Job Title: Product Development Technologist
Business Function: R&D
Location: Colworth Science Park
Job Purpose
Pepsi Lipton, a joint venture between Unilever and PepsiCo, combines 125 years of tea expertise to pioneer the ready‑to‑drink tea market. As an autonomous global company with its own board of directors, we launch products worldwide, offering our employees broad roles with significant responsibilities. We provide a culture of innovation and learning, competitive compensation, and comprehensive benefits. Our development centre at Colworth Science Park creates winning products for Europe, Africa and Asia with our R&D team innovating the future of the business and industry. Our team is passionate about being at the front end of innovation and it's exciting to see our creations in consumers' hands.
We are seeking a passionate and innovative Beverages Product Developer to join our dynamic team. This role is perfect for recent graduates and food scientists with 1–2 years' experience and a passion for creating innovative and exciting products. Reporting to the Global Intrinsic Health & Digital Senior R&D Manager based at Colworth R&D centre, UK.
Responsibilities
- Development of market‑leading products across our ready‑to‑drink portfolio, supporting global brands Lipton Iced tea and Pure Leaf.
- Bring passion for tea and an understanding of the latest trends in the beverage and functional beverage industry.
- Ownership of innovation and creativity in partnership with marketing and insights teams.
- Collaborate closely with cross‑functional partners, including Marketing, Supply chain, Procurement and Quality.
- Design and carry out practical lab work for development programmes and projects (including shipment, tastings, shelf‑life testing and quality analysis).
- Scale up winning prototypes from lab to pilot plant to factory.
- Ingredient sourcing, driving innovation and quality through our material partnerships.
- Generate samples for project requirements, consumer testing, creativity workshops and team tastings.
- Product analysis, ensuring high quality and consumer safety.
- Record and write up experimental plans and results, maintain product‑related documentation and capture key technical updates.
- Partner with regulatory and local country teams to ensure development and robust claims meet local needs and requirements.
Qualifications
- Degree (or equivalent) in Food Science, Chemical Science or Engineering and/or relevant experience in FMCG in fields related to product development in foods or beverages.
- Eagerness to work in a practical, lab‑based setting.
- Passion for product development, innovation and making great products.
- Creativity and flair, with an enthusiasm to innovate and translate product briefs into winning launches.
- Strong communication, organisational and time‑management skills, with an ability to flex and multitask.
What We Offer
- Competitive salary and pension scheme.
- Annual bonus.
- Subsidised gym membership.
- Discounted staff shop.
- Shares.
- Opportunity to work directly with our renowned and exciting brands.
- Flexible and hybrid working environment.
Diversity and Inclusion
Diversity at Unilever is about inclusion, embracing differences, creating possibilities and growing together for better business performance. We embrace diversity in our workforce. This means giving full and fair consideration to all applicants and continuing development of all employees regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, marriage and civil partnership, and pregnancy and maternity. We also provide reasonable adjustments during the application and interview process to enable you to present your best self.
