Process Engineer

Northwood; Chesterfield; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

Northwood Tissue is seeking an experienced process engineer to join their Chesterfield team. This full-time role involves managerial and technical support to enhance product consistency and maximize equipment reliability. Responsibilities include developing procedures, conducting process improvements, and collaborating with a dedicated team in a supportive environment.

Benefits

Company pension

Life assurance

Free company products

Free on-site parking

Discounts on food, retail, holidays, cinema, and gyms

Wellness programmes

Qualifications

• Experience in papermaking, recycling, or FMCG manufacturing.
• Familiarity with ISO management systems.
• Knowledge of Valmet QCS systems is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Supporting the planning and execution of day-to-day operations across the mill.
• Developing risk assessments and ensuring compliance with standards.
• Delivering CAPEX projects on time and within budget.

Skills

Analytical skills

Troubleshooting

Safety-first mindset

Proactive

Education

Degree in Chemistry or Chemical Engineering

Tools

SharePoint

Job description

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At Northwood Tissue in Chesterfield, we’re a key part of the Northwood Group – a leading manufacturer and converter of paper products in the UK. Here at our recycling paper mill, we produce around 30,000 tonnes of high-quality tissue and towel products every year, helping us keep sustainability at the heart of what we do.

We’re proud of our friendly, supportive team culture — you’ll be joining a great set of people who genuinely care about what they do, and each other.

We are looking for an experienced process engineer to join our team to provide the mill with managerial and technical support in order to develop the organization, equipment, technology and site standards to maintain product consistency, equipment reliability and maximize mill asset capability, in compliance with group policies.

This is a full time, days based permanent role.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Supporting the planning and execution of day-to-day operations across the mill.
• Developing risk assessments, operating procedures, and ensuring compliance with safety, environmental and quality standards.
• Carrying out gap analyses, mass balances, and troubleshooting to drive process improvements.
• Delivering CAPEX projects on time and within budget.
• Developing and maintaining our process standards and systems (including R2S and SharePoint).
• Taking an active role in team meetings, housekeeping, and site-wide morale — we’re all in this together.
• Working collaboratively with an experienced, multi-skilled team to reach SQCDM targets (Safety, Quality, Cost, Delivery, Morale).
• Degree in Chemistry or Chemical Engineering (or similar).
• Strong analytical skills — you enjoy digging into data to find practical solutions.
• Excellent troubleshooting skills and the ability to do accurate mass balances.
• Confident IT user, with working knowledge of SharePoint.
• Proactive, independent, and able to work as part of an experienced team.
• Safety-first mindset — zero harm by choice.
• Experience in papermaking, recycling, or FMCG manufacturing.
• Familiarity with ISO management systems and continuous improvement methodologies.
• Knowledge of Valmet QCS systems would be a plus.

About Company

Northwood is a family-owned group of associated companies that provide the manufacturing, supply and transportation of paper hygiene and wiping products for both the away-from-home and consumer market.

Our mission is to be the market-leading partner of choice in the away from home tissue industry. One of only a small handful of companies in the UK market that is fully vertically integrated; Northwood is involved at each point in the supply chain, from raw material supply, tissue and towel manufacturing, end-user product converting, storage and transportation.

Our remit is huge, with a portfolio of products covering two key systems brands, professional wiping, commodity, consumer paper and private label. We sell into a distribution network spanning the UK, Ireland and Europe, which in turn service markets such as healthcare, hospitality, hotels, engineering, janitorial, catering and education.

We are a highly successful, award-winning and ambitious business that has grown from a humble paper sales business to a market leader employing over 800 colleagues, across 11 sites in the UK and Spain.

We differentiate ourselves by excelling in product quality alongside market-leading service and sales support.

DE&I

At Northwood, we are committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse environment where everyone is welcomed and respected. We strive to promote a workplace that celebrates diversity and encourages individuals to express their opinions and beliefs. We are dedicated to providing equal opportunities for all.

• Company pension
• Life assurance
• Free company products
• Free on-site parking
• Food, retail, holidays, cinema, and gyms discounts
• Wellness programmes, including Employee Assistance Program and OnDemand GP service