Técnico I+D UK

About Us:

Damm is a renowned company with a passion for creating innovative and high-quality beverages, known for its rich history and commitment to excellence. Our Bedford site is part of an exciting new venture focused on delivering bespoke products to our UK customer base. As part of this start-up environment, we are seeking a dynamic and proactive R&D Technician / Manager to join our team and play a key role in shaping the future of our UK operations.

Role Overview:

The R&D Technician will be responsible for the successful onboarding of new recipes and projects for our UK customers. This role requires close collaboration with our R&D Manager based in Spain, as well as strong engagement with UK customers. The ideal candidate will have a "start-up" mentality, able to bring structure, organization, and innovative problem-solving to a relatively new site. You will be the sole R&D representative in the UK, tasked with ensuring seamless project management, customer communication, and the implementation of new processes.

Key Responsibilities:

• Recipe Onboarding: Manage the development and implementation of new recipes for the UK customer base, working closely with the R&D team in Spain & the Bedford Site Team.
• Project Management: Oversee multiple R&D projects from concept to completion, ensuring timelines are met and that customer requirements are fully understood and delivered.
• Customer Facing: Act as the main R&D point of contact for UK customers, leading meetings to communicate project updates, timelines, and technical details. Support the account manager in managing customer expectations and providing technical insights.
• Process Improvement: Establish and refine R&D processes for the Bedford site, driving efficiency and ensuring the smooth onboarding of new projects.
• Cross-functional Collaboration: Work closely with other departments, such as production, quality assurance, and sales, to ensure that new recipes are scalable and meet all necessary regulatory standards.
• Innovation and Problem-Solving: Help bring creative solutions to product development challenges, working in a fast-paced, start-up-like environment where adaptability is key.
• Quality Control: Ensure that all products meet the company’s high standards of quality, conducting trials and sensory evaluations as required.
• Documentation and Reporting: Maintain accurate records of projects, including recipe formulations, timelines, customer feedback, and internal reports for the Spanish R&D team.

Key Requirements:

• Technical Expertise: Strong background in beverage R&D, ideally with experience in recipe formulation and product development. Brewing
• Project Management Skills: Proven ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously, with a focus on meeting deadlines and exceeding customer expectations.
• Customer Focused: Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to confidently present and lead customer meetings.
• Self-Starter: Comfortable working independently in a start-up environment, with the ability to take initiative and introduce new processes.
• Collaboration Skills: Ability to work effectively with remote teams, particularly with the R&D team based in Spain, as well as internal cross-functional teams.
• Flexibility: Willingness to adapt to changing priorities in a dynamic and fast-paced environment.
• Language Skills: Fluency in English is essential, and proficiency in Spanish is a plus but not required.
• Location Flexibility: Ability to work full-time on-site in Bedford, with occasional travel to Spain for training or collaboration with the R&D team.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Chemistry, Biochemistry, or a related field.
• Previous experience in an R&D technician or similar role within the food and beverage industry.
• Familiarity with regulatory requirements for food and beverage products in the UK is highly desirable.

What We Offer:

• Competitive salary and benefits package.
• The opportunity to be part of a new, growing project in the UK with the backing of an established, innovative company.
• A collaborative work environment where creativity and new ideas are encouraged.
• The chance to work on exciting, customer-facing projects with the ability to make a real impact on the business.