KP Snacks Looking for Process & Technology Expert at Loughborough, Leicestershire Full Time

Process & Technology Expert

Ashby de la Zouch

As our Process & Technology Expert, you’ll play a key role within the R&D team, working with the wider Product development community, category leaders, MU R&D heads, Engineering, Manufacturing and Commercial teams. Purpose of the role is to contribute to the creation of new, dynamic and exciting snacking products across Brands, by providing specialist support for Process and technology development. You will apply your Process & technology knowledge and expertise to assess and develop robust processes specifications to produce the products according to the consumer demands, ensuring costs, line efficiency, no losses and quality. Provide specialist technical knowledge to the sites and the wider R&D team.

As our Process & Technology Expert, some of your responsibilities will include:

• The role will be category aligned but will provide support to other categories where necessary
• Responsible for the Process and Technology agenda within the assigned category
• Manage and development of trial protocols and steer product development in the trials run
• Support the “Spirit of Innovation” across the business
• Work in partnership with other expert groups to develop and optimise tools and techniques for Innovation and Development across Intersnack
• Deliver the ongoing Development plan that satisfies the consumer market and improves production lines efficiency
• Be the driving force in Process and Technology innovation
• Assess new and technological evolutions. Work close to the technology providers and be up date with technology improvements and lead its assessment working with engineering. Actively seek new products/raw material/ processes at trade shows, exhibitions and retail outlets
• Drive continuous process and technology improvement of processes
• Ensure process specifications optimisation to produce the products according to the consumer demands, ensuring costs, line efficiency, no losses and quality
• Fully support specific waste reduction projects with major impact across sites and MU’s. Partner with IWS members and tools to ensure consistent implementation
• Understand the market and demonstrate awareness of the competitive set
• Develop and leverage best in class ways of working to enhance the capabilities of the Development team
• Steer and guide the product development teams in running line trials properly. Promote their technology and process learnings
• Manage the prototyping lab and define new equipment required either to acquire, rent or develop in partnership with suppliers
• Manage portfolio of projects and deliver to agreed timelines
• Plan and conduct production trials together with the product development teams

KP Snacks is proud to be part of the Intersnack Group. With an annual turnover of more than €3 billion, the Intersnack Group has grown and flourished to become a market leader in savoury snacks, present in over 30 countries across Europe, Australia, New Zealand and beyond, employing more than 14,000 employees and 44 factories globally (33 in Europe, 3 in Australia, 3 in New Zealand, 2 in India and 3 in Vietnam).

The multi-award-winning culture at KP Snacks is friendly, welcoming, supportive and collaborative. We encourage everyone to be the best they can be, working together to achieve great results.

We are also incredibly proud to have been named as one of the Best Big Companies and one of the Top 10 Food & Drink Companies to work for in the UK (via Best Companies )

We wholeheartedly encourage individuals from diverse backgrounds to apply for this position. We are totally committed to creating a workplace where not one person feels they do not belong. Please just let us know if you need any modifications to the process if you have any special requirements.

Whichever method you are using to apply, please ensure that your application clearly demonstrates the relevant skills we are looking for, with clear evidence to support.

Key knowledge, skills and experience:

• Demonstrate a level of expert knowledge in food processing and packaging
• Knowledge of Lean techniques
• Understanding of key cost drivers within the development process
• Up-to-date on new innovations within process and packaging
• Ability to operate at a senior level with in the business and be credible at Board and senior customer levels.
• Understanding of factory environments and Food Industry Technical standards and compliance- HACCP, BRC, AIB etc.
• Food science/ technology/chemical engineering qualification or bachelors’ degree or equivalent work experience
• Previous experience of Process and technology Development in the salty snacks business (min 5 years)
• Experience of working in a Branded and Retailer environment
• Financial/ numerical aptitude
• Experience of leading a team
• Experience of coaching to develop individuals/ team