Beverage Application Technologist Trainee (Paid, 2 Years, Housing)

About the role

The Finwerd Beverage Academy offers a two-year, fully paid traineeship in its beverage application laboratories in Lagos, Nigeria. Four trainees from across West Africa, including Côte d'Ivoire, will work alongside experienced beverage technologists from Africa and Europe on real customer projects, developing prototypes and products for leading African beverage brands. The programme also includes time at Finwerd's headquarters in the Netherlands with the European R&D teams. The value of the programme is estimated at over $150,000.

Key responsibilities

• Create real beverages: develop and test carbonated soft drinks, juices, energy drinks, malt drinks, dairy beverages and other applications.
• Work on customer projects: turn recipes and briefs into finished samples, from first formulation to final recommendation.
• Train your senses: learn to identify, evaluate and describe flavours precisely.
• Understand the science: explore how flavour, sweetness, acidity, temperature, light and shelf life affect the product.
• Develop technical skills: run trials, document results and take part in customer presentations and product demonstrations.
• Show what you learned: develop and present your own beverage concept to the technical leadership team at the end of the programme.

Required profile

• Genuine passion for beverages and curiosity about why they taste the way they do.
• Strong English; French is an advantage.
• Between 0 and 8 years of professional experience; experience is not required.
• Nationality of an ECOWAS member state and ability to relocate to Lagos for two years.
• Strong ambition for a long-term career in the flavour and beverage industry, patience and discipline to experiment and adapt.

What we offer

• 24 months of paid, hands-on training in the beverage application laboratories in Lagos.
• A competitive monthly salary throughout the programme.
• Fully provided accommodation for the duration of the traineeship.
• International training opportunities at Finwerd's headquarters in the Netherlands.
• Direct mentorship from experienced beverage specialists worldwide.
• Career opportunity: high-performing trainees will be offered a position after the traineeship.

Applications are open; shortlisted candidates complete an online cognitive assessment followed by interviews, and only shortlisted candidates are contacted.