At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead innovative product development projects and create delightful blends for consumers.
- Company: Join TwiningsOvo, a diverse and collaborative environment that values your impact.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, yearly bonuses, 25 days holiday, and wellness perks.
- Why this job: Shape the future of tea and drive innovation in wellbeing beverages.
- Qualifications: 2+ years in R&D, preferably in Food and Beverages, with a scientific degree.
- Other info: Dynamic role with opportunities for personal growth and creativity.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 ยฃ per year.
Application Deadline: 9 January 2026
Department: New Product Development
Employment Type: Fixed Term - Full Time
Location: Andover
Great People Work Here. Are you searching for a career with bags of variety, in an environment that celebrates differences and empowers collaboration, which values individuals and will encourage you to make an impact? Do you want the freedom to explore, and the opportunities to find new ways and to innovate? If so, TwiningsOvo delivers. Do you want to help shape the future of Tea at Twinings?
The aim of the Research and Development Team is to drive commercial growth by creating amazing Consumer Product Experiences in wellbeing beverages. We achieve this by driving competitive advantage through collaboration across our technical community.
The R&I Development Technologist will lead the development workstream of new product development projects, working collaboratively to create product briefs and develop consumer-delighting blends, guiding them from concept through to launch. You'll play a key and tangible role including blend development, full technical readiness and as needed product development trials. In addition, the role involves supporting cost optimisation initiatives and improvements across blends, proactively introducing new ingredients and innovative approaches to enhance the success rate of product innovation, and contributing to day-to-day laboratory activities.
Key Responsibilities- Development (18-24 time frame) and delivery of new products that delight consumers and meet success criteria (Minimum viable product (MVP), KQAs, KPIs, CoGs, regulation) through exploration, lab development and factory implementation.
- Custodian of product promise: drives clarity on KQA and MVP/desired during scoping/feasibility and proposes options for delivering MVP.
- Lab scale creation of products using materials, such as teas, herbs, flavours, wellbeing ingredients to deliver at least MVP of product brief.
- Completes assessment of prospective new raw materials and blends; factory runnability testing, COSHH assessment and shelf-life testing.
- Identify risks and mitigations, to successful project completion, in collaboration with the project team.
- Support technical activities for NPD, cost innovations and process optimisation projects.
- Strong personal and technical leadership to ensure that assigned projects are completed within schedule and budget, executed with excellence and fully compliant with quality, food safety and regulatory requirements.
- Support creation and create compelling stories celebrating development blends to strengthen consumer product experience.
- Personal ownership of GMP and H&S standards. And supports team in maintaining these standards.
- Sample making and support lab stock management.
- Work closely with internal stakeholders including raw material sourcing, quality, ethical and regulatory teams to ensure ingredients and products meet the correct standards in terms of quality and commercial considerations.
- Collaborates to assess market compliance, suitability for brand standards and suitability for on pack claims.
- Request specifications for new ingredients and check specifications against project needs.
- Develop and maintain a strong knowledge of product development, ingredient functionality, blending, production and process techniques.
- Role model Twinings Innovation Behaviours.
- Identify opportunities to drive greater efficiency/agility in NPD development and delivery and propose solutions.
- โBring the outside inโ so Twinings and specifically Near Term Innovation projects can benefit real time from latest NPD, process, ingredient and innovation thinking.
- 2+ yearsโ experience working within an R&D environment as an NPD or R&D Technologist or similar, preferably within Food and Beverages / FMCG.
- Demonstratable experience of working in product development and utilising specifications systems.
- Education at least to degree level, in a scientific discipline with food industry experience.
- Level 2 Food Safety or good understanding of food safety as well as basic scientific techniques and good scientific practice.
- Experience working with herbal ingredients/food/beverage raw materials desirable as well as knowledge and interest in tea/herbal infusions & food/flavours with good sensory acuity.
- Clear communicator with an ability to engage and influence a wide range of internal stakeholders to deliver new products to market at the right pace, without neglecting quality and safety standards.
- Strong technical rigour and organisation skills with demonstrated excellent attention to detail.
- Natural collaborator โ happy to work both independently and as part of a team.
- Thinks differently, challenging conventional thinking to create the future and overcome barriers.
- Curious, questioning and always looking ahead and outside.
- Yearly bonus based on personal contribution and financial performance.
- 25 days holiday plus 8 bank holidays and the option to buy and sell holidays.
- Onsite Gym and Wellbeing Centre.
- Perkbox โ employee discount scheme with discounts online, in high street stores, cinema, holidays, restaurants and many more.
- Pension scheme with your contributions matched for up to 10% of your salary.
- Cycle to work scheme.
- SimplyHealth Cash plan.
- Onsite Staff shop and online staff discounts.
- Electric Car Scheme.
R&I Development Technologist (NPD) in Andover employer: Twinings group
Contact Detail:
Twinings group Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice ๐คซ
We think this is how you could land R&I Development Technologist (NPD) in Andover
โจTip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the industry, attend events, and connect on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
โจTip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its products. Understand their values and how they innovate in the tea industry. This will help you tailor your answers and show you're genuinely interested in being part of their team.
โจTip Number 3
Practice your pitch! Be ready to explain how your skills and experiences align with the R&I Development Technologist role. Highlight your technical expertise and any innovative projects you've worked on that could impress the hiring team.
โจTip Number 4
Donโt forget to apply through our website! Itโs the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, it shows youโre serious about joining TwiningsOvo and contributing to their exciting product development journey.
We think you need these skills to ace R&I Development Technologist (NPD) in Andover
Some tips for your application ๐ซก
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the R&I Development Technologist role. Highlight your relevant experience in product development and any specific skills that match the job description. We want to see how you can bring your unique flair to our team!
Showcase Your Passion: Let your enthusiasm for tea and innovation shine through in your application. Share any personal projects or experiences that demonstrate your love for product development and how you think outside the box. Weโre all about creativity and fresh ideas!
Be Clear and Concise: When writing your application, keep it straightforward and to the point. Use clear language and avoid jargon unless itโs relevant. We appreciate a well-structured application that makes it easy for us to see your qualifications and potential.
Apply Through Our Website: Donโt forget to submit your application through our official website! Itโs the best way for us to receive your details and ensures youโre considered for the role. Plus, it shows youโre serious about joining our amazing team at Twinings!
How to prepare for a job interview at Twinings group
โจKnow Your Blends
Before the interview, dive deep into the world of tea and herbal infusions. Familiarise yourself with different blends, their ingredients, and what makes them unique. This knowledge will not only impress your interviewers but also show your genuine passion for the role.
โจShowcase Your Technical Skills
Be prepared to discuss your experience in product development and any relevant technical skills you possess. Bring examples of past projects where youโve successfully developed new products or improved existing ones. Highlight your understanding of food safety and regulatory requirements as well.
โจCollaborate and Communicate
Since the role involves working closely with various stakeholders, demonstrate your collaboration skills during the interview. Share examples of how you've effectively communicated and worked with teams in the past to achieve project goals. This will show that you can thrive in a team-oriented environment.
โจEmbrace Innovation
TwiningsOvo values innovation, so come prepared with ideas on how to enhance product development processes. Think about recent trends in the beverage industry and how they could be applied to create exciting new products. Showing your forward-thinking mindset will set you apart from other candidates.