Head of R&D – Beverage – On-site

Head of R&D – Beverage Sector – 100% On-site in Rotterdam
Join to apply for the  Head of R&D – Beverage Sector – 100% On-site in Rotterdam  role at  Fritz & Muller

At  Fritz & Muller , we are 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.

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 team  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 products .

Project Management & Quality

Manage multiple  beverage R&D projects , 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 requirements .

Implement best practices in sensory evaluation, stability studies, and shelf‑life testing for beverages.

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.

Drive efficiency, cost optimization, and continuous innovation across  beverage R&D processes .

Stay up to date with industry trends, new ingredients, and emerging technologies  specifically related to beverages and beverage compounds .

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 formulations (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  of beverage compounds, formulation, blending, and scaling processes.

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.

This is a 100% on‑site position.

Seniority level
Mid‑Senior level

Employment type

Full‑time

Job function
Project Management

Industry
Beverage Manufacturing

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