Assistant Manager - Research & Development

Job Title: Assistant Manager, Product and Process Research

Department: Product and Process Research

Summary:

The Assistant Manager will play a key role in advancing the development of novel Process and Product strategies. The ideal candidate leverages deep scientific acumen, a strong foundation in biochemical engineering, robust Design of Experiments (DOE) methodologies, and advanced data analytics to optimize existing processes, champion novel technology exploration, and seamlessly scale operations from benchtop to commercial manufacturing.

Job Title: Assistant Manager - Research & Development

About us:

With over 200 brands sold in nearly 180 countries, we're the world's leading premium drinks company. From global icons like Johnnie Walker, Guinness and Tanqueray to Smirnoff and Don Julio, we create brands consumers love. Bring your passion and use your curiosity as you explore, collaborate and innovate. Together with passionate people from all over the world, you'll test new ideas, learn and grow, and unlock a brighter, more exciting future.

Join us to create a career worth celebrating.

About the Function:

Supply Chain & Manufacturing is where our brands are made, moved and delivered to the world. With over half of our people working across more than 100 sites, this is a complex, large-scale operation that brings together production, logistics, engineering and supplier partnerships. It's fast-paced and hands-on, with teams working together to ensure quality, efficiency and sustainability at every stage. From sourcing ingredients to getting products into customers hands, you'll play a role in delivering the brands people know and love.

Role Responsibilities:

• Research & Development:
  • Initiate and lead novel research projects including:
    • Process optimization for increased yield and efficiency.
    • Development of new process technologies relevant to Diageo India.
    • Investigation of alternative feedstocks/substrates/raw material formats.
  • Design and conduct laboratory-scale experiments, analyze data, and draw meaningful conclusions.
  • Develop and document experimental procedures and protocols.
  • Oversee recurrent and reproducible experimental analyses, establishing baseline data, robust quality controls, and high analytical integrity.
  • Apply advanced statistical techniques, multivariate analysis, and data visualization tools to interpret complex bioprocess and sensory profiling datasets.
• Process Scale-up:
  • Process Translation: Drive the transition of bench-scale successes into viable pilot and manufacturing-scale operations, bridging the gap between laboratory findings and plant realities.
  • Troubleshoot and resolve technical challenges encountered during scale-up.
  • Partner closely with production engineering and operations teams to troubleshoot process bottlenecks, validate trials, and execute technology transfer.
• Industry Collaboration:
  • Establish and maintain relationships with academic institutions, research organizations, and industry partners.
  • Stay abreast of the latest advancements in fermentation and distilling technologies.
• Project Management:
  • Plan and execute research projects within budget and timelines, prepare project reports, presentations, and technical publications effectively communicate research findings to internal and external stakeholders.
  • End-to-End Ownership: Take full accountability for project lifecycles-from initial hypothesis generation and experimental design to final technical reports and executive presentations.
  • Cross-Functional Collaboration: Coordinate multidisciplinary efforts across R&D, analytical laboratories, and external partners to maintain project momentum and meet strict timelines.
• Safety & Compliance:
  • Adhere to all laboratory safety protocols and regulations.
  • Ensure compliance with relevant environmental, health, and safety (EHS) regulations.

Experience / skills required:

• Education: Ph.D in Biochemical Engineering, Food Technology, Biotechnology, or a related field.
• Experience: 0-2 years of relevant post-PhD research experience in food processing, distillation, or a related field with multiple peer reviewed publications in SCI journals.
• Skills:
  • Strong understanding of food process principles.
  • Hands-on experience with laboratory techniques, and analytical equipment GCMS, HPLC, spectroscopy, and analytical methods.
  • Proficiency in data analysis, statistical methods, and scientific software.
  • Excellent problem-solving, critical thinking, and analytical skills.
  • Flexible, adaptive, strong communication, interpersonal, and teamwork skills.
  • Project management and organizational skills.
• Technical Skills (Preferred):
  • Experience with statistical design of experiments (DOE).
  • Familiarity with process simulation software.
  • Experience with high-throughput screening methods.

Flexible Working Statement:

Flexibility is key to our success.

Talk to us about what flexibility means to you, so that you're supported to manage your wellbeing and balance your priorities from day one.

Rewards & Benefits Statement:

We recognise and value performance, offering our people a highly competitive Rewards and Benefits package including:

Diversity statement:

Our purpose is to celebrate life, every day, everywhere. And creating an inclusive culture, where everyone feels valued and that they can belong, is a crucial part of this.

We embrace 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 and champion an inclusive culture that celebrates people of different gender, ethnicity, ability, age, sexual orientation, social class, educational backgrounds, experiences, mindsets, and more.

Our ambition is to create the best performing, most trusted and respected consumer products companies in the world. Join us and help transform our business as we take our brands to new heights and build new ones as part of shaping the next generation of celebrations for consumers around the world.

Feel inspired Then this may be the opportunity for you.

If you require a reasonable adjustment, please ensure that you capture this information when you submit your application.

Recruitment Scam Warning

Protecting candidates is very important to us. All communications regarding your application will come from an email address ending in @diageo.com. In our recruitment process, we'll never ask for money.