What are the responsibilities and job description for the Beverage Technologist III position at Harvest Hill Beverage Company?
About Harvest Hill:
Harvest Hill Beverage Company is one of the nation’s largest independent branded beverage producers, delivering consistent annual revenue growth, with sales over $1 billion. The company was formed in June 2014 with the acquisition of Juicy Juice, and further expanded with 3 subsequent acquisitions which were consolidated into one company in May 2017. Our portfolio of iconic brands includes Juicy Juice®, SunnyD®, Veryfine®, Fruit2O®, Little HUG®, Daily’s Cocktails®, and Nutrament®. We manufacture, market, and distribute across multi-channels including Grocery, Mass Merchandisers, Warehouse Clubs, Convenience, Foodservice, and Liquor Distributors.
Harvest Hill is headquartered in Stamford, CT with a nationwide network of manufacturing and distribution facilities, employing over 1,000 employees in the United States. For more information, visit harvesthill.com.
Position Summary:
The Beverage Technologist III is a key member of the R&D team, responsible for supporting the various R&D initiatives including new product development, optimization of existing products, evaluating new/alternative ingredients and technical documentation and filings.
The candidate will collaborate closely with Marketing and Sales to foster innovation and new product development. The candidate will also work closely with Operations, Purchasing and Quality Assurance to ensure standard processes are followed. The position operates in a fast paced, dynamic environment with multiple priorities and therefore requires a high level of adaptability to quickly address both new opportunities and urgent trouble shooting challenges.
Primary Position Responsibilities:
- In conjunction with Marketing, Sales, Quality Assurance and Operations, help identify,
design and scale up new adult and children’s beverages from bench to manufacturing
plant.
- Evaluate new ingredients and identify/qualify ingredient vendors for applications in new
products.
- Using lab bench and pilot equipment (e.g. Microthermics), manufacture product samples
for internal and external consumer tests.
- Monitor, redesign and improve existing juice drinks and alcohol products to optimize
organoleptic properties.
- Work with Purchasing, Operations and current/new vendors to design and execute efforts
to qualify alternate ingredient sources and reduce ingredient/finished product costs.
- Work with Marketing to identify line extensions for current items and assemble bench top
prototypes for organizational and customer evaluation.
- Design and conduct sensory tests to support development efforts and shelf life studies for
new and existing products.
- Analyze competitive products’ ingredients, content claims, forms, sensory attributes, etc.
- Assemble ingredient statements and Nutrition Facts Panels to support label development
for all products as required.
- Design and execute long term physical, vitamin and organoleptic stability studies, to
support shelf life assignment.
- In concert with Quality Assurance, assist with the company’s Kosher certification program
and HACCP/food safety programs.
- Support Harvest Hill Quality Assurance and manufacturing plant efforts in our annual SQF
and Organic certification programs.
- Collaborate with Operations to assure formulation Batch/Weigh Sheets are accurate, up to
date and available to Production Staff.
- Assist Quality Assurance and Marketing to identify and resolve technically based consumer
product complaints.
- Assemble or write product and ingredient specification documents. Assist Operations and Quality Assurance with deviations that occur during production.
Position Qualifications:
- The ideal candidate will have a minimum of a Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Chemistry or related field.
- 5 years of experience in food/beverage product development, alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages a plus.
- Ability to communicate effectively in writing and verbally, through reports and presentations.
- Ability to work in a plant environment when operations or quality requests support.
- Ability to follow instructions, work independently and as part of a team to meet project goals.
- Must be able to analyze and prioritize multiple tasks to effectively manage workflow in a fast paced, dynamic work environment.
- Possess a strong work ethic using critical thinking and with great attention to detail.
- Possess a very active level of engagement and high integrity in the work environment.
- Must be comfortable working in a lab environment on a daily basis and maintaining lab equipment and stock supplies.
- Must be able to interact with production personnel, monitor, and assist in a plant environment during pilots and startups.
- Must be able to travel as needed to support pilots, startups, or attend training opportunities.
*NOTE: THE ABOVE IS NOT MEANT NOR SHALL BE CONSTRUED AS AN EXCLUSIVE LIST OF JOB RESPONSIBILITIES*
