Pilot Plant and Innovation Manager

pladis; High Wycombe; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A global confectionery company based in High Wycombe is seeking an individual to manage pilot plant operations and lead process innovations. Responsibilities include scheduling trials, ensuring compliance with health and safety standards, and maintaining the facility. Candidates should have strong leadership skills and a background in food technology or relevant sciences. This role offers opportunities for personal development and competitive benefits.

Benefits

Annual Incentive Plan

Health Cash Plan

Private Medical Insurance

Stakeholder Pension Scheme

Life Assurance Cover

25 days + bank holidays

Holiday Enhancement Scheme

Volunteering Day

Cycle to work scheme

Training and development opportunities

Qualifications

• Strong leadership and organisational skills required.
• Deep understanding of health & safety practices.
• Experience in product and process innovation necessary.
• Proficient in numerical analysis and digital tools.

Responsibilities

• Manage pilot plant trials and ensure equipment functionality.
• Lead process innovation projects and drive business growth.
• Maintain compliance with health and safety regulations.
• Coordinate team and resources for smooth operations.

Skills

Leadership skills

Organisational skills

Effective communication

Process innovation

Factory process optimisation

Education

NVQ level 3 in good science, food technology or related

Job description

Want to help us bring happiness to the world? Want to join an ambitious and fast growing global biscuits and confectionery business investing heavily in iconic global brands, infrastructure and people? Then this is the place for you.

As proud bakers and chocolatiers and custodians of iconic global brands, we don’t compromise on the quality of ingredients in our products or on the people we hire. We are looking for entrepreneurial spirits who share our passion for bringing happiness to our consumers and who embody our Winning Traits.

To succeed at pladis you need to be purpose-led, resilient and positive to succeed here because we expect pace and agility, we insist on collaboration and demand accountability. If that is your thing, then pladis offers global ambition, a clear Vision and roadmap for success, challenge, and unrivalled opportunities to learn and make an impact

This role is pivotal in leading the pilot plant team, ensuring the seamless execution of day-to-day operations, clear prioritisation, and efficient trial management.

Beyond operational leadership, this role plays a strategic part in shaping future process innovation. It will support projects aimed at driving incremental growth opportunities for pladis, under the leadership of the Head of Bakery Innovation and Pilot Plant. The role holder will stay attuned to advancements in the external landscape, developing a strong understanding of emerging technologies and supplier capabilities. By testing new technologies and evaluating their potential benefits, they will ensure alignment with strategic projects led by the Head of Bakery Innovation and Pilot Plant.

What will be your key deliverables?

Pilot Plant Trials Management

• Schedule and organise pilot plant trials, collaborating with category leads to ensure proper prioritisation.
• Escalate scheduling conflicts when trial slots are unavailable.
• Develop strong partnerships with R&D pilot plant users, both regional and global

Team Coordination & Resource Management

• Ensure the team is equipped with clear trial plans, responsibilities, and weekly priorities for smooth operations.

Facility Maintenance & Compliance

• Oversee routine maintenance and cleaning of the pilot plant.
• Maintain a comprehensive equipment log and implement a structured maintenance and replacement schedule.
• Ensure pilot plant can mimic our factory capability and lobby for kit and equipment where gaps exist.
• Ensure strict adherence to health and safety regulations, keeping the workspace clean and hygienic.
• Guarantee compliance with all regulatory standards, ensuring food safety audit scores remain green.

Process Innovation & External Engagement

• Partner with the Head Baking Innovation and Pilot Plant to lead process innovation projects that drive business growth.
• Maintain an external focus on supplier capabilities and emerging technological advancements.
• Test and evaluate new technologies to determine their potential benefits for the business.
• Develop and maintain industry leading expertise in practical [hands-on] biscuit, cake & savory snack manufacturing know-how.

Operational Support

• Step in to operate pilot plant equipment when needed due to workload or resource constraints.

Bring your experience.

Essential

• Demonstrates strong leadership, organisational skills, and effective communication across teams.
• Deep understanding of health & safety practices, including DSOP creation and training delivery.
• Experienced in product and process innovation, with successful development from bench to factory scale.
• Skilled in factory process optimisation for quality and efficiency, backed by technical knowledge in food manufacturing.
• Proficient in numerical analysis and digital tools, with a proactive mindset and ability to work independently or collaboratively.
• An NVQ level 3 or equivalent in good science, food technology, food process engineering or a relevant applied science is desirable. Alternatively, a validated technical knowledge of food or experience of a high volume, ambient food manufacturing environment.

Desirable

• Experience in baking
• Engineering background
• LSS Green Belt

What will the interview process be?

• 1st stage interview – 45 minutes competency-based interview based on our company values and your experiences.
• 2nd stage interview – 60 minutes – a technical interview to understand your skill set/case study or presentation interview.

What does pladis offer you?

• Annual Incentive Plan (AIP)– this is the business’s annual bonus scheme.
• Opportunity to self-enrol into Health Cash Plan
• Private medical Insurance
• Stakeholder Pension Scheme
• Life Assurance Cover ~ upon enrolment to Stakeholder Pension Scheme
• 25 days + bank holidays
• Holiday Enhancement Scheme
• 1 Volunteering Day per year
• Cycle to work scheme
• Access to great training and development opportunities

Diversity and inclusion is central to everything we do and is reflected across our business. pladis brings together brands and people from around the globe – and this diversity is our outstanding strength.

We’re an equal opportunities employer and believe in encouraging an inclusive environment where we celebrate diversity of thinking and respect everyone’s distinctive qualities and perspectives.

We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform key job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.

pladis is an Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to hiring a diverse workforce. All openings will be filled based on qualifications without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, marital status, veteran status, disability, age, religion or any other classification protected by law.

We operate a strict Preferred Supplier List. If you are a recruitment agency and wish to submit candidate to be considered for this vacancy, you must have agreed to, and signed, our terms of business. We will not accept CVs from any other sources other than those currently on our PSL. We will not pay a fee for any candidate that has not been represented by a provider on our PSL.