focus on  teambuilding and collaboration
• Strong organizational skills;
• Demonstrated problem solving, continuous improvement, and strategic thinking skills
• Excellent communication skills – written and verbal
• Ability to re-evaluate and balance priorities
• Able to solve problems and use discretion in dealing with proprietary and confidential information
• Knowledge of Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook, and other systems as required

This position embodies the values of Niagara’s LIFE competency model, focusing on the following key drivers of success:

• Lead Like an Owner
  • Manages a safe working environment, accurately documents safety related training, and effectively communicates safety incidents
  • Provides strategic input and oversight to departmental projects
  • Makes data driven decisions and develops sustainable solutions
  • Skilled in reducing costs and managing timelines while prioritizing long run impact over short term wins
  • Makes decisions by putting overall company success first before department/individual success
  • Leads/facilitates discussions to get positive outcomes for the customer
  • Makes strategic decisions which prioritize the needs of the customer over departmental/individual goals
• InnovACT
  • Continuously evaluates existing programs and processes, and develops new initiatives to increase efficiency and reduce waste
  • Creates, monitors, and responds to departmental performance metrics to drive continuous improvement
  • Communicates a clear vision, organizes resources effectively, and adjusts the strategy as needed when managing change
• Find a Way
  • Demonstrates ability to think analytically and synthesize complex information
  • Effectively delegates technical tasks to subordinates
  • Works effectively with departments, vendors, and customers to achieve organizational success
  • Identifies opportunities for collaboration in strategic ways
• Empowered to be Great
  • Makes hiring decisions primarily based on culture fit and attitude, and secondarily based on technical expertise
  • Engages in long term talent planning
  • Provides opportunities for the development of all direct reports
  • Understands, identifies, and addresses conflict within own team and between teams

Education

• Minimum Required: 
  • Bachelor’s Degree in Food Science or related field

• Preferred: 
  • Master’s Degree in Food Science or related field

Certification/License:

• Required:            PCQI (Preventive Control Qualified Individual)
• Preferred:           Better Process Control Certification, Certified Food Scientist

Foreign Language

• Required:            None Required
• Preferred:          Minimum Professional Proficiency – German, Spanish, Italian, Mandarin

Typical Compensation Range

Pay Rate Type: Salary

$159,716.54 – $231,589.00 / Yearly

Bonus Target: 15% Annual

Benefits

https://careers.niagarawater.com/us/en/benefits

* *Los Angeles County applicants only** Qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers, the California Fair Chance Act, and any other applicable local and state laws.

Any employment agency, person or entity that submits a résumé into this career site or to a hiring manager does so with the understanding that the applicant’s résumé will become the property of Niagara Bottling, LLC. Niagara Bottling, LLC will have the right to hire that applicant at its discretion without any fee owed to the submitting employment agency, person or entity.

Employment agencies that have fee agreements with Niagara Bottling, LLC and have been engaged on a search shall submit résumé to the designated Niagara Bottling, LLC recruiter or, upon authorization, submit résumé into this career site to be eligible for placement fees.

Niagara Plant Name
CORP-MAIN