Senior Process Technologist

ZipRecruiter; East Lindsey; On-site; GBP 35,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player in the UK fresh prepared food sector is seeking a Senior Process Technologist to lead product validations and manage a dynamic team. This role involves collaborating across departments to ensure successful product launches while maintaining high standards of quality and safety. With a commitment to innovation and continuous improvement, this opportunity offers a supportive environment for professional growth. Join a market leader that values your contributions and provides a range of benefits, including life assurance, private medical insurance, and a generous bonus scheme.

Benefits

Life Assurance (2.5 x salary)

Private Medical Insurance

Annual Bonus Scheme

25 Days Holiday Plus 8 Bank Holidays

Staff Shop

Stakeholder Pension Scheme

Discount & Cashback Platform

Employee Assistance Programme

Free Health Check

Free Car Parking

Qualifications

• Proven track record in food manufacturing and customer trials.
• Strong project management and problem-solving skills.

Responsibilities

• Manage and develop a team to meet business objectives.
• Oversee product trials and ensure compliance with standards.

Skills

Food Manufacturing Experience

Project Management

Problem-Solving Skills

Interpersonal Skills

People Management

Education

Food Safety Level 3

HACCP Level 2

Tools

Microsoft Office

Data Analysis Tools

Job description

Job Description

Senior Process Technologist

We're proud to be Bakkavor

Salary: circa £35,000 depending on experience

Location: Old Leake (Boston PE22 9PN)

Shift: Monday - Friday

Hours: 08:30 - 17:00

Benefits include a 10% company bonus, life insurance, staff shop, MyBargains discount platform, and more.

Why join us?

We're committed to offering you a career with options to explore and pursue. You'll be supported to work hard, push further, and demonstrate resilience. As a valued Technical Manager, we'll support your ambition, reward your resilience, and encourage you to rise to challenges and create a career you're proud of.

What we do

We're the market leader in the UK fresh prepared food industry, supplying meals, salads, desserts, pizza, and bread to leading grocery retailers including Tesco, M&S, Sainsbury's, and Waitrose.

About the role

This is a fantastic opportunity for a Senior Process Technologist to join Boston Meals, a site employing over 700 people, specializing in chilled Italian ready meals and pasta salads for a dedicated customer. In this busy role, you'll manage the delivery of successful product validations in line with Bakkavor and customer principles in a fast-paced environment.

Accountabilities

• Managing & developing a team through PDPs and personal objectives linked to business goals, using a supportive and challenging environment. Setting SMART objectives for team members.
• Scoping projects, implementing KPIs for projects & teams.
• Supporting innovation & improvement plans aligned with business objectives.
• Interacting with cross-functional departments to deliver successful product launches, influencing from the start of process development to manage expectations.
• Managing trials, ensuring timely completion, resolving issues, and communicating across functions, with budget awareness.
• Checking microbiological and nutritional results ahead of launch pragmatically.
• Managing customer panels (internal and external) for customer approval, ensuring compliance with business and customer expectations.
• Proactive planning and management of the critical path, defining trial programs to meet timelines and customer requirements.
• Understanding cost impacts of process changes and communicating proactively.
• Managing trial budgets and objectives.
• Monitoring project margins and escalating issues to stakeholders.
• Using problem-solving skills for product development and process improvements, conducting root cause analysis.
• Ensuring process department readiness for audits through validation interpretation and data analysis.
• Operating safely and supporting continuous improvement in health, safety, and environmental standards.

About you

• Proven track record in food manufacturing, with experience in customer trials and critical path management.
• Operational experience within Process, Technical, Development, or Operations.
• Strong interpersonal skills to influence and collaborate across departments.
• Problem-solving skills, including root cause analysis and innovative thinking.
• Effective project management with stakeholders and suppliers.
• People management skills, capable of developing and coaching team members.
• Food Safety Level 3, HACCP Level 2.
• Intermediate numeracy, literacy, and IT skills.

What you'll receive

As an equal opportunity employer, we provide a safe and rewarding environment, with benefits including:

• Life Assurance (2.5 x salary)
• Private medical insurance
• Annual Bonus Scheme
• 25 days holiday plus 8 bank holidays
• Staff Shop
• Stakeholder Pension Scheme
• Discount & cashback platform
• Personal Accident Insurance
• Free health check
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Voluntary benefits (holiday purchase, additional life assurance, dental, hospital cash plans)
• Salary sacrifice car lease scheme
• Free independent mortgage advice
• Discounted tutoring for children
• Financial learning tools and affordable loans
• Free car parking

We're proud to be the market leader in the UK fresh prepared food industry, supplying to major retailers and operating across UK, US, and China markets. Join our dedicated team today!