Head of Liquid Innovation Ireland

Head of Liquid Innovation, UK & Ireland Your Manager: R&D Director, Aged Spirits & Champagne Team:
Research & Development

Location:

Dumbarton, Scotland or Dublin, Ireland Contract Type:
Permanent Pernod Ricard is a worldwide leader in the spirits and champagne industry, blending traditional craftsmanship, state-of-the-art brand development, and global distribution technologies. Our prestigious portfolio of premium to luxury brands includes Absolut vodka, Ricard pastis, Ballantine’s, Chivas Regal, Royal Salute, and The Glenlivet Scotch whiskies, Jameson Irish whiskey, Martell cognac, Havana Club rum, Beefeater gin, Malibu liqueur, and Mumm and Perrier-Jouët champagnes.

Our mission is to ensure the long-term growth of our brands with full respect for people and the environment, while empowering our employees around the world to be ambassadors of our purposeful, inclusive, and responsible culture of authentic conviviality

Pernod Ricard’s Gold Brand Unit is the Group’s Aged Spirits & Champagne division, bringing together the prestigious portfolios of Irish Distillers, Chivas Brothers, Martell Mumm Perrier
- Jouët and North American Distillers. With a global team operating across 40 sites and brands spanning Irish, Scotch and American Whisk(e) y, Cognac, Champagne and wine, the division unites exceptional craftsmanship and deep expertise across iconic terroirs in Ireland, Scotland, France and North America. Its portfolio, rooted in heritage and provenance, embodies Pernod Ricard’s commitment to excellence from Premium to Ultra-Prestige, delivering some of the world’s most celebrated and enduring spirits and champagnes.

About the role Shape the future of liquid innovation!

We are looking for a Head of Liquid Innovation to lead, structure and elevate our liquid development capability at global level.

This is a key leadership role at the crossroads of science, innovation, industrialisation and brand strategy, with a strong long‑term and systems‑level perspective. You will provide scientific and technical leadership for liquid formulations, ensuring robust, scalable and distinctive products throughout their full life cycle. This role will be responsible for leading this agenda for the UK & Ireland region, as part of the Aged Spirits & Champagne Business Unit.

Why join us in this role?

An influential leadership role close to innovation and strategy

Strong scientific and technical influence on iconic products

International exposure and meaningful opportunities to solve complex problems.

The opportunity to build long‑term formulation capabilities and standards.

What you will doLead and develop multidisciplinary technical teams, fostering engagement, accountability and scientific excellence.

Guide and support the long-term quality, consistency and performance of liquid products through collaboration across teams.

Translate innovation intent into industrially viable formulation architectures.

Build and sustain formulation excellence, capabilities and standards.

Enable a strong and differentiated global liquid innovation pipeline.

Partner closely with Master Blenders and Cellar Masters, integrating craft expertise, cellar practices and the critical importance of Geographical Indication (GI / IG) processes into innovation choices.

Create and animate a global Liquid Innovation community and contribute to the broader Liquid Innovation vision across global business units.

Your skills and background

Master’s or PhD in chemistry, physico-chemistry, formulation science, chemical or food engineering (or equivalent)
Proven experience leading expert technical teams with strategic vision combined with hands‑on execution.

Sound judgement and the ability to navigate complex situations while balancing multiple perspectives.

Deep knowledge in liquid formulation and industrialisation, with solid understanding of long‑term stability and sensory impact

Proven ability to build and foster collaborative technical communities and networks, connecting global priorities with broader Liquid Innovation ambitions and the ability to collaborate cross functionally, gaining a clear understanding of roles, expertise and decision-making processes.

Good…