Technical Innovation Manager

As ‘the UK’s No. 1 Bakery Brand’ we have been baking bread since 1876. Today, we are proudly a fifth-generation family, with the introduction of the sixth generation, supplying over 18,000 retail customers from 11 bakeries and 16 depots, producing a range of over 70 products including gluten and wheat free. Family and values are what makes us different, and we are a proud bunch, join us and you too could be proud to be Warburtons.

The Recipe

To explore and deliver breakthrough ingredient technology and process research for short and long term new product development innovation aligned with the Innovation plan.

It reports directly to the Unbeatable Quality Managers and plays a vital part in delivering the next generation of products having the quality credentials and consumer appeal for which Warburtons is famous.

About us

As ‘the UK’s No. 1 Bakery Brand’ we have been baking bread since 1876. Today, we are proudly a sixth-generation family business, supplying over 18,000 retail customers from 11 bakeries and 16 depots, producing a range of over 70 products, including gluten and wheat free.

Quality and Innovation

We place quality and innovation at the heart of everything we do, and everyone across our business is focused on delivering the best bakery in Britain both now and for the future.

You will be joining a team of dedicated Quality and Technical experts who spend every day making sure the highest standards of quality are met across all our bakeries and that we’re always focused on how we can improve.

Over the last 10 years, we have invested in new baking kit so we can create our latest innovations including Thins, Giant Crumpets, Thin Bagels and Bagels. Only by investing in innovation can we continue to lead the bakery market and bring exciting new products to the shelves.

In 2019 we opened our dedicated Research and Innovation Centre, where our clever product development teams have access to the best technology to help them bake the next big thing!

Key Accountabilities and Measures

To map and deliver innovative new concept process and ingredient technology aligned with innovation projects and long term strategy, closely working with cross functional teams within the wider business.

To drive and deliver agreed pipeline product launches ensuring all elements align with the business plan.

To forge and maintain relationships with key raw material and potential equipment suppliers

To facilitate and manage project development trial schedules and logistics.

To attend relevant industry meetings and events as required

Playing your part in ensuring all Health & Safety documentation is in place for the R & I facility to ensure it is safe.

Essential Ingredients

• Educated to HND/BSc level in food science/technology or significant experience within FMCG
• Industry Knowledge: Experience of processes, ingredient functionality, machinery and equipment development.
• IT and PC knowledge – able to use a wide range of software.
• Knowledge of Quality Systems
• Innovation skills – builds on the ideas of others, develops innovative approaches to complex issues, encourages creative behaviour in others, takes risks in order to experiment with new ideas.
• Communicating skills – articulate, open and supportive in manner, values and shows respect for differences in personal style and beliefs, listens to and welcomes ideas from others and asks helpful questions.
• Influencing & negotiating skills – Can express own views with conviction, effectively uses facts and data to support a proposal, responds positively to the ideas and views of others.
• Analysing and problem solving skills – anticipates problems before they occur and takes steps to deal with them/correctly & swiftly identifies the underlying problem & finds appropriate solutions. Asks probing questions – is inquisitive. Is meticulous – has a good eye for detail.
• Time & project management skills – prioritises and manages own workload to ensure tasks are delivered as promised, works in a systematic and organised manner.
• Decision making skills – makes effective decisions in areas affecting own job, has the confidence to defend decisions assertively, uses judgment to refer decisions to higher authority where appropriate, actively listens to others and solicits their views before deciding what to do.
• Commercial skills - recognises day-to-day issues, which are commercially important to the business, identifies opportunities to improve the commercial effectiveness of own area

Extra Dough

You’ll want to know what your bread is worth:

• A slice of the annual profits (discretionary profit share).
• Family time is important to us and we know it will be to you, so you will have 5 weeks holiday and bank hols. Plus, the opportunity to purchase up to an extra week annual leave.
• Private medical insurance, health screening and life assurance.
• Award winning pension scheme with company contributions.
• Products you will love along with deals and discounts for you and the family through our Extra Dough website.
• Support for your health and wellbeing, including access to free physiotherapy, 24/7 access to a confidential helpline for practical advice and a comprehensive occupational health service.

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