Process Engineer

Want to help us bring happiness to the world? Want to join an ambitious and fast growing global biscuits and confectionery business investing heavily in iconic global brands, infrastructure and people? Then this is the place for you.
As proud bakers and chocolatiers and custodians of iconic global brands, we don’t compromise on the quality of ingredients in our products or on the people we hire. We are looking for entrepreneurial spirits who share our passion for bringing happiness to our consumers and who embody our Winning Traits.
To succeed at pladis you need to be

purpose-led ,

resilient

and

positive

to succeed here because we expect pace and

agility , we insist on

collaboration

and demand accountability. If that is your thing, then pladis offers global ambition, a clear Vision and roadmap for success, challenge, and unrivalled opportunities to learn and make an impact
Click “Apply” to get started.

PURPOSE: Godiva Chocolatier, as part of Pladis, operates in highly competitive, fast moving markets where it is essential to maintain and extend market share through profitable branded growth.  Successful innovation through product development, continuous value improvement and consumer perceived quality superiority vs. the competition are critical.
This is an important role responsible for supporting in the development new recipes, formats and products to fit with concepts that will drive brand strategies.  They will work with cross functional teams to bring to reality technical briefs.
They will support the Head of Product development in the delivery of an ambitious and transformational product strategy that is aligned to the growth ambition and sustainability aspirations of the company.
The role requires an individual who is competent and skilled at working across cultures and functions and collaborating to deliver with others.  They need to be able to work effectively with regional and external partners to identify appropriate opportunities and drive development of innovative solutions, best practice approaches and systems.
Key areas of focus for the role will be on:
Process development and scale-up: Translate product designs into manufacturing process flows, trial plans, equipment requirements, operating

windows

and scale-up strategies.
Process validation and capability: Define critical process parameters and quality attributes; execute statistically sound trials to confirm repeatability,

capability

and control.

Product

Commercialization

Compose test run Protocol, outlining test parameters and 
objectives
, prior to performing test.

Prepare any necessary data sheets for gathering test data

to

validate

new products.

Collect samples from test runs and perform statistical analysis of SPC weights/measurements and Analytical studies.
 Compile information using programming software.

Production support: Support

R eading production for technical troubleshooting

for chocolate, caramel, tempering, moulding,

enrobing

and other available technologies.

Technical troubleshooting: Diagnose and resolve issues across chocolate handling, tempering, moulding, enrobing, caramel and filling preparation, cooling,

demoulding

and related technologies.

Quality support

• support definition of
• Visual Standards for new products,
• create and
• maintain
• products
• standard
• Complete New Product “workbook” in preparation for Commercialization scale up process and the making of Sales samples. This includes preparing Preliminary documentation for Pricing Studies and Bill of Material
• set
• up.

Product

Testing

• S upport s et up and
• validate
• Shelf life for the new products industrialized
• Process Optimization: Work closely with
• engineering and
• production teams to ensure
• continues improvement and waste reduction.
• The ideal candidate will have
• solid
• core
• chocolate
• process and product
• technical
• skills, and
• be able to understand the needs of the business, our
• consumers
• and customers to
• support the

Head of

Product Development

• in creating and driving
• an exciting p roduct
• agenda .

Within the Global Functions team, we support

the

NAM

• region, to
• leverage
• size,
• expertise
• and best practices.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES AND DELIVERABLES

• Own the process engineering workstream for assigned innovation, renovation, value
• optimisation
• and productivity projects from technical brief through factory implementation and post-launch stabilisation.
• Convert product concepts and recipes into defined process flows, unit operations, equipment requirements, mass balances, operating
• parameters
• and scale-up plans.
• Design and execute factory trials using clear hypotheses, protocols, acceptance criteria, sampling
• plans
• and data sheets.
• Lead technical trial readiness reviews covering materials, equipment, line availability, safety, food safety, specifications, test methods,
• resources
• and contingency plans.
• Provide hands-on process support during commissioning, first production, ramp-up and troubleshooting for chocolate preparation, tempering, moulding, enrobing, filling and caramel systems, cooling, demoulding and associated packaging interfaces.
• Apply structured root-cause analysis and problem-solving tools to resolve process losses, quality
• defects
• and reliability issues; translate findings into sustainable corrective and preventive actions.

Commercialize

• product
• platforms surrounding innovation opportunities
• in Reading
• Apply robust scientific methodologies to develop research hypothesis and execute bench and pilot plant experiments/trials.
• Apply structured root-cause analysis and problem-solving tools to resolve process losses, quality
• defects
• and reliability issues; translate findings into sustainable corrective and preventive actions.
• Analyse and interpret analytical data with full ability to implement results and provide next steps recommendations.

Collaborate with

Godiva chefs

to

a ssess the impact of ingredient, supplier, recipe, equipment or parameter changes through risk assessment and controlled validation before implementation.

Develop and

• maintain
• process specifications, centreline settings, process control plans, standard operating parameters, trial reports, product
• standards
• and technical handover packages.
• Complete technical governance deliverables at each project gate, including product and ingredient specifications, HARA inputs, process risk assessments, quality attributes, bills of material and commercialisation workbooks.
• P lanning and
• participating
• in
• pilot plant and factory trials (pladis and Suppliers), and presentation of samples to stakeholders.
• Support shelf-life validation by ensuring that manufacturing conditions and process variation are represented in study design and sample selection.
• Build effective partnerships with R&D, Culinary, Quality, Operations, Engineering, Procurement, Marketing,
• suppliers
• and co-manufacturers to deliver manufacturable solutions.
• Ensure all work is completed
• in accordance with
• site safety, food safety, hygiene, GMP and change-management requirements.
• Draw up product specs to final status ensuring effective handover of the development to the
• regional

Categories Product Development Teams

.

Contribution to

Godiva and P

• ladis Innovation strategy through support of conceptualisation and proactive NPD.
• Work with colleagues to ensure that product development facilities are
• maintained
• to a safe and hygienic standard and
• operate
• using lean principles. Drive for continuous improvement.
• SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED: Essential Criteria B S
• degree level qualification in Food Science/Technology ,
• or related field . MD in Food science as ideal.
• 3 y + o f experience in chocolate or confectionery product development.
• Sound technical knowledge of food ingredients, functionalities,
• formulation
• and processing
• Problem-solving ability using innovative thought and good scientific judgement

Proven

• track record
• of
• technical positions in food c