R&D Lab Assistant

Description Great People Work Here Are you searching for a career with bags of variety, in an environment that celebrates differences and empowers collaboration, which values individuals and will encourage you to make an impact?
Do you want the freedom to explore, and the opportunities to find new ways and to innovate?
If so,  TwiningsOvo delivers.
We're looking for people who don't just come here to get the job done, but who have a real passion for the brand and a desire to do the best job they can.
In return, we offer an inspiring package of employee benefits - to show just how much we value you.
This role will offer you the scope for growth and the tools to aim high.
The aim of the Research and Development Team, within Twinings NPD, is to drive commercial growth by creating technical opportunities and building them into great tasting, healthy beverages , driving competitive advantage for Twinings.
We strive to create consumer delighting holistic innovation that delivers new and desired consumer experience, while unlocking technical insights for consumer compelling product ideas, stories and claims.
The R&D Lab Assistant will help deliver this by supporting new product development across the Twinings portfolio.
A key focus will be on ensuring the smooth and safe running of the NPD laboratory.
Please note: This role is fixed term for 9 months and onsite in Andover.
Key Responsibilities NPD Lab  Oversees creation, implementation and training of all NPD lab policies including sample requesting, stock control, ingredient sourcing and storage.
Ensures that Twinings' NPD lab processes are world class in terms of driving efficiency of resource, safety and stand out product quality and consumer appeal.
Day to day management of NPD Laboratory, ensuring the safe and effective running of the lab, with clear food safety and health and safety policies in place – these should be well communicated and followed by all who use the lab.
Acts as single point of contact for day-to-day NPD lab demands i.e.
sample manufacture, week to week resourcing.
Support NPD Managers & Technologists making up new product samples for blend developments and consumer testing Ensure that all lab equipment is maintained, risk assessed, serviced, and calibrated, following clear and agreed schedules.
Proactively maintain lab ingredient stocks, ensuring that key NPD ingredients are stocked, within shelf life, and stored appropriately  Management and implementation of internal lab audit schedule with clear records for areas of focus and corrective actions needed  Implement and maintain clear allergen policy in NPD Lab  Set up and lead product tastings where required  Technical Product Testing  Support NPD Managers and Technologists in running blend tests on new products and ingredients  Support NPD Food Safety & Quality Manager to complete product testing plans where required Responsible for management and documentation of internal blend testing.
Assist in the smooth transfer of products from lab to factory trials and introducing new products into full scale manufacturing Responsible for new ingredient and blend shelf-life testing programme Product Development  Coordinate some end-to-end low complexity blend development projects, including coordination of buyers, regulatory, other developers, herbalists and global marketeers to deliver great tasting blends to a defined project timeline Lead formulation and creation of commercially viable product recipes to comply with agreed specifications using materials, such as herbs, flavours, wellbeing ingredients and other potential new beverage ingredients.
Provide technical lab expertise to enable NPD managers and technologists to develop bespoke blends for different markets and technologies   Supporting NPD managers and developers with development of new blends to meet sensory and cost requirements on some NPD projects and proactive workstreams Work closely with internal stakeholders including raw material sourcing, quality, ethical and regulatory teams to ensure ingredients and products meet the correct standards in terms of quality and commercial considerations.
Act as a role model for Twinings' Innovation Behaviours.
Skills, Knowledge and Expertise Relevant laboratory experience including some level of laboratory or kitchen supervisory experience would be desirable Experience of working with food or beverage raw materials desirable.
Education at least to degree level, in a scientific discipline preferably with food industry experience would be advantageous  Working knowledge of IT systems such as MS Office and Teams  Self-starter capable of working alone.
Good understanding of food safety as well as scientific techniques and good scientific practice.
High resilience with ability to prioritise and coordinate multiple demands from different market stakeholders, challenging back where necessary.
Highly organised  Proactive nature- ability to create new ideas and bring to life.
Demonstrates high levels of attention to detail attention to detail.
Happy to work both alone and as part of a team.
Curious, questioning and always looking ahead and outside.
Benefits Yearly bonus based on personal contribution and financial performance  25 days holiday plus 8 bank holidays and the option to buy and sell holidays  Onsite Gym and Wellbeing Centre  Perkbox – employee discount scheme with discounts online, in high street stores, cinema, holidays, restaurants and many more  Pension scheme with your contributions matched for up to 10% of your salary  Cycle to work scheme  SimplyHealth Cash plan  Onsite Staff shop and online staff discounts  Electric Car Scheme Twinings has become one of the world's most loved tea companies over its 300-year history because we never stop learning, never stop experimenting and never stop inventing.
We are passionate about tea from bud to cup and have been working with some of our tea estates around the world since the early 18th Century.
More than 300 years later, the passion for tea is still here - and so are we!
We still sell tea from Thomas's shop, and we still work hard to bring the most exciting new blends to tea lovers around the world.
Now, we have over 500 varieties and our teas are cherished all over the world.
Our expert master blenders taste more than 3,000 cups of tea every week.
So you can be sure the next cup you taste will be every bit as good as the one yesterday or the day before.
How we feel about Diversity, Equity & Inclusion TwiningsOvo is committed to bringing together humans from different backgrounds and perspectives, providing employees with a safe and welcoming work environment free of discrimination and harassment.
We seek to create a diverse, equitable & inclusive environment where everyone can thrive, feel a sense of belonging, and do impactful work together.
As an equal opportunity employer, we prohibit any unlawful discrimination against a job applicant on the basis of their race, colour, religion, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, national origin, family or parental status, disability, age or any other status protected by law and are committed to going above and beyond in fostering diversity across our workplace.
Applicants may be entitled to reasonable adjustments under the terms of the Equality Act.
A reasonable adjustment is a change in the way things are typically done which will ensure an equal employment opportunity.
Please inform our Recruitment or HR Shared Services team if you need any assistance completing your application or to otherwise participate in the application process.