About the business:

JACOBS DOUWE EGBERTS (JDE) is a €5 billion global business retaining a start-up feel and containing some of the leading brands in Coffee and Tea – Kenco, Douwe Egberts, TASSIMO and Jacobs to name a few.

The UK represents a top 5 global market for JDE and has experienced 8 years of continual growth, with our TASSIMO brand being a standout performer with continuous year on year double digit growth. JDE UK is the number 2 branded coffee supplier to the UK retail trade with approx. 30% market share of this growing £1bn+ RSV category.

JDE is a growth engine for the category driving premiumisation by leading the single-serve partition with the Tassimo brand and premiumising the instant coffee segment through Kenco, Douwe Egberts and the newly launched L’Or brand.

About the role:

The Product Development Specialist will report to the R&D Product Development Team Lead – Instants, you will be at the heart of the real coffee business working for the Instants Category which represents the bulk of our business and an area where continuous innovation is a necessity to grow our market position.

Your main responsibility will be to support the Research & Development department by determining and implementing product solutions within the global instant coffee network.  This role is critical to the fast-paced instant coffee category and will determine and specify product process solutions to support the company’s growth alongside projects that drive productivity.  The role will support all global instant coffee sites

The Product Development role offers an excellent opportunity to lead and support product design by understanding consumer needs and developing product to meet those needs. You will lead industrial trials to qualify products while supporting specifications development, improvement and harmonization. You will also determine and implement solutions to support the Instant Category agenda while participating in the wider instant R&D community (pilot plant trials, plant start-ups etc). The role will also be responsible for communicating product changes to the R&D and operations team and supporting through knowledge creation and documentation.

• Prior experience within an R&D function ideally in the food and/or beverage industry
• Ideally have a degree in food science/food technology or equivilant experience
• Designing, executing, supporting, and leading trials to take product from lab scale to production scale
• Ability to make decisions based on understanding process data and trends
• Understanding of sensory product profiles and consumer testing tools for product design validation
• Strong and clear communicator at all levels (trial reports, presentation skills, cross-functional working)
• Delivering results through individual and team environments
• Build and develop cross-functional relationships
• Passionate and take a hands-on approach
• Able to travel outside the UK and be away from the home office for multiple days

What’s it like to work at JACOBS DOUWE EGBERTS?

We are proud of our passionate and driven associates who challenge the status quo and pursue mastery in everything they do. Our goal is simple and ambitious – JACOBS DOUWE EGBERTS: A coffee for every cup

Working with us means you’ll be making an impact in a fast-paced, collaborative environment. We work as a team, celebrating success and support one another. Our associates work with a diverse group of like-minded people in an innovative environment committed to doing the right thing across the globe. Your achievements here will get noticed.

Jacobs Douwe Egberts is a global coffee & tea company, serving consumers in more than 80 countries through iconic brands including: JACOBS, TASSIMO, MOCCONA, SENSEO, L'OR, DOUWE EGBERTS, KENCO, PILAO and GEVALIA