Global Technology Manager - Distillation and Liquid Preparation Processes

Campari Group today is a major player in the global branded spirits industry, with a portfolio of over 50 premium and super premium brands, marketed and distributed in over 190 markets around the world, with leading positions in Europe and the Americas.

Headquartered in Milan, Italy, Campari Group owns 25 plants worldwide and has its own distribution network in 26 countries, and employs approximately 4,700 people.

Shares of the parent company Davide Campari - Milano N.V. are listed on the Italian Stock Exchange since 2001. Campari Group is today the sixth-largest player worldwide in the premium spirits industry.

Global Technology Manager – Distillation and Liquid Preparation Processes

Why this position is crucial

• we are currently executing multiple high‑value, technically complex projects (€30M+ portfolio) centered on this technology area. Some of them are linked to mid-term Campari strategies (e.g. Aperol US, low-zero alcohol aperitifs) with high-impact on key brands (Aperol, Campari, Crodino) of the Aperitifs HoB.
• This role ensures technical robustness at G1–G2 and CQV stages, preventing late design changes, technology misalignment, or inadequate scale‑up decisions .
• The extension to Distillation of our Operational Excellence program, as per MWB,  needs a strong robust technology support. Fermentation yields, distillation efficiency, and alcohol/maturation losses are structural cost drivers to be addressed and get huge productivity.
• Alcohol production processes are under increasing regulatory scrutiny (ATEX, food safety, environmental compliance). We need a global governance.
• Critical fermentation and distillation decisions are still fragmented across projects, regions, and suppliers. This role will close a clear governance gap, enabling standardization, and risk‑controlled innovation .

Open or upcoming projects:

• Aperol US cellars (12m€)
• Aperol Boost
• Aperol Spritz cellar capacity increase
• Carminio colorant production for US (4m€)
• Crodino 0.0 and Aperol 0.0 de-alcoholizers (2m€)
• Campari Infusion dept ramp-up and connection with cellars (18m€)
• BCP - obsolescence of Jamaican pot-stills (5m€)
• Rum molasses cleaning process (2m€)
• Rum fermenters technology upgrade and asset substitution plan for BCP (6m€) 
• Distillery Operational Excellence (critical tech support)
• Cinzano de-mobilization

Location

Global / HQ-based or one of the Main Distillery sites-based with frequent international travel (up to 50%).

Role Purpose

The Global Technology Manager – Distillation and Liquid Preparation Processes is accountable for defining, governing, and continuously improving liquid production technologies across Campari Group manufacturing sites. The role ensures that process solutions are safe, compliant, scalable, and aligned with business, sustainability, and productivity objectives, while acting as the technical bridge between R&D, Operations, and Regional Engineering teams.

Scope of Responsibility

The role covers liquid production processes with primary accountability for Fermentation/Distillation technologies and Infusion/Extraction/Maturation, as well as downstream liquid operations like blending.

In particular, the scope includes:

• Fermentation processes (yeast/bacterial management, process control, yield optimization, contamination prevention)
• Distillation technologies (pot and column stills, energy efficiency, separation performance, quality and safety controls)
• Herbs infusion, extraction, maturation technologies.
• Blending and distribution technologies.
• Food Quality & Safety (HACCP, BRC/IFS) with specific focus on fermentation and distillation critical control points
• Process Safety & Regulatory Compliance (ATEX, HAZOP, environmental regulations), especially for alcohol production and handling
• Technology standardization and industrialization from pilot to full-scale operations, with strong emphasis on fermentation and distillation scale-up
• Continuous Improvement, EEM, and productivity technologies across fermentation, distillation, and liquid processing areas

Key Accountabilities

Technology Leadership & Standards

• Define and maintain global design standards and guidelines for liquid processing technologies.
• Own global process and safety standards, including critical limits, CCPs, cleaning philosophies, and safety methodologies.
• Ensure sustainability by design, embedding water, energy, and waste efficiency at process level.
• Continuously update standards based on project learnings, best practices, and regulatory changes.

