Alcoholic Beverage Designer

Are you passionate about creating innovative beverage solutions that bring customer ideas to life and deliver exceptional consumer experiences?

As Alcoholic Beverage Designer II a you will develop and optimize beverage formulations for local, regional, and strategic customers while leveraging IFF technologies, ingredient expertise, and sensory knowledge. You will work across technical and commercial teams to create commercially successful solutions that meet customer expectations, regulatory standards, and business objectives.

At IFF, we combine science, creativity, and innovation to create products that make everyday experiences more enjoyable and meaningful. Our Taste business partners with customers to develop food and beverage solutions that respond to evolving consumer preferences, market trends, and technical requirements.

The role is based in Johannesburg, South Africa (on-site).

You will join a customer-focused, creative, solution-oriented, and experienced Beverages Creation & Design team.

Where You'll Make a Difference

• Independently manage assigned projects and priorities.

• Develop finished beverage formulations using IFF technologies and capabilities.

• Ensure formulations meet customer, legal, cost, stability, and quality requirements.

• Apply Product Experience (PX) insights and data to drive product development decisions.

• Expand and apply knowledge of ingredients, raw materials, flavor interactions, and production processes.

• Maintain and continuously improve formulation and recipe databases.

• Collaborate with Production and Quality teams on scale-up trials and commercialization activities.

• Partner with Sales, Marketing, Flavorists, Product Experience (PX), and Global Regulatory Affairs (GRA) teams to execute projects successfully.

• Contribute to concept development, innovation programs, and the implementation of new technologies.

What Makes You the Right Fit

• Bachelor's degree in Food Science and Technology, Chemistry, Biochemistry, Human Nutrition, or a related discipline.

• 7+ years of experience within the food, beverage, pharmaceutical, ingredient, or flavor industry.

•At least 2 years of experience within a relevant beverage application or product development environment, with strong technical knowledge of and proven experience in alcoholic beverages, including formulation development, processing, stability, sensory performance, and commercialization.

• Ability to develop formulations that balance sensory performance, technical feasibility, cost, and regulatory requirements and proficiency with formulation software, databases, and digital product development tools.

• Understanding of beverage manufacturing processes and finished product performance.

• Strong project management, organizational, communication, and time management skills, with the ability to adapt to changing priorities.

• Experience collaborating effectively with both technical and commercial stakeholders.

• Ability to successfully complete the internal IFF sensory assessment.

• Willingness to travel monthly within the region, including Ghana, Tanzania, Zambia, and neighboring countries.

How Would You Stand Out?

• Experience supporting regional or multinational customer accounts.

• Track record of contributing to commercially successful product launches.

• Knowledge of beverage market trends, consumer preferences, and innovation programs.

Why Choose Us?

• Work with industry-leading technologies and experts in taste innovation.

• Contribute to products enjoyed by consumers around the world.

• Work alongside knowledgeable colleagues across multiple functions.

• Deliver innovative solutions that create meaningful value for customers and consumers.

• Be part of an inclusive workplace that values different perspectives and experiences and access continuous learning, development, and career growth opportunities.

• Competitive compensation and benefits package.

We are a global leader in taste, scent, and nutrition, offering our customers a broader range of natural solutions and accelerating our growth strategy. At IFF, we believe that your uniqueness unleashes our potential. We value the diverse mosaic of the ethnicity, national origin, race, age, sex, or veteran status. We strive for an inclusive workplace that allows each of our colleagues to bring their authentic self to work regardless of their religion, gender identity & expression, sexual orientation, or disability.

Visit IFF.com/careers/workplace-diversity-and-inclusion to learn more