Sr Technologist Food

Summary:

This role serves as a technical expert by developing and maintaining up to date knowledge of products, processes, technologies, and manufacturing operations. This role requires technical understanding of the specifications, functionality, and interactions between commodities, ingredients, and manufacturing processes.  Additionally, having proficiency with project and change management and other business systems will enable efficient CI project execution. As a member of the team, the Sr. Engineer/Sr. Food Technologist will lead cross functional teams on undertaking projects of strategic importance from concept through implementation with responsibility for development, validation, and industrialization for sustainability.    Application of Lean/Six Sigma principles are a requirement for manufacturing optimization initiatives.  This work is performed in a laboratory and manufacturing environment utilizing equipment and scientific and analytical instrumentation.

Major Duties/Responsibilities:

General

• Contribute to development of a multi-year APAC-EMEA Region CI plan of work including Continuous Improvement projects and other technical support initiatives. Leverage collaborative relationships across multiple internal groups to identify and develop opportunities. Perform initial assessments to determine value and feasibility and estimate capital requirement where appropriate.
• Lead projects to deliver up to $1M - $2M + US in annual cost savings with a focus on process, commodity, ingredient, formula, and operations technology.  Lead/support quality, safety, supply continuity and capacity initiatives as assigned. 
• Lead and/or participate in multi-discipline teams such as special initiative teams or other as assigned.
• Develop relationships with external suppliers, consultants, and professional organizations to enable discovery and application of new or emerging technologies and consumer trends for Hershey process and product optimization initiatives to meet strategic growth and cost initiatives.

Project Leadership

• Under limited direction assume responsibility for undertaking and executing process and product optimization projects of varying importance, complexity or scope. Undertake projects as assigned and make suggestions for initiation of projects or their abandonment as experience allows. Provide updates to project teams and management throughout the company that allows for timely decision making and the execution of testing schedules in an expedient and effective manner. Assume responsibility for participating in project design and methodology, problem solving through application of knowledge and original thinking. Identify, develop and validate process and product optimization projects through preparation of experimental formulations and process designs, bench and pilot scale development, and manufacturing trials. Participate in projects up to and including implementation, to include process and product support, training and sustainability initiatives. Close collaboration with R&D, Supply Chain, Finance, QRC, Manufacturing and Marketing will be required. Under general direction, take initiative to secure from such resources for all pertinent advice, ideas, and information having a bearing upon a project. 

Process and Product Optimization

• Recommend, design and develop process and product improvements within operations to provide the optimal solution for the given project. Develop initial process and product specifications, formulations, scope of work, schedule.  Conduct proof of principle testing to evaluate technical and financial feasibility for proposed solutions. Review results of tests with others and recommend further testing and/or changes deemed necessary to formulation and manufacturing processes to assure process capacity and efficiency to meet the business plan. Prepare project reports, deduct significance of results and conclusions and make presentations of findings to Management as pertinent to complete assignments. Responsibilities include ingredient specification and formula development, the design, implementation, and documentation of manufacturing feasibility trials and product sample generation, coordination of sensory testing, development of process solutions, supplier evaluations, and successful transition of deliverables to plant operating staff, including training and technical knowledge to assure sustainability of improvements. Provide project management services as required to deliver optimization projects including cost, schedule, and resource management.

Product and Process Technical Support

• Lead and support process and product improvement initiatives throughout the APAC-EMEA manufacturing network. Utilize process engineering and food science principals, technical training and judgment to resolve product quality, process troubleshooting and optimization initiatives. Utilize root cause analysis and structured problem-solving methodology to identify root cause, develop and implement solutions to projects.

Technology Application Evaluation

• Utilize technical training and skills in the discovery and application of new or emerging technologies for Hershey process and product optimization initiatives to meet strategic growth and cost initiatives. Determine technical feasibility and economic justification for new technology applications. Coordinate the operation of plant or laboratory equipment or apparatus in the performance of tests or the implementation of improvements.

Process Management

• Develop and maintain up to date knowledge related to processing technologies, equipment, and product formulas in a minimum of two technical areas related to chocolate, confectionery, candy or related snack foods. Develop knowledge and proficiency related to change management and capital program management from discovery through execution phase.

Minimum Education and Experience Requirements: 

• Bachelor’s Degree in Chemical, Mechanical, Food Process, or Agricultural Engineering, Chemistry, or Biology
• Minimum 3 years of experience of applicable work and process experience.

Minimum knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform major duties/responsibilities: 

• Possess working technical knowledge of product and process development and optimization, including formula and process development, optimization, manufacturing validation and implementation. 
• Demonstrated application of food science and process engineering principles in developing manufacturing solutions with a sound understanding of the interaction between process unit operations and product physical and sensory properties.
• Prior experience with Food Science and Process Engineering in a manufacturing environment is preferred.
• Working Knowledge with manufacturing environments including safety, ingredient management, confectionary manufacturing processes, packaging processes, Quality Assurance, GMP and Lean manufacturing principles with ability to lead structured problem solving and Focus Improvement teams.
• Working knowledge of lean manufacturing, TPM, and six sigma principles.  Green/blackbelt certification preferred.
• Experience operating lab and/or pilot scale equipment/instrumentation and working in a manufacturing plant.
• Chocolate and Confectionery Manufacturing experience preferred.
• Advanced problem solving and evaluation capabilities.
• Ability to define, develop, and implement product and process optimization projects using Hershey business processes.
• Fluent speaking and writing English.
• Exceptional verbal and written communications skills
• Demonstrated ability to work autonomously and collaboratively across multiple functions in a flexible work environment with changing priorities.
• Excellent time management and project management skills with the ability to manage multiple projects at different locations.  Ability to establish priorities and execute multifunctional strategic project objectives.
• Exceptional planning and organizational skills.
• Proficient computer literacy, fluent with Microsoft Office Suite and SAP S4.
• Ability to accommodate unusual and extended work hours as required for project completion.
• Good interpersonal skills to effectively collaborate with all levels across the organization.
• Ability to travel up to 15%.