Alcoholic Beverage Designer

About the role

IFF's Taste business develops food and beverage solutions for customers, and is looking for an Alcoholic Beverage Designer II to work in its Beverages Creation & Design team in Johannesburg, South Africa (on-site). You will develop and optimise beverage formulations for local, regional and strategic customers, working across technical and commercial teams to create commercially successful solutions that meet customer expectations, regulatory standards and business objectives.

Key responsibilities

• Independently manage assigned projects and priorities.
• Develop finished beverage formulations using IFF technologies and capabilities.
• Ensure formulations meet customer, legal, cost, stability and quality requirements.
• Apply Product Experience (PX) insights and data to drive product development decisions.
• Expand knowledge of ingredients, raw materials, flavour interactions and production processes.
• Maintain and continuously improve formulation and recipe databases.
• Collaborate with Production and Quality teams on scale-up trials and commercialisation.
• Partner with Sales, Marketing, Flavorists, Product Experience and Global Regulatory Affairs teams on projects.
• Contribute to concept development, innovation programmes and the implementation of new technologies.

Required profile

• Bachelor's degree in Food Science and Technology, Chemistry, Biochemistry, Human Nutrition or a related discipline.
• 7+ years of experience in the food, beverage, pharmaceutical, ingredient or flavour industry.
• At least 2 years in a beverage application or product development environment, with proven experience in alcoholic beverages, including formulation, processing, stability, sensory performance and commercialisation.
• Ability to balance sensory performance, technical feasibility, cost and regulatory requirements.
• Understanding of beverage manufacturing processes and finished product performance.
• Experience collaborating with technical and commercial stakeholders.
• Willingness to travel monthly within the region, including Ghana, Tanzania, Zambia and neighbouring countries.

Required skills

• Formulation software, databases and digital product development tools.
• Internal IFF sensory assessment.
• Project management, organisation, communication and time management.
• Track record of commercially successful product launches and knowledge of market trends and innovation programmes.

What we offer

• Competitive compensation and benefits package.
• Continuous learning, development and career growth opportunities.
• An inclusive workplace with access to a broad range of natural solutions.