Process Technologist

Ornua Co-operative Limited; Leek; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading dairy co-operative in the UK is looking for a Process Technologist to drive product development and improvements. This role involves analyzing new products for feasibility, ensuring quality standards, and collaborating across departments. Candidates should have at least 3 years' experience in chilled food manufacture and be HACCP trained. The company offers a generous salary, benefits, and the opportunity to contribute to exciting growth plans.

Benefits

Matched pension scheme up to 8%

Generous holiday allowance

Subsidised staff canteen

Company shop discounts

Sports & Social Club

Staff Lottery

Discount on Bikes & Tech Scheme

Confidential Employee Assistance Programme

Free onsite parking

Qualifications

• Min 3 years’ experience in chilled food manufacture is ideal.
• HACCP trained.
• Computer literate with good working knowledge of Microsoft applications.

Responsibilities

• Analyze proposed new products for feasibility of manufacture.
• Ensure compliance with food safety legislation.
• Conduct feasibility checks on proposed processes and products.

Skills

Communication

Analytical skills

Technical skills

Team collaboration

Flexibility

Education

HACCP training

Tools

Microsoft applications

Job description

Process Technologist – Ornua

Press Tab to Move to Skip to Content Link

Select how often (in days) to receive an alert:

Salary: Generous Salary based on experience.

Hours: Monday to Friday 36.25 hours per week.

Benefits: Matched pension scheme up to 8%, Generous holiday allowance increasing with length of service, Subsidised staff canteen, Company shop offering discounts on Ornua products, Sports & Social Club, Staff Lottery, Discount on Bikes & Tech Scheme, Confidential Employee Assist Programme, Free onsite parking

Ornua (meaning “new gold”) is Ireland’s largest exporter of Irish dairy products, proudly bringing the unique taste of Irish dairy to the world for over 55 years.

Why Ornua?

Are you a Process Technologist looking for the challenge of taking a mission driven organisation to its next level of success?

Ornua is actively seeking a process technologist to join our technical department as we continue our growth trajectory.

Why This Role Is Valuable:

The business is entering an exciting period of expansion & change which will generate a requirement for new products. It is key that the Process Technologist takes ownership of all new products / product improvements for their relevant customer groups. Taking a product from concept through to launch adhering to the relevant procedures within the Quality Management System. Multi shift based role providing a sample & trial service to the Leek facility.This role will require flexibility in working hours due to the need to attend planned factory trials.

Responsibilities

• Proposed new products are analysed to determine feasibility of manufacture. All accepted new products are capable of being manufactured satisfactorily to food safety & quality standards.
• Changes in food safety legislation are recognised and implemented. Updates in legislation are recorded and communicated.
• Feasibility checks are carried out on all proposed new processes and products.
• Assist in ensuring suppliers conform to company quality and food safety standards. Non‑conformities are identified and reported.
• Customer complaints are analysed & recommendations made to implement improvements.
• Customer Codes of Practice are adhered to. No non‑conformities arise.
• Risk assessments are carried out on new materials in line with the company’s food safety policy. No new materials are introduced without prior approval.
• Specification processes are to be managed. All new products have defined specifications.
• Shelf Life testing and trials are carried out on all products in accordance with company procedures. Results are analysed, reported and remedies proposed.
• Factory trials are managed formally with relevant data capture and communication post trial.
• Quality Attribute Sheets for all new products.
• Managing the trial / sample request process, in a timely & professional manner.
• Attending factory trials ensuring colleagues are pre‑briefed and relevant data is collected.
• Maintain trial related records in an orderly manner to allow efficient filing, retrieval and archiving.

Key Requirements

• Protect & maintain relationships with all internal and external parties, customers, suppliers & 3rd party manufacturers.
• Manage commercial sample & trial request process.
• Completion of factory trials.
• Liaise with relevant departments to ensure that planned trials are completed on time, following procedure and as per request.
• Trial data to be collected, recorded & fed back to the business.
• Use learnings to continually improve effectiveness of the sample / trial processes.
• Maintain trial related records in an orderly manner to allow efficient filing, retrieval and archiving.
• Management of programmes to achieve improved shelf life & quality perception of the product range.
• Management of shelf life testing; ensuring agreed regimes are followed.
• Ownership for technical aspects of delivery of new product launches.
• Fully familiar with all customer specification requirements & formats
• Min 3 years’ experience in chilled food manufacture is ideal.
• Computer literate with good working knowledge of Microsoft applications.
• HACCP trained.
• Good standard of written & oral communication.

Our interview process is designed to be thorough yet supportive. This process includes a first stage via Teams to allow us to get to know you better and to understand your skills and experiences and, if successful, a second stage face‑to‑face interview that will build upon the first stage and give you the opportunity to get a feel for Ornua and the environment in which you will be working.

Ornua has ambitious growth plans and we’re building a team to help enable and accelerate that growth. We are looking for people who share our values, are curious, forward‑looking, take ownership and work together to build a future for themselves and Ornua.

EEO Statement

Ornua values diversity and inclusion and welcomes applications from candidates with diverse backgrounds. We also strongly encourage women and other underrepresented groups in the manufacturing industry to apply. Your unique perspectives and experiences are highly valued and will be instrumental in driving our company’s continued success. Join us in shaping a more innovative, inclusive, and sustainable future.

Competencies

Seek and embrace new ideas

Includes: Learning, Growth Mindset, Knowledge Sharing, Continuous Improvement, Innovative Thinking

Forward Looking

Includes: Social Conscience, Working Proactively, Flexibility, Change Management, Competitor Market Knowledge, Strategic Thinking

Proficient - Encourages others to learn and demonstrates the courage to lead creative initiatives.

Includes: Technical/Functional Skills, Analysis, Problem Solving & Decision Making, Decisiveness, Planning, Prioritising & Reviewing

Proficient - Helps others to accept change, implements change, and looks ahead to anticipate change that benefits others.

Includes: Action Focus, Empowerment, Accountability & Quality, Tenacity, Sustainable Growth, Managing Performance

Integrity

Includes: Empathy & Respect, Inclusivity, Authenticity, Ethical Standards, Constructive Attitude, Role Model

Communicative

Proficient - Supports and encourages constructive outcomes for others by demonstrating integrity, inclusivity and authenticity.

Proficient - Communicates with impact, adapting style for different situations and people, to ensure all are heard and valued and feel psychologically safe.

Achieve great things together

Includes: Co‑operating, Active Collaboration, Encouraging Others, Relationship Building, Team Effectiveness

Customer Focus

Includes: Customer & Members’ Needs, Customer Ownership, Customer Relationships, Commercial Awareness

Proficient - Encourages co‑operation in own team and ensures cross‑functional working.

Proficient - Pays attention to customer satisfacation levels and builds good relationships, showing commercial and cost awareness.