Research And Development Manager

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R&D Manager, Coffee Development, Permanent

At Costa Coffee, we’re on a mission to reimagine coffee experiences across the globe. From bustling cities to local communities, we’re creating meaningful coffee moments, powered by innovation and driven by purpose.

As a proud part of the Coca‑Cola system and working hand in hand with our pioneering partners, we’re in over 50 countries and counting. Whether it’s served in‑store, from a machine, at home, or on the go, every cup is thoughtfully crafted by our passionate teams who put heart into every moment.

Our teams truly make a difference. Whether it’s pioneering new tech for the perfect pour, launching award‑winning campaigns, developing exciting new menu items, or supporting our people to grow – together, we stir up success.

We are seeking a hands‑on Coffee and Development Manager to lead global coffee product innovation, partnering with regional teams to turn market insights into compelling new products. This role shapes our innovation pipeline by leveraging flavour trends, technology, and industry advancements while working across the Coke ecosystem to bring ideas from concept to production. You will drive the development and governance of our iconic coffee beverages across high street retail, FMCG, and emerging channels, ensuring consistent excellence across all platforms.

We value curiosity, inclusivity, and a problem‑solving mindset. If you thrive in a fast‑paced, global environment and are excited to make a meaningful impact, we encourage you to apply.

With inspiring experiences, development programmes, and our apprenticeship scheme, your career can grow far beyond the day‑to‑day.

Being a R&D Manager, Coffee Development is about so much more than bringing our coffee to the world. It’s your chance to stir up real success – which means you’ll be:

• Lead strategic supplier management, identifying, onboarding and developing global coffee suppliers to ensure the highest standards of quality, compliance, cost efficiency and long‑term partnership.
• Drive coffee range innovation and renovation, leading the development of new products and the continuous improvement of existing lines using deep consumer insight, market trends and cross‑functional collaboration.
• Own cost optimisation across the coffee value chain, partnering with finance, procurement, production and suppliers to reduce COGs while protecting quality and supporting business growth.
• Champion quality assurance and governance, establishing robust auditing frameworks, proactively resolving quality issues and ensuring consistent excellence across all supplier coffee products.
• Act as the global coffee subject‑matter expert, providing strategic leadership, mentoring teams and brand ambassadors, influencing customers and positioning Costa as an industry leader in coffee innovation and expertise.

It’s your unique ingredients we’re interested in:

• Deep Coffee & Technical Expertise:
  Strong knowledge of green and roasted coffee, sensory evaluation and cupping, roasting, brewing standards, FMCG coffee innovation, and coffee production and packaging machinery.
• Product Innovation & Development:
  Proven ability to translate market needs, consumer insights, and global trends into innovative coffee products, managing the full development lifecycle from concept to launch.
• Market & Trend Insight:
  Solid understanding of global coffee market trends, flavour innovation, consumer preferences, and emerging technologies within the coffee industry.
• Leadership &
  
  Collaboration:
  
  Demonstrated leadership in driving innovation, with strong project management, governance, and communication skills to collaborate effectively across global and cross‑functional teams.
• Global & Commercial Acumen:
  Extensive industry experience with international exposure, complemented by an understanding of supply chain, food safety, cost management, and cultural differences in global markets.

We didn’t become a global coffee brand…