Assistant Process Development Manager – Ice Cream

Job description

This role presents an exciting opportunity for someone who is passionate about new product development to play a key role in supporting the Regional R&D team through identifying opportunities to better meet consumer needs and drive profitable growth for Unilever's Ice Cream business.

If you have the vision and creativity to shape impactful research, the ability to translate insights into opportunities for new products and compelling claims, coupled with a strong bias for action – this is a role for you

The Process Team is located within the RDC Refreshment Turkey and is tasked with delivering:

· World class skills and competencies in identifying, creating and applying processes for assembly and shaping of ice cream products.

· Cost effective processes enabling exciting new ice cream products.

· Optimal equipment and process conditions for rapid factory exploitation.

· Expertise on in-line product assembly and shaping for Unilever Ice Cream category.

Key Accountabilities

1. Define all the steps necessary to produce a new ice cream product (innovation and renovation) starting from mix preparation through to final product ready for packaging in collaboration with global Unilever process community, global and local suppliers.

2. Design new equipment and change parts for products and prototype them with third parties.

3. Implementation of prototype with respect to the project timing.

4. Design pilot plant trials to realistically represent the factory conditions. Improve pilot plant conditions if necessary to better represent the new processes.

5. Lead pilot plant trials during the feasibility phase and assess the requirement for a factory trial. Lead factory trials to ensure robust manufacturing design lock.

6. Define process data for contract gate with respect to project timing and prepare adequate documentation including process specs and trial reports for new and improved products.

7. Interface with factories/SC to continuously improve the product quality by improving the production processes. Propose and implement process related saving opportunities in the factories.

8. Define a process which minimizes capital request whilst optimizing transfer price.

Skills/ Experience/ Qualifications

· Candidates should have a degree / diploma or equivalent in a technical discipline (preferably mechanical or food engineering).

· Experience of mechanical engineering principles or working with machinery.

· Experience of 3D modelling, thermal analysis and fluid dynamics would be advantageous.

· Basic awareness of ice cream formulation, food processing and equipment.

· Candidates are expected to have at least 3 years of experience as project managers.

· Good organisational ability; plans ahead to ensure that equipment and materials are available to conduct experimental work.

· A "hands-on", practical person who takes a pragmatic approach to problem solving.

· A team player who is confident to express their own ideas but listens to and considers the opinions of others.

General Skills

· Good written and oral communication skills
· Basic awareness of Microsoft Office Software
· Working knowledge of food hygiene regulations
· Analytical thinking (fault diagnosis, collection and analysis of relevant data, well-founded conclusions)

· Fluent in English

· Preferably no military obligation for male candidates