Gummy formulation specialist - #2157218

Job title: Gummy Formulation Specialist Location: Knowsley, Merseyside (L36), on site Reports to: Technical Director Contract: Full time, permanent

Chalice Supplements is a BRC AA-accredited, pectin-first gummy CDMO and one of only a handful of UK domestic gummy manufacturers. We develop and manufacture gelatine-free gummies for leading sports nutrition and wellness brands, with capacity scaling from 8 to 16 tonnes a day.

We need a hands-on formulation expert to own gummy development from client brief to commercial production. You will turn customer concepts into stable, great-tasting, manufacturable pectin gummies, and make sure they run right first time on our lines.

Key responsibilities

• Develop new gummy formulations from client briefs, covering pectin selection (HM, LM, amidated), sugar and sugar-free syrup systems, acids, buffers, flavours and colours.

• Incorporate vitamins, minerals, botanicals and functional actives (including creatine and high-load actives), managing overages, stability and taste masking.

• Run lab and pilot-scale trials, then lead scale-up to commercial production on depositing lines.

• Set and control critical parameters: pH, Brix, gel strength, setting time, water activity and texture.

• Define and optimise cooking, depositing, curing/drying, oiling/sanding and demoulding processes.

• Troubleshoot production issues such as stickiness, sweating, air entrapment, crystallisation, poor setting and texture variation.

• Design and manage shelf-life and stability studies, and support label claims with data.

• Write and maintain product specifications, BMRs, SOPs and technical files to BRC and GMP standards.

• Benchmark competitor products and present formulation options and costings to customers alongside the sales team.

• Evaluate new raw materials and suppliers, and support cost-down projects on existing products.

• Work closely with Production, QA/QC, Compliance, Procurement and Sales, and train operators on new products.

Skills, experience and qualifications

Essential

• 3+ years in gummy or confectionery formulation, with hands-on R&D and production experience.

• Proven track record taking gummy products from lab to commercial scale.

• Strong working knowledge of hydrocolloids, especially pectin, plus sweetener systems, acids and active ingredients.

• Confident with pH, Brix, water activity and texture testing, and using the data to fix problems.

• Experience writing BMRs, SOPs and specifications in a GMP environment.

• Degree in Food Science, Food Technology, Chemistry, Pharmacy or a related subject.

Desirable

• Experience with vegan, sugar-free or low-sugar gummy formats.

• Knowledge of mogul and starchless depositing.

• Experience in a CDMO or contract manufacturing environment working to customer briefs.

• Familiarity with BRC Global Standards and UK/EU food supplement regulations.

• Design of Experiments (DOE) and sensory evaluation experience.

What we offer

• Competitive salary (open question: salary band to confirm).

• Pension and holiday package.

• Real ownership of formulation at a fast-growing UK manufacturer, with new lines and capacity coming online.

• Direct access to leadership and the chance to shape our R&D function as it grows.