Pilot Plant Supervisor

Job description

Job Title: Pilot Plant Supervisor
Salary: £28,300 to £35,400
Location: Colworth
Function: Research & Development
Terms: Local
Scope: Local
Travel: 5% Travel

An excellent opportunity has arisen to join a world leading fast-moving consumer goods (fmcg) organisation. Unilever are looking for a Pilot Plant Supervisor at their global ice cream and beverages research & development facility.

The R&D facility is based at Colworth Science Park in Sharnbrook, Bedfordshire, just 40 minutes from Milton Keynes and Northampton, or 90 minutes from London St Pancras. Unilever brands supported from this site include: Walls, Magnum, Ben&Jerry’s, Cornetto, Lipton, PG Tips and many more.

This role is part of an established team of experts that provide process engineering, automation solutions, and pilot scale manufacturing to support new product innovations, plus improvements to value, waste, sustainability and quality.

This role is for the pilot plant supervisor, a key role at the heart of the ice cream development facility, responsible for the planning, set-up and operation of the pilot plant and the manufacture of prototype products. You will lead a team of pilot plant operators and work closely with project teams, process engineers, product developers, maintenance, factories and supply-chain teams, plus external partners/suppliers (e.g. 3PM, Material, Ingredient suppliers, machinery suppliers, process technology and control system suppliers). You will keep up to date with emerging food trends to deliver processes for sustainable new products that delight consumers.

Ice cream manufacturing is an exciting area for the process engineering team. There are complex and varied engineering challenges due to the wide array of product formats and processes involved, such as: mixing; forming; filling; shaping; freezing.
The successful applicant will work a 37.5 hour week and will be offered a salary in the region of £25,000-£38,000 depending on qualifications and experience. Other Unilever employee benefits are available including a contributory pension scheme.

Main Accountabilities

· Support the Pilot Plant Manager by managing the daily scheduling and usage of pilot capabilities as well as 3P service providers resources (People and Equipment) to deliver ice cream projects on-time-in-full.
· Day to day line management /supervision of the Pilot Plant Support Team (typically 1 to 7 full-time staff or equivalent). Be responsible for their motivation and growth of skills and competencies.
· Build strong links with the Technical Project Leaders in the product development teams by supporting them with all pilot plant related activities for multiple projects including innovation, renovation, value, quality, and sustainability improvement.
· Act as the trial leader to ensure safe and OTIF delivery of pilot plant trials. This requires effective and safe planning, design and execution of trials using all available and relevant Unilever systems (eg. Material management, data acquisition systems, etc) following all required procedures (eg. Safety Checks, CIP, waste disposal) as well as physically operating equipment when required.
· Advise and support Process Developers, Technical Project Leaders and Supply Chain with regards to scale up
· Enforce and support safe ways of working in the pilot plant, ensuring personal and process safety for Unilever staff, visitors and contractors in accordance to Unilever and legal requirements eg. proper manual handling techniques, Risk Assessment and SOP reviews and upgrades etc
· Implement 5S programme and maintain the condition of the pilot plant to a standard consistent with the vision of a “World Class” facility via the Pilot Plant Support Team.
· Ensure that Consumer Safety of Products is maintained in line with Unilever policy through implementing Best Practise principles (eg. HACCP, Manufacturing Hygiene)
· Be the recognised expert for specific technologies or processes and be responsible for advising and training Unilever colleagues in this area.

Direct Reports
· Pilot Plant Technologists - Up to 7 WL1B/1C

Key Interfaces
· Processing teams across Discover, Design and Deploy
· Workshop engineers and external engineering partners
· Category Science & Technology, Design and Deploy TPLs
· Supply chain, factory, and quality teams
· External Supply Partners

Key Skills
· Good interpersonal skills – team player
· Good operational co-ordination and organisational skills
· Understanding of safety processes and regulations.
· Analytical Thinking
· Passion for food, ingredients and technology
· Risk management
· Fluent English
· This position is a physical job which requires a certain amount of manual handling

Relevant Experience
· Candidates should have a degree and/or apprenticeship in a technical discipline (preferably related to food manufacturing)
· At least 3 years’ experience in the food industry, preferably in a process engineering/manufacturing/operational role
· Working knowledge of food hygiene practices and regulations
· Good knowledge of Microsoft office suite
· Familiarity with industrial control systems and digital tools is an advantage
· Day to day line management experience would be an advantage

COMPANY OVERVIEW
Unilever is a global Fast-Moving Consumer Goods company in the UK and Ireland. We are already on target to achieve our huge ambition to double the size of our business globally whilst reducing our environmental impact. We are growing our business and also doing what is right for our consumers, community and environment. We are developing brands for people’s lives today and for the changing environment tomorrow - making sustainable living commonplace.

Working at Unilever means that you get to take part in this exciting journey and work with amazing people who are really passionate about our large portfolio of famous brands. We want to improve billions of lives and you too can join us in making a sustainable difference.

Standards of Leadership:
· Bias for Action
· Building Talent and Teams
· Growth Mindset
· Consumer and Customer Focus
· Accountability & Responsibility

APPLICATION PROCESS
Online Application >> Digital Interview >> Face to Face Interview >> Job Offer

Please note: As part of the job application, you will be asked to complete a brief online application form. Completion of the form is required in order to be considered. Please allow yourself enough time to complete the application form as when filled out partially or not at all it may adversely affect the progress of your application. Please be aware that you will have to complete the form at once as you will be unable to return to it later.

How to Apply
Find out what it’s like to work here by clicking on this link https://www.unilever.co.uk/careers/professionals/working-here/

Or to apply now, click on “Apply to this job”. All candidate applications are reviewed in accordance with the criteria outlined for the job role. Please note that the closing date for the receipt of applications is 4 th October 2018