The Opportunity
Based in Kilkenny, Ireland, and reporting to the Senior R&D Applications Manager, this role focuses on the development of advanced nutritional beverage and fresh dairy applications. You will play a key role in bringing innovative concepts from ideation through to commercialization, working closely with cross‑functional teams including commercial, product management, and marketing across Europe.
Customer engagement is central to this role, requiring strong collaboration with business development and commercial teams, as well as direct interaction with customers and partners.
Key Responsibilities
Design and develop innovative beverage and fresh dairy applications using Glanbia ingredients.
Assess technical feasibility across multiple beverage formats, ensuring stability, scalability, and manufacturability.
Apply expertise in ingredient functionality (dairy proteins, nutritional vitamin and mineral premixes, flavour systems) to optimise formulations.
Evaluate ingredient compatibility and performance under various processing conditions.
Conduct flavour validation and contribute to sensory research to ensure superior product performance.
Ensure formulations meet regulatory, quality, and customer requirements.
Support scale‑up trials, process optimisation, and manufacturing transfers.
Build and manage relationships with co‑manufacturers to support commercialization.
Collaborate with European commercial and marketing teams to deliver technical and application support.
Support in the development of other applications using Glanbia ingredients (e.g. bars, beverages, baked goods, extruded snacks etc.).
Prepare nutritionals, application documentation, and prototype samples.
Provide technical support to distributors and customers across Europe.
Stay current with market trends, competitor activity, and emerging nutritional ingredients.
Represent the business at industry events, preparing for and attending tradeshows across Europe.
The Skills you will bring to the team
Degree in Food Science, Dairy Science, or a related discipline (postgraduate qualification preferred).
5+ years’ experience in product development within dairy or nutritional beverages.
Proven track record of delivering products from concept through to commercialisation.
Strong knowledge of dairy systems, vitamin/mineral fortification, flavour science, and formulation.
Solid understanding of nutrition, chemistry, and ingredient functionality.
Strong analytical, problem‑solving, and project management skills.
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage effectively at all levels.
Commercial awareness with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast‑paced environment.
Highly collaborative, detail‑oriented, and customer‑focused mindset.
Fluent in written and spoken English.
Proficient in Microsoft Office tools.
Where and how you will work
The opportunity will be based onsite in our newly refurbished Kilkenny office at Leggettsrath Business Park, R95 YTD5. The role includes approximately 15% international travel, offering opportunities to support exciting project work, attend industry trade fairs, and participate in key company events.
What we would like to offer you!
The opportunity to develop your career on a global stage, continuous learning through an on‑demand learning platform, and a competitive compensation package including staff discounts, generous family leave policy, healthcare and pension.
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