Senior NPI Technologist

Role Description
Working as part of the R&D Team to ensure the successful launch of new products in line with customer critical paths.

You will be the link between Product Development and full production. You will be responsible for projects, working alongside R&D chefs through the hand over stage to product launch.

You will be playing an active role in ensuring that all products are fully validated and set up to maintain product standards against customer codes of practice and Pilgrims Food Masters manufacturing standards.

You will organise and lead factory trials and Pre-production runs, with the outcomes reported to the customer and onsite stakeholders. You will be able to record and interpret complex data and make recommendations based on conclusions and results, identify any critical issues, make recommendations for improvements, measure efficiencies, yields etc and make sure that everything complies with quality, safety and customer expectations.

You will also be a key part of project teams to deliver site targets and goals. You may also be involved in buying and trialling new processing equipment either in support of a new product launch or to make improvements to current production processes.

Key Responsibilities

• To work closely with the R&D team to deliver new products from the NPD stage through to successful product launch, ensuring that product consistency is achieved throughout.
• Adhere to the PFM Concept to Launch Gate Process for all development work, driving products through & supporting team members where required.
• Co-ordination of product trials and pre-production runs, for preparation for a successful handover to production
• Take ownership of the provision of all documentation relevant to trials such as nutritional analysis, shelf-life verification & cooking validations.
• Ensuring all ingredients, packaging and factory trial paperwork is available and correct.
• Ensures all packaging and raw materials are ordered and available for all factory trials.
• Ensure compliance of relevant customer policies & PFM Manufacturing standards.
• Liaising with the R&D Chefs, Engineering, Quality and Production teams during trials, Pre-productions and supporting the first production runs.
• Alongside the R&D Manager, co-ordinate customer visits for factory trials and PPRs.
• Assist in the creation of critical paths and ensure deadlines are achieved accordingly.
• Maintenance of systems such as Recipe Professor and internal factory systems, to ensure all are fully compliant and maintained.
• Responsible for the initiation of Customer Specifications and Artworks and ensures that any changes are clearly communicated to the central team.
• Responsible for the completion and accuracy of Customer QAS/QCCP documents.
• Trials and approves all new packaging items to ensure that factory, safety and Customer requirements are met.
• Attending, when required and being the NPI representative for weekly meetings, product handovers, customer sign off panels, launch meetings & post launch reviews.
• Attending customer panels, particularly when in reference to factory trial approval / Launch approval.
• Supporting the HACCP team.
• Responsible for the thermal processing validation of all relevant factory equipment as per schedule.
• Raising Purchase orders as and when required for departmental needs such as ingredients etc and ensuring GRNS are completed in time.

Innovation and Continuous Improvement

• Challenge current departmental processes and WOW. Look for alternative and Innovative ways to produce new and exciting products as well as improving our current methods (DTV) to take the business to the next level and achieve the goal of becoming the Best and most respected in the industry.
• Supporting business change in the use of best in class processes and systems (A3 problem solving etc)
• Assist Production Streams in process reviews and improvement of current products and processes.
• Support in identifying and implementing profit improvement initiatives including alternative ingredient sourcing and trialling, line efficiency improvements and yield improvement.

Achievement through people

• Ensure engagement with other Operational, Technical, Procurement, Engineering teams and NPD
• Shared learning and cross functional development to enable multi skilled team members
• Work together with other team members to create a positive and productive working team environment.
• Use quarterly one to one review process to identify with NPI Manager, key development needs and create a plan to deliver and grow within the role.
• Responsible for the NPI Technologist and their training and development needs.

Skills and Experience

• Knowledge and understanding of current legislation, relevant to food manufacturing and product labelling.
• Good computer skills.
• Good analytical and troubleshooting skills.
• Excellent written and verbal skills
• Awareness of topical Food Safety issues and potential impact to Pilgrims Food Masters.
• Good background knowledge of relevant industry processes.
• Degree or equivalent in a relevant discipline.
• Level 2 Food Safety in Manufacturing
• Culinary knowledge and a wide appreciation of food processes would be beneficial
• 1 years minimum work experience within an FMGC environment.
• Level 2 HACCP qualification

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