Make a Difference in YOUR Career!

Our vision is both simple and ambitious: to put our drinks on every table.  

We are the leading global independent beverage solutions provider. We serve a broad range of national and international retailers as well as Global, National and Emerging (GNE) brands. Our products are distributed worldwide from our production sites in Europe, North America, and Australia. Although our own branding may not appear on the labels of the beverages we produce, there is a good chance you are reading this while sipping one of our drinks.

Our ambition is to continually improve and it’s what keeps us at the top of our game. We are solutions-based. We are innovative.  We seek out new challenges and conquer them.  This is our company ethos, but it’s our people’s too: Refresco is at the cutting edge of a fast-moving industry because we have passionate people pushing the boundaries of what’s best.

Stop and think: how would YOU put our drinks on every table?  

Summary Description:

The Supervisor of Product Development will be responsible for managing standard sample and TOA requests for the lab, along with training lab technicians and interns to execute these functions. They will manage and delegate administrative tasks for PD lab organization efforts such as maintaining VWR requests, material stock and lab inventory. This position carries with it the responsibilities of leading and mentoring the PD technician team to advance their capabilities and contribution to the growth of the organization. Functions in alignment with SOPs and GMPs.

Essential Job Functions:

Be proficient in all PD Lab Technician responsibilities and competencies. Maintain, train and lead technicians to keep a safe, clean and organized lab environment in accordance with GLPs (Good Laboratory Practices). Demonstrate proficiency and train technicians in the use of basic QA instrumentation and lab equipment including microthermics unit, homogenizer, carbonator and HTP processor. Lead and mentor lab technicians and interns in best SOP execution for all lab functions. Create SOPs where gaps are found. Train technicians and interns to independently complete standard sample requests. This includes sampling existing formulas of concentrates and beverage and TOA reference sample preparation. Execute and mentor simple development projects. Manage preparations of beverage products for customer projects, presentations, shelf-life testing and/or research projects. Assist in tasting sessions and presentations to customers/visitors. Understand how to fully create shipping documentation and own the sample request process including international customer shipping requirements. Mentor and train technicians and interns in proper execution of this process. Be comfortable with creating concentrate BOMs and following PIs for producing trial run concentrate orders. Select optimal ingredients for projects according to specified requirements (i.e. customer needs, regulatory, technical parameters, costs). Demonstrate and lead technicians in a basic understanding of financial aspects of flavor selection (i.e. cost-in-use). Be familiar with shelf life, light stability and sensory process and practices.  Understand and mentor technician personnel in basic beverage aspects, ingredients and use level application. Basic experience with creating lab formulas to match beverage specifications for simple beverage formulations. Demonstrate familiarity with creating and submitting IMP formulas for approved beverage variables. This includes testing and gathering beverage specifications according to the Formula Implementation initiated SOP. Lead and assist training technician personnel in this process. Assist in the checking process for basic documentation reviews. Understand how to create costing for beverage and concentrate prototypes. This includes structuring new BOMs, communication with finance and costing beverage formulas for customers both domestic and international. Participate in sensory training to become an approved panelist for concentrates, shelf life and raw material for QA approval. Can prioritize multiple projects and effectively communicate issues and solutions. Be proficient at ordering lab supplies and managing lab stock of all necessary supplies including raw materials, lab essentials, juices and lab inventory. Train and delegate these responsibilities to technician personnel. Strong understanding in the use of SAP, Genesis, ACE and lab database ERP systems. Demonstrate tasting skills and effective use of flavor descriptors, terminology and sensory lexicon.

Leadership Responsibilities:

Leads and directs the work of other employees. Have some authority for personnel decisions related to hiring, performance, or disciplinary actions. Conduct one-on-one meetings with direct reports and advise on the application of personal improvement tools including heat maps and performance reviews.  Embody the 5 Refresco values by demonstrating responsibility, entrepreneurship, agility, excellence and passion. Foster teamwork and demonstrate leadership by providing assistance to others including teaching lab technicians and interns. Collaborate with peers to resolve technical issues.

Required Skills:

Great interpersonal skills, team player and an attitude to excel are a must. Demonstrate a willingness to learn, develop, perfect and lead others in PD lab methods and practices. This includes maintaining all applicable documentation and records – sample log, specification logs, ACE, shipping documents and other tracking initiatives. Lead others in taking ownership of projects. Field questions from technician personnel and mentor in collecting information to complete tasks. Basic knowledge of calculations, and unit operation for formulation design and process development. Communicate professionally with honest and constructive feedback. Confidently share ideas and solutions. Have the ability to notice, interpret and anticipate others concerns and feelings. Focused on desired result of self or team and driven to meet goals. Demonstrate good priority setting.

Competencies:

Be consistent and lead in information awareness by thoroughly reading emails and regularly referencing SharePoint and Weekly Action Plan. Communicate well through Outlook emails with a strong understanding of how to use Office applications including Excel, Word, and PowerPoint. Excute all PD traceability procedures and input information into ACE. Be familiar with referencing information from SAP, PPM, ACE, Project Planner and SharePoint. Understand how to use and manage employee timecards through the HR timestamp system (UKG).

Education and Experience:

Bachelor’s degree or Diploma in Chemistry, Biology, Food Science or related discipline. Minimum 1.5 years work related experience.

Working Conditions:

Work environment- Work and environment are very repetitive. Mental Stress- There is pronounced pressure from deadlines, production quotas, accuracy or similar demands.

Travel Requirements:

Percentage of travel time expected for the position, where the travel occurs, such as locally or in specific countries or states, and whether the travel is overnight.

A Career with Refresco  

Refresco offers a competitive salary and comprehensive benefits, which include:  

Medical/dental/vision insurance   Life insurance   401(k) savings plan with company match   Paid holidays and vacation   Well-being benefits   Discount programs  

Join Refresco TODAY and enjoy a rewarding CAREER!  

Any employment agency, person, or entity that submits a résumé to this career site or a hiring manager does so with the understanding that the applicant's résumé will become the property of Refresco Beverages, Inc.  Refresco Beverages, Inc. 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 agreements with Refresco Beverages, Inc.,  and have been engaged in a search shall submit résumé to the designated Refresco recruiter or, upon authorization, submit résumé to this career site to be eligible for placement fees.