Project & Capital Governance

• Provide technical supervision and governance of Global Engineering projects, including clarification of technical RACI.
• Support Project Managers by defining technical solutions, prioritizing vendors, and validating process concepts.
• Define CQV success criteria and support execution of EEM and MOC processes.
• Contribute to Business Case preparation and gate reviews (G1–G2), ensuring technical robustness and scalability.
• Perform process design reviews and provide specification sign-off.

R&D & Innovation Interface

• Act as the primary interface with R&D for pilot planning, scale-up criteria, and industrialization of new technologies.
• Bring R&D-developed solutions to industrial scale and embed them into operational standards.
• Define and maintain the technology agenda and digital roadmap for liquid processes.
• Monitor and report on emerging and breakthrough technologies relevant to liquid processing.

Operational Excellence & Productivity

• Apply Continuous Improvement methodologies and EEM framework in collaboration with Operational Excellence and PM teams.
• Identify and develop productivity-enhancing technologies, including reduction of alcohol and maturation losses.
• Support CI and Process Safety teams on critical existing installations when required.

Supplier & External Expertise Management

• Lead validation of critical suppliers related to process and safety technologies, including definition of test protocols.
• Manage targeted outsourcing for specialized activities (e.g., ATEX, HAZOP, certifications, inspections).

People & Community Contribution

• Contribute to the development and performance review of the Project Management community through technical guidance and knowledge sharing.
• Act as a global technical reference and mentor within the Engineering and Operations communities.

Special Assignments

• Lead investigations into alcohol and maturation losses to identify structural productivity opportunities.
• Provide structured reporting and insights on emerging technologies with potential strategic impact.

Key Interfaces

• other Global Engineering technology pillars
• Regional Engineering teams
• R&D
• Manufacturing Operations & Plant Engineering
• Quality, Safety, and Sustainability functions
• External technology and certification partners

Skills & Competencies

Technical

• Deep expertise in liquid processing technologies and industrial scale-up
• Strong knowledge of food safety systems and process safety regulations
• Experience with CQV, EEM, MOC, and capital project governance
• Solid understanding of sustainability-by-design principles

Behavioral

• Strategic and systems thinking
• Strong stakeholder management across global, cross-functional teams
• Ability to translate innovation into robust industrial solutions
• Structured problem-solving and data-driven decision making

Experience & Education

• Engineering degree (Chemical, Mechanical, or equivalent)
• Extensive experience in process engineering and industrial technologies within FMCG or food & beverage environments
• Proven exposure to global, multi-site projects and technology standardization initiatives

Our commitment to Diversity & Inclusion:

At Campari Group we believe in building more value together, thus we see diversity in all forms as a source of enrichment. Our employment policies and practices ensure that we are committed to providing equal employment opportunities in all aspects of employment without regard to any individual’s race, religion, creed, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or characteristics or expression, political affiliation or activity, age, veteran status, citizenship, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Campari Group believes that fair compensation and equal opportunities are crucial for employees’ well-being, empowerment, and engagement.  Our efforts to ensure fair pay have earned us the Fair Pay Certification by Fair Pay Workplace, an independent organization dedicated to dismantling pay disparities based on gender, race and their intersection.

Note to applicants:

Your application will be assessed based on your abilities, expertise, general knowledge and experience, not because of any confidential, proprietary or trade secret information you may possess. You must not disclose to Campari Group any such information. In the event that you are asked a question that cannot be answered without disclosure of any confidential, proprietary or trade secret information (including from a current or prior employer or their vendors or customers), you must decline to answer the question.

Notice to third party agencies:

Please refrain from cold-calling or emailing our executive leadership team or the HR community directly. The Talent Acquisition department manages centralized recruiting operations globally, including the selection and management of external suppliers. Currently, our preferred supplier list is at full capacity. To ensure we have your information on file for future consideration, we kindly request that you complete the online form provided here.