Technical Manager

Who We Are

Suntory Group is a global leader in consumer-packaged goods, renowned for producing and distributing a uniquely diverse portfolio of beverages, premium spirits, beer, wine, and wellness products throughout the world. Founded as a family-owned business in 1899 in Osaka, Japan, Suntory has grown into a company operating throughout the Americas, Europe, Africa, Asia and Oceania. We are driven by a profound purpose: To inspire the brilliance of life, by creating rich experiences for people, in harmony with nature. [L(1.1]

At Suntory Beverage and Food, we boldly move forward together to realize the dreams of becoming a world-leading next-generation global beverage company – you are an important part of this and here’s how your role helps us win.
Here, you have the opportunity to work with talented and inspiring leaders, the freedom to dream big and think differently. We commit to creating a work environment where you can bring your true self and Unleash your Spirit. 

The purpose of this position is Provide technical support to EECM bottlers regarding SBFE beverage production, new product development, and quality assurance to ensure high-quality standards and efficient production across multiple territories.  

About your role

Are you at your best when you are close to production, solving technical challenges and helping manufacturing partners improve? As Technical Manager, you will support an international network of licence-market bottlers and co-packers, helping them manufacture our beverages safely, efficiently and to the quality standards our consumers expect.
You will combine the management of established bottling partners with the development and onboarding of new partners. Your portfolio will span different international markets and will evolve as our production network grows, giving you the opportunity to build strong partnerships, improve performance and support the development of new production capabilities.
This is an individual-contributor role with broad influence. You will work directly with bottlers, suppliers and internal specialists to strengthen quality performance, resolve incidents, support product launches and develop sustainable production capabilities. The preferred location is Amsterdam, although other European locations where the team is already established may be considered. 

What You'll Do

•    Manage the technical and quality relationship with a portfolio of existing bottlers and co-packers, while supporting the assessment, development and onboarding of new manufacturing partners.
•    Monitor performance through quality KPIs, regular reviews and the Protect the Castle programme, identifying risks and agreeing clear improvement actions.
•    Conduct site audits and follow up on corrective actions to ensure compliance with agreed manufacturing, quality, hygiene, HACCP and Good Laboratory Practice standards.
•    Lead the investigation of quality incidents involving ingredients, packaging or finished products, using structured root-cause analysis to agree effective corrective and preventive actions.
•    Verify traceability and quality controls from raw materials through to finished products.
•    Coordinate new product launches, packaging changes and industrial trials with R&D, Engineering, Packaging Development, Supply Chain and Commercial teams.
•    Determine whether bottlers meet required standards and assess whether proposed production solutions are technically feasible, safe, cost-effective and ready for implementation.
•    Develop trusted relationships with external bottlers, suppliers, inspection partners and certification bodies, influencing performance without relying on direct authority.
•    Visit production sites to understand issues first-hand and provide practical, fact-based technical support. Occasionally, this may require responding quickly to an urgent quality or production incident.
•    Communicate findings, risks, performance and action plans clearly to internal stakeholders and senior leaders. 

What's in it for you

This role offers a rare combination of technical depth, international exposure and business impact. You will work across a diverse manufacturing network and see first-hand how Suntory products are produced in different markets and regulatory environments.
You will have the autonomy to manage your own bottler relationships, make recommendations and drive improvements, while drawing on expertise from colleagues across Quality, R&D, Engineering, Supply Chain, Packaging and Commercial teams. 
You will also contribute to Suntory’s future growth by helping establish new production partnerships and bringing new products and packaging solutions to market. In the longer term, this experience could support progression into senior technical, quality, operations or R&D leadership roles. 

What You need to be successful

•    A degree in Engineering, Food Science, Chemistry, Biology or another relevant technical discipline.
•    Strong experience in beverage, food or another closely related FMCG manufacturing environment.
•    Practical knowledge of production processes, food safety, quality assurance and quality-control systems.
•    Working knowledge of HACCP, Good Laboratory Practice and relevant food-safety or quality standards, such as ISO 22000, FSSC 22000, IFS or AIB. You do not need to be the technical expert in every standard, but you must understand how these requirements apply in a manufacturing environment.
•    Experience of investigating technical or quality problems using structured root-cause analysis and translating findings into practical action plans.
•    The ability to assess technical capability and performance in a factory or bottling environment.
•    Experience coordinating cross-functional projects, such as new product introductions, packaging changes, production trials or continuous-improvement initiatives.
•    Strong stakeholder-management and influencing skills, particularly when working with external partners that do not report directly to you.
•    A high level of autonomy. You must be comfortable making sound decisions, progressing work independently and asking for support at the right moment.
•    The resilience and adaptability to manage changing priorities, cultural differences and occasional urgent situations.
•    Fluent English. Additional languages are helpful but are not essential, as partner allocation can be adjusted around the capabilities within the wider team.
•    Willingness and flexibility to travel internationally for up to approximately 50% of your time. Travel will vary, with some quieter periods and other periods requiring weekly site visits. 

Our DEI Commitment

At Suntory, we recognize that diverse knowledge, perspectives, and backgrounds contribute to our collective success. We are committed to fostering a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace where all individuals can bring their whole selves to work every day, regardless of race, color, religion, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, disability, neurodiversity, or differing abilities, age, or any other protected characteristic.

Our recruitment and selection processes are designed to highlight what Suntory offers as an employer while allowing candidates to share their unique skills and experiences. We understand that career trajectories vary, and if you believe your experience/background can benefit our team, we encourage you to apply. We endeavor to make our interview process as inclusive as possible and offer reasonable accommodations as needed. Together, we can cultivate a workplace where everyone can thrive and propel our mission of Growing for Good.