Senior Process Technologist

Zest Recruitment Group; City Of London; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 53,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Brand exposure

Senior role with influence

Innovation-focused environment

Job summary

Zest Recruitment Group is assisting a large-scale ambient food manufacturer in London to find a Senior Process Technologist. You will bridge NPD and production, owning scale-up and process development from concept to launch to hit technical and quality standards first time.

In this high-volume environment you’ll lead factory trials, drive continuous improvement, build capex business cases and champion new manufacturing technologies while coaching the team and ensuring HACCP and food safety

Qualifications

• Experience as Process or Process Development Technologist in high-volume food manufacturing.
• Experience launching new products and processes.
• Degree in Food Science, Chemical Engineering or related subject.
• Experience building capital expenditure (capex) business cases.
• Curiosity, energy and a real passion for food and how it's made.

Responsibilities

• Own scale-up and process development from concept to launch.
• Plan and lead factory trials and document reports.
• Serve as go-to process expert for NPD and Production teams.
• Lead continuous improvement, value engineering and efficiency projects.
• Develop capital investment business cases and coordinate commissioning plans.
• Champion new manufacturing technologies to support innovation.
• Be main contact on process matters for customers, suppliers and third-party manufacturers.
• Ensure HACCP, food safety and legality standards from day one.
• Coach technologists and the wider team.

Skills

Process development

Scale-up leadership

NPD liaison

Capex justification

Quality & HACCP

Food manufacturing

Team coaching

Problem solving

Education

Food Science or Chemical Engineering degree

Job description

Love a busy production floor and getting stuck into making new products work at scale? This could be the one for you.

Zest are working with a large-scale ambient manufacturer in London. They make a huge range of products for some of the UK's best-known retailers. They're growing, they're investing in new technology and they need a Senior Process Technologist to be the link between NPD and production.

What you'll be doing

• Owning scale-up and process development for new products from concept to launch, so they hit technical and quality standards first time
• Planning and leading factory trials across product and packaging and making sure trial reports and documentation are thorough
• Being the go-to process expert for the NPD and Production teams and keeping launches on track against the critical path
• Leading continuous improvement, efficiency and value engineering projects across the full product and process portfolio
• Building and presenting business cases for capital investment, then working with Engineering and Production on commissioning plans for new equipment
• Looking out for and championing new manufacturing technologies to support the company's innovation strategy
• Being the main contact on process matters for customers, equipment suppliers and third-party manufacturers
• Making sure HACCP, food safety, quality and legality standards are built into everything from day one
• Coaching and supporting technologists and the wider team

What we're looking for

• Strong experience as a Process or Process Development Technologist in fast-paced, high-volume food manufacturing and either ready for the step up or already working at senior level
• Hands-on knowledge of processes like raw material prep (washing, slicing), extrusion, frying, baking, sheeting and seasoning or flavour application (dust-on, liquid, slurry). ----Snacks experience is a big plus
• A proven track record of leading scale-up and launching new products and processes
• Experience putting together capex business cases and commissioning new equipment
• A degree in Food Science, Chemical Engineering or a related subject
• Curiosity, energy and a real passion for food and how it's made, plus a good sense of humour

What's in it for you

• £50,000 - £53,000
• Major retailer/brand exposure
• A senior role with real influence in a business that's investing in innovation, where you'll see your work on shelves all over the UK