Process Manager; Food Manufacturing

Overview

Location:

Chipping Campden, Gloucestershire.

Salary: £45,000‑£55,000 Pa dependent on experience.

This role supports food manufacturers and retailers with product innovation across rheology, new product development, value optimisation, instructional development, pilot plant, quality and food safety manufacturing, thermal processing, new technologies, and regulatory affairs.

The Processing Innovation Team delivers consultancy, project work and training in thermal processing, including process development, validation and optimisation of heating (cooking, pasteurisation, sterilisation) and cooling (chilling, freezing) processes.

The role involves significant travel across the UK, Europe and globally, with expenses paid. Recent trips have included Turkey, Iceland, Jamaica, South Africa, Italy and Spain.

• Management & oversight of the thermal validation service, ensuring quality of work, planning of resources and maintenance of equipment (repairs & calibration).
• Managing own project work activities to meet deadlines, including technical validation and consultancy projects, some involving travel to client sites in the UK and abroad.
• Designing and delivering training courses and presentations for external and internal audiences, seminars, and symposia.
• Proposing and delivering funded research around thermal and non‑thermal processing technologies.
• Developing the technical and professional skills of staff reports (3‑4 G2/3 level staff).
• Being responsible for business development of research and contract work, building client relationships, preparing and reviewing quotes.
• Responding to direct technical enquiries and requests for processing advice.

• Degree or equivalent in chemical engineering, science or food technology.
• A fundamental awareness of the importance of heat processing in the food industry.
• Proven experience working in a food production related setting. Experience in specific processing areas such as UHT, pasteurisation, or retort processing is advantageous.
• Experience and enthusiasm for people management and development.
• Proven business development skills, with potential and desire to develop further.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills (client meetings, emails, reports).
• Time management and financial awareness to facilitate effective project management.
• Full UK/EU driving licence and eligibility to live/work in the UK; ability to travel within the UK and beyond.
• Computer literate: MS Office (particularly Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint).

• Reward platform with employee discounts and rewards.
• 25 days holiday + 8 bank holidays.
• Buy and sell holiday scheme.
• Generous work‑save pension scheme, with employee contributions matched by the company up to 10 %.
• Culture focus around work/life balance (early finish Fridays).
• Subsidised onsite restaurant.