Please note - this is a 15 month contract
About the Function
Our Supply Chain and Manufacturing team are problem-solvers, sourcing, producing, and delivering our much-loved brands to delight customers around the globe. Over half of Diageo's 30,000+ people work in Supply Chain and Manufacturing. It's an intricate and sophisticated operation that's the product of logistical, manufacturing, and technical collaborations.
Our teams in 100 sites in over 30 countries cover production facilities, supplier relationships, customer collaborations and third-party agreements. We're committed to realising our ‘Society 2030: Spirit of Progress' goals, to protect the environment and support our farmers and suppliers. Whatever your skills and experience, we'll help you to thrive in our inclusive culture.
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Purpose of the Role
Lead the Science & Technology Spirits Portfolio development and delivery, engaging with key stakeholders. Serve as a technical expert to explore, assess, and implement improvements, emerging technologies, and novel ways of working to enhance productivity, sustainability, and growth across Diageo's global supply chain. Report to the Global Science & Technology Director (S&T). Ideally based in Menstrie, Scotland.
The scope of activity will cover end-to-end distilling and maturation processes for Scotch, Tequila (including mezcal), other spirits (gin, vodka, rum), including (but not limited to):
- Portfolio leadership - development and delivery in collaboration with key internal and external stakeholders, including idea generation and development, initial technology assessments to identify new opportunities, and leadership to scale relevant opportunities across the global footprint.
- Collaborate on raw materials program to drive efficiencies, product quality, and maximise local inclusion rate.
- Lead strategic productivity programs to unlock capacity and improve processes through novel science and technologies.
- Lead programmes on spirit maturation processes, including flavour development and loss reduction.
- Collaborate with Research & Partnerships, Suppliers, and other external stakeholders to maximise value from expert networks and external funding opportunities.
- Development and execution of a long-term pipeline of technical improvement/ transformation, R&D, and innovation/renovation projects, in collaboration with Operations and other functional stakeholders to ensure project delivery against a range of performance KPIs.
Key Responsibilities
- Develop Spirits strategy and project portfolio that enables achievement of Diageo's strategic productivity, sustainability and growth ambitions.
- Align the strategy with key internal and external stakeholders and ensure effective delivery and adherence to Diageo governance and risk management standards.
- Develop and execute a prioritised pipeline of opportunities to unlock supply chain capacity, agility, and enhance product quality, in partnership with stakeholders.
- Provide effective leadership of the spirits portfolio, supporting the team and Diageo's supply chain improvement/transformation agenda, delivering results, on time and in full.
- Develop new opportunities and innovative science & technologies across spirits production.
- Maximise relationships with existing partners and build relationships with new partners, internally and externally, to maximise value for Diageo.
- Support team capability development on spirits production and R&D.
- Technical lead on external scientific committees such as SWA and Spirits Europe.
- Act as key contact, when needed for the Legal and Corporate Relations teams from R&D.
Experience, Skills & Qualifications required
- Technical professional with proven business value delivery.
- PhD or Degree in a Scientific discipline or Chemical Engineering, ideally related to the drinks industry, or equivalent qualifications and experience.
- Knowledge of global distilled spirits production.
- Significant experience in a relevant technical or research role, preferably with practical brewing/distilling experience.
- Proven leadership skills with a track record in strategy development and execution in large-scale operations.
- Experience in developing and delivering strategic project portfolios in competitive, cross-functional environments.
- Strong team player capable of integrating into and leading cross-functional teams.
- Excellent stakeholder engagement skills for building strong internal and external relationships that drive organisational value.
- Skilled communicator with good interpersonal and influencing abilities.
- High energy, eager to learn, develop, and inspire team members and stakeholders.
- Strong cross-functional experience with strong supplier and procurement knowledge.
- Thought leadership with strategic vision, external connections, and future orientation.
Working with Us
Flexibility is key to success in our business and many of our people work flexibly in many different ways, including part-time, compressed hours, flexible location. Please talk to us about what flexibility means to you and don't let anything stop you from applying.
We offer a highly competitive rewards and benefits package including:
- Contemporary work life balance policies and wellbeing activities
- Contributary pension scheme
- Comprehensive health benefits
- Annual bonus
Our purpose is to celebrate life, every day, everywhere. And creating an inclusive culture, where everyone feels valued and listened to, is a crucial part of this.
We believe the most diverse and inclusive culture makes for a better business and a better world.
We know that for our business to thrive and for Diageo to realise its ambition, we depend on having diverse talent with a range of backgrounds, skills and capabilities in each of the countries in which we operate and to reflect our broad consumer base.
Around the world we have a number of inclusive Business and Employee Resource Groups known as BRGs and ERGs. These influential groups, made up of our people, represent various viewpoints, experiences and communities who generate thought-provoking work to enhance our business and workplace, creating a sense of belonging and opportunities for all.
Join us, and you'll be part of an organisation that embraces diversity in the broadest possible sense. This means that you'll be welcomed and celebrated for who you are just by being you. You'll be part of - and help build - an inclusive culture that celebrates people of different gender, ethnicity, ability, age, sexual orientation, social class, educational backgrounds, experiences, approaches and more. And you'll help us champion inclusion and diversity across our entire business: with our employees, our suppliers, across our brands, and within the communities in which we operate.
About Us
With over 200 brands sold in nearly 180 countries, we're the world's leading premium drinks company. Every day, over 30,000 dedicated people come together at Diageo to create the magic behind our much-loved brands.
Join us and you'll collaborate, explore, and innovate. Challenge and be challenged. Together with passionate people from all over the world, you'll build brands consumers love.
We value each other and celebrate different perspectives. In our inclusive culture, you'll have the backing you need to test new ideas and learn from them. Harness your passion and desire to grow as you make your mark. Let's unlock a brighter, more exciting future together.
Our ambition is to create the best performing, most trusted and respected consumer products companies in the world. To achieve this, we need the world's very best people. We're looking for people with curiosity, creativity, boldness and a sense of purpose to take Diageo and our timeless, pioneering brands to the next level.
Feel inspired? Then this may be the opportunity for you!
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