R&D Technologist

Great People Work Here.
Are you searching for a career with bags of variety, in an environment that celebrates differences and empowers collaboration, which values individuals and will encourage you to make an impact? Do you want the freedom to explore, and the opportunities to find new ways and to innovate? If so, TwiningsOvo delivers.
We're looking for people who don't just come here to get the job done, but who have a real passion for the brand and a desire to do the best job they can. In return, we offer an inspiring package of employee benefits - to show just how much we value you. This role will offer you the scope for growth and the tools to aim high.
The world of tea is fascinating, and you will have the opportunity to create products that truly delight and enhance the wellbeing of the world's consumers. Innovation is critical to promoting Twining's growth globally and the R&D team is at the core of creating consumer delighting innovations; from new to the world products, improvements to well-loved teas and herbal infusions from around the world and technical product stories that bring to life the magic of tea and tea-based drinks. As an R&D Technologist you will support new product development across the Twinings portfolio and will be involved across the End-to-End Innovation cycle for both closer in and further our innovation projects.

Please note: We have 1 x Permanent role and 1 x 12 Month FTC
Key Responsibilities

• Innovative Blends: Develop fresh, appealing tea-based products that align with our brand's ethos of tasty, natural wellbeing solutions using a range of herbs, flavours, wellbeing ingredients and other potential new beverage ingredients.
• Support end-to-end development projects, including collaborating with Buyers, Regulatory, other Developers, Sensory, Herbalists, Social Impact, Supply Chain and Global Marketeers to deliver great tasting blends to a defined project timeline.
• Work closely with internal stakeholders including raw material sourcing, quality, ethical and regulatory teams to ensure ingredients and products meet the correct standards in terms of quality and commercial considerations.
• Manage critical paths ensuring all actions are achieved on time to meet launch window.
• Execute with excellence technical testing on developmental samples, ingredients, and finished products.
• Support lab based making of samples for sensory, consumer and shelf-life testing.
• Support scale up from lab to manufacturing ensuring key quality attributes are safeguarded through scale up and all necessary documentation is completed thoroughly

Skills, Knowledge and Expertise

• Minimum of 3 years' experience of working as an NPD Technician or NPD Technologist, within an FMCG R&D/NPD environment.
• Degree in a relevant scientific discipline or culinary experience.
• Food industry experience, typically with experience in beverages and flavours.
• Working knowledge of food or beverage factory production and laboratory preparation techniques.
• Working knowledge of IT systems such as MS Office and Teams.
• Personable and approachable.
• Ability to work alone and within a team
• Comprehensive analytical and problem-solving skills
• Flexibility to adapt when plans change – whilst still maintain attention to detail and scientific rigor.
• Growth mindset, ability to embrace 'possibilities' and do things differently
• Highly organised.
• Positive work ethic and motivated to do well.
• A bit of a foodie

Benefits

• Yearly bonus based on personal contribution and financial performance
• Flexible working options
• 25 days holiday plus 8 bank holidays and the option to buy and sell holidays
• Onsite Gym and Wellbeing Centre
• Perkbox – employee discount scheme with discounts online, in high street stores, cinema, holidays, restaurants and many more
• Pension scheme with your contributions matched for up to 10% of your salary
• Cycle to work scheme
• SimplyHealth Cash plan
• Onsite Staff shop and online staff discounts
• Bupa Private Medical Insurance
• Competitive Car Allowance
• Electric Car Scheme

Twinings has become one of the world's most loved tea companies over its 300-year history because we never stop learning, never stop experimenting and never stop inventing. We are passionate about tea from bud to cup and have been working with some of our tea estates around the world since the early 18th Century.
More than 300 years later, the passion for tea is still here - and so are we We still sell tea from Thomas's shop, and we still work hard to bring the most exciting new blends to tea lovers around the world. Now, we have over 500 varieties and our teas are cherished all over the world. Our expert master blenders taste more than 3,000 cups of tea every week. So you can be sure the next cup you taste will be every bit as good as the one yesterday or the day before.

How we feel about Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

TwiningsOvo is committed to bringing together humans from different backgrounds and perspectives, providing employees with a safe and welcoming work environment free of discrimination and harassment. We seek to create a diverse, equitable & inclusive environment where everyone can thrive, feel a sense of belonging, and do impactful work together. As an equal opportunity employer, we prohibit any unlawful discrimination against a job applicant on the basis of their race, colour, religion, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, national origin, family or parental status, disability, age or any other status protected by law and are committed to going above and beyond in fostering diversity across our workplace. Applicants may be entitled to reasonable adjustments under the terms of the Equality Act. A reasonable adjustment is a change in the way things are typically done which will ensure an equal employment opportunity. Please inform our Recruitment or HR Shared Services team if you need any assistance completing your application or to otherwise participate in the application process.

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