At Niagara, we’re looking for Team Members who want to be part of achieving our mission to provide our customers the highest quality most affordable bottled water.

Consider applying here, if you want to:

• Work in an entrepreneurial and dynamic environment with a chance to make an impact.

• Develop lasting relationships with great people.

• Have the opportunity to build a satisfying career.

We offer competitive compensation and benefits packages for our Team Members.

Beverage Development Manager

The Manager of Beverage Development is responsible to lead the development team to develop and commercialize all beverages products and brands Niagara is manufacturing. The incumbent will be responsible for delivering continuous pipeline of new and improved products as dictated by customers, in addition to supporting product improvements, cost savings, and portfolio maintenance. They will partner with sales both from core and brand manufacturing to drive new beverage development projects to commercialization, advocating for technical excellence. This incumbent will be the key leader in business growth projects, engaging manufacturing to bring products to launch successfully.

Essential Functions

• Lead a team of food technologists/scientists to successfully develop new beverage products that will meet Core customers’ success criteria as well as bringing brand manufacturing customers products to commercialization, while maintaining focus on meeting their specifications.

• Maintain a highly motivated and agile technical team that supports each other and celebrate team’s wins

• Be the technical conduit to support sales teams on identifying production process and feasibilities for potential new customers/products

• Manage careers, daily performance and career development of each team member. Balance staffing plans to meet business growth.

• Leverage insights from food trends, consumer learnings, and technical knowledge to rapidly bring winning formulas to commercialization

• Ensure team’s accountability to support cross functional teams, including but are not limited to: compliance, QA, packaging, manufacturing, sales, supplier quality, and procurement.

• Develop standards and requirements for beverage processing procedures and parameters required for new lines or batch room installations

• Develop and manage a strategic product roadmap that quickly leverage the current product offering and expand adjacent product categories and customer base

• Stay apprised and current of technologies used in the industry by reviewing technical literature and attending seminars. Share learning in cross-functional setting and apply learnings to new development projects and innovations

• Continuously improve procedures, polices, process within the beverage development department

• Develop and maintain strong relationships with customers, third party technical expertise, and ingredient suppliers

• Please note this job description is not designed to contain a comprehensive list of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without prior notice.

Qualifications

• Minimum Qualifications:

• 4 Years – Experience in flavor Development in the Food and Beverage Industry

• 4 Years – Experience in specific Beverage Development

• 2 Years – Experience managing people/projects

  *experience may include a combination of work experience and education

• Preferred Qualifications:

• 6 Years– Experience in flavor Development in the Food and Beverage Industry

• 6 Years – Experience in specific Beverage Development

• 4 Years – Experience managing people/projects

*experience may include a combination of work experience and education

Competencies

• Proven track record of commercial success in beverage development with a minimum of 4 years of progressive product development experience

• 2 or more years of people management experience

• Strong leadership, critical thinking, technical, communication and teamwork skills

• Experience developing beverages for different manufacturing processes i.e., hot-fill, cold-fill, aseptic, CSD, etc.

• Strong understanding of sensory language required and of ingredients used in the beverage industry, such as flavors, preservatives, sweeteners, colors, vitamins, etc.

• Experience working cross functional teams including but are not limited to: sales, packaging, compliance, QA, manufacturing, and suppliers.

• Experience in working with private label buyers is a plus

• Strong organizational skill

• Excellent communication skills - written and verbal

• Ability to evaluate and balance priorities

• Able to solve problems and use discretion in dealing with proprietary and confidential information

• Knowledge of Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook, and other systems as required

This position embodies the values of Niagara’s LIFE competency model, focusing on the following key drivers of success:

• Lead Like an Owner

• Manages a safe working environment, accurately documents safety related training, and effectively communicates safety incidents

• Provides strategic input and oversight to departmental projects

• Makes data driven decisions and develops sustainable solutions

• Skilled in reducing costs and managing timelines while prioritizing long run impact over short term wins

• Makes decisions by putting overall company success first before department/individual success

• Leads/facilitates discussions to get positive outcomes for the customer

• Makes strategic decisions which prioritize the needs of the customer over departmental/individual goals

• InnovACT

• Continuously evaluates existing programs and processes, and develops new initiatives to increase efficiency and reduce waste

• Creates, monitors, and responds to departmental performance metrics to drive continuous improvement

• Communicates a clear vision, organizes resources effectively, and adjusts the strategy as needed when managing change

• Find a Way

• Demonstrates ability to think analytically and synthesize complex information

• Effectively delegates technical tasks to subordinates

• Works effectively with departments, vendors, and customers to achieve organizational success

• Identifies opportunities for collaboration in strategic ways

• Empowered to be Great

• Makes hiring decisions primarily based on culture fit and attitude, and secondarily based on technical expertise

• Engages in long term talent planning

• Provides opportunities for the development of all direct reports

• Understands, identifies, and addresses conflict within own team and between teams

Education

• Minimum Required:

• Bachelor's Degree in Food Science or related field

• Preferred:

• Master's Degree in Food Science or related field

Certification/License:

• Required: PCQI (Preventive Control Qualified Individual)

• Preferred: Better Process Control Certification, Certified Food Scientist

Foreign Language

• Required: None Required

• Preferred: Minimum Professional Proficiency – German, Spanish, Italian, Mandarin

Typical Compensation Range

Pay Rate Type: Salary

$128,287.00 - $186,016.00 / Yearly

Bonus Target: 10% Annual

Benefits

https://careers.niagarawater.com/us/en/benefits

Any employment agency, person or entity that submits a résumé into this career site or to a hiring manager does so with the understanding that the applicant's résumé will become the property of Niagara Bottling, LLC. Niagara Bottling, LLC will have the right to hire that applicant at its discretion without any fee owed to the submitting employment agency, person or entity.

Employment agencies that have fee agreements with Niagara Bottling, LLC and have been engaged on a search shall submit résumé to the designated Niagara Bottling, LLC recruiter or, upon authorization, submit résumé into this career site to be eligible for placement fees.

Niagara Bottling, LLC has been family owned and operated since 1963. Niagara is a leading bottled water manufacturer in the U.S., supplying major retailers across the nation. With incredible growth over the past several years, the career possibilities at Niagara are endless!

Niagara’s culture is fast-paced, innovative and intensely collaborative. Our Team Members are passionate, driven and always find a way to get the job done. We work hard and play hard while staying true to our family atmosphere.

From competitive benefits and retirement options to educational reimbursements, ongoing training courses and exciting career advancement opportunities, at Niagara we truly take care of our Team Members.

We hope that you consider joining our Niagara family!

Niagara Bottling LLC is an Equal Opportunity Employer that does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, national origin, veteran status or disability in relation to our recruiting, hiring, and promoting practices.