Head of Liquid Innovation, UK & 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 do

• Lead 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 understanding of Geographical Indication (GI / IG) requirements and the ability to balance scientific excellence, industrial constraints, cost and time‑to‑market. 

Why join us?

Collective Spirit 

You will be part of a connected, international community shaped by iconic brands, a performance mindset, and a proud legacy, where collaboration, fun and ambition coexist. 

Craft your Path 

We empower you to own your career, innovate boldly and grow alongside our business, surrounded by leaders who value curiosity, energy, and impact. 

Cultivate the Future 

You’ll help shape a business with a soul — one that cherishes the land, respects communities, and brings good times from a good place, responsibly and sustainably. 

People are at the heart of everything we do at Pernod Ricard and are the foundation of our collective spirit as ‘Créateurs de Convivialité’.  We promote inclusion throughout our business and supply chain. In our teams, we proactively foster a diverse work force and an inclusive culture, an environment where we can truly be ourselves.  

We will assess your application for this role based on your skills, experiences, and achievements, not your gender, age, ethnic or educational background or any other such factors.  Our recruiting team are more than happy to provide reasonable adjustments during our application and interview process, in order for you to participate fully in our recruitment experience.  

Our mix of benefits

• Competitive salary, along with performance related bonus
• Defined Contribution Pension
• Private medical insurance, including income protection.
• Comprehensive Employee Assistance Programme
• Generous annual holiday plus public holidays
• Pernod Ricard share incentive plan and share ownership plan.
• Life Assurance
• An allowance each year to spend on our brands.
• Our reward & recognition scheme Employee discounts from a range of high street retailers. 

Learn more about working with Pernod Ricard https://www.pernod-ricard.com/en 

Learn more about Chivas Brothers https://www.chivasbrothers.com/ 

Closing Date for Applications:

30th July 2026

Job Posting End Date:

Target Hire Date:

Target End Date: