Senior Engineer/Food Technologist

Job Location: Hershey, PA (expected travel 30-50%)

 

Summary:

The Senior Engineer/Food Technologist, Process Optimization fills a critical role in the successful development and execution of the US & Canada Supply Chain’s multi-year continuous improvement plan. Utilizing solid engineering skills, you will identify and/or implement product and process optimization projects including but not limited to process improvements, application of new technology, recipe changes, and ingredient changes. This individual will lead or support projects toward a personal target of delivering $3 - 6M annual savings as well as quality, safety, supply continuity and capacity initiatives as assigned.  This could include a high number of low to medium complexity projects that drives leadership complexity or medium to high level of autonomy on medium complexity projects and low to medium level of autonomy in leading a program.

This position serves as a technical expert by developing and maintaining up to date knowledge of products, processes, technologies and manufacturing operations. Additionally, your proficiency with project and change management and other business systems will enable efficient CI project execution. This individual will maintain a strong collaborative working relationship with Marketing, Commodities Procurement, Quality and Regulatory Compliance, Legal, R&D, Manufacturing, and Operations Business Integration.

 

Scope of Responsibilities:

 

• Project Leadership
  • Under minimal 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, stakeholder alignment, 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, Engineering, 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.
  • Relentlessly challenges the status quo (suppliers, technology, process) to identify and drive packaging cost, quality, performance, and sustainability optimization
  • Routinely benchmarks and monitors trends and technology to apply best demonstrated practices which drive cost, quality, performance, and sustainability improvements
  • Designs and conducts data generating tests and implements quality and performance optimization via data analytics and robust performance specification development
• 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, capital design concept and estimate.