Process Manager

Bringing excitement and inspiration to the menu since 2002.

We are the UK's leading supplier of added-value plant-based ingredients. Immersed in the latest food trends, we transform vegetables into irresistible, exciting, and inspired ingredients.

Through innovation and outstanding service, we collaborate with world-leading food service brands, chilled food manufacturers, and recipe box operators to help put vegetables where they belong - at the heart of the menu.

From our innovation chefs and new product development team to our operations experts, it’s our incredible people who have shaped us into innovative tastemakers. Their hard work and genuine passion for food allow us to create high-quality, bespoke food that transform our customers’ menus.

The Process Technologist Manager is responsible for managing the successful implementation, optimisation, and continuous improvement of food manufacturing processes from concept through to full-scale production. The role ensures products can be manufactured safely, consistently, and efficiently while meeting quality, food safety, legal, and customer requirements.

Working closely with New Product Development (NPD), Production, Engineering, Quality Assurance, Planning, and Supply Chain teams, the Process Technologist Manager leads process validation, factory trials, product launches, and continuous improvement projects to achieve operational excellence.

Key Responsibilities

Process Development & Product Implementation

• Lead the scale-up of new and existing products from development kitchen to full manufacturing.
• Plan, coordinate, and manage factory trials, ensuring accurate documentation and evaluation of results.
• Develop, validate, and optimise manufacturing processes to ensure products are capable of being produced consistently at the required quality and cost.
• Identify process risks during product implementation and develop effective mitigation plans.
• Establish process parameters, critical control points, and manufacturing standards for new product launches.
• Support successful first production runs and ensure smooth handover into routine manufacturing.

Process Improvement

• Drive continuous improvement initiatives to improve product quality, manufacturing efficiency, yield, and labour utilisation.
• Analyse production data to identify trends, losses, bottlenecks, and opportunities for optimisation.
• Lead root cause investigations into process deviations, quality issues, waste, and customer complaints.
• Recommend and implement process improvements using Lean Manufacturing and Six Sigma methodologies where appropriate.
• Monitor process capability and ensure manufacturing controls remain effective.

Technical & Quality Management

• Ensure all manufacturing processes comply with HACCP, GMP, BRCGS, retailer standards, and food safety legislation.
• Review and approve manufacturing specifications, process instructions, and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
• Ensure process documentation is accurate, controlled, and maintained.
• Support internal, customer, and third-party audits by providing technical process expertise.
• Work alongside the Quality team to investigate non-conformances and implement corrective and preventive actions.

Cross-Functional Leadership

• Manage and develop the Process Technologist team, providing coaching, mentoring, and technical guidance.
• Collaborate with NPD to ensure product designs are manufacturable and commercially viable.
• Work closely with Engineering to support equipment trials, commissioning, and process improvements.
• Liaise with Production teams to ensure process changes are communicated, understood, and effectively implemented.
• Support supplier evaluations where ingredient or packaging changes may affect manufacturing performance.

Project Management

• Lead multiple process projects simultaneously, ensuring deadlines, budgets, and customer launch dates are achieved.
• Develop project plans and communicate progress to key stakeholders.
• Coordinate cross-functional activities during product launches and process improvement projects.
• Ensure lessons learned are captured following project completion.

Essential

• Experience in food manufacturing.
• Strong understanding of food manufacturing processes and factory operations.
• Knowledge of HACCP, GMP, food safety legislation, and BRCGS standards.
• Experience managing factory trials and product launches.
• Strong project management and organisational skills.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving ability.
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to interpret technical specifications and production data.
• Experience leading technical or process improvement teams.

Desirable

• Degree in Food Science, Food Technology, Process Engineering, Manufacturing, or a related discipline.
• Lean Manufacturing and/or Six Sigma qualification.
• Knowledge of retailer technical standards.
• Experience with ERP or manufacturing management systems.