Process Technologist

Description:

Location: Kent

Reports to: NPD Manager

The Opportunity

A well-established premium food manufacturer is seeking an experienced Process Technologist to support the successful delivery of new and existing products from development through to full-scale manufacture.

This is a hands-on, factory-based role focused on ensuring products are manufactured to the required standards of quality, food safety, consistency, efficiency, and customer expectation. The successful candidate will play a key role in factory trials, process validation, recipe and specification control, packaging implementation, and continuous improvement activities across the manufacturing operation.

Key Responsibilities

Factory Trials & Process Validation

* Lead and coordinate factory trials for new product launches, recipe amendments, packaging changes, and process improvement initiatives.

* Work closely with Production, Technical, Engineering, Planning, and Procurement teams to ensure trials are planned and executed effectively.

* Monitor trial performance, record results, identify process issues, and recommend corrective actions where required.

* Support the scale-up of products from development stage through to commercial production.

* Ensure products can be manufactured consistently while achieving agreed quality, yield, cost, and efficiency targets.

Recipe, Specification & Process Control

* Maintain and update recipes, process specifications, manufacturing instructions, and process documentation following approved changes.

* Ensure all revisions are accurately communicated to relevant departments and correctly implemented within factory systems.

* Verify that manufacturing instructions reflect actual factory operating conditions and production capabilities.

* Monitor critical process parameters and product quality characteristics to ensure consistency and compliance with specification requirements.

* Support continuous improvement activities focused on yield optimisation, waste reduction, line efficiency, product consistency, and manufacturing performance.

Raw Material & Packaging Validation

* Carry out raw material checks during trials and validation activities to confirm ingredient suitability, quality, and functionality.

* Work with Procurement and Technical teams to support the assessment of alternative ingredients, suppliers, and packaging materials.

* Lead packaging trials, including validation of: packaging material performance, seal integrity, coding and traceability, labelling accuracy, shelf-life performance, and production line compatibility.

* Ensure packaging changes are fully documented, validated, and successfully implemented within manufacturing systems.

Technical & Quality Support

* Work closely with Technical and QA teams to ensure compliance with: BRCGS Food Safety requirements, HACCP controls, allergen management procedures, legal and customer labelling standards, internal product specifications

* Support shelf-life assessments, quality benchmarking, organoleptic evaluations, and process validation activities.

* Assist with the investigation and resolution of process-related quality issues, including product variability, processing defects, packaging concerns, and line performance issues.

* Maintain accurate trial reports, specifications, validation records, and process documentation to support audit readiness and full traceability.

Skills & Experience Required

Essential

* Proven experience in a Process Technologist, Process Development, Manufacturing Technologist, or similar factory-based food manufacturing role.

* Strong understanding of food manufacturing processes and factory operations.

* Experience leading factory trials and supporting commercial product launches.

* Ability to analyse process data, troubleshoot manufacturing issues, and implement practical process improvements.

* Excellent organisational skills with strong attention to detail and documentation accuracy.

* Confident communicator with the ability to work effectively across multiple departments.

Desirable

* Experience within a premium food manufacturing environment.

* Knowledge of BRCGS Food Safety Issue 9, HACCP, allergen management, and retailer codes of practice.

* Experience with packaging validation, shelf-life assessment, and process capability studies.

* Understanding of raw material functionality, process variation, and its impact on product quality and manufacturing performance.

Qualifications

* Degree or HND in Food Science, Food Technology, Manufacturing, or a related discipline.

* HACCP Level 3 and Food Safety Level 3 qualifications would be advantageous