At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead technical product development and provide expert guidance to customers in the food industry.
- Company: Join a dynamic team focused on innovation and customer partnerships.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, travel opportunities, and professional growth in a supportive environment.
- Other info: Exciting role with opportunities for continuous improvement and innovation.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by optimising chocolate handling and improving manufacturing efficiency.
- Qualifications: Bachelor’s/Master’s in Food Science and 5 years’ experience in the food industry required.
The predicted salary is between 40500 - 49500 £ per year.
As a key member of the R&D team, you will lead technical product development, driving best-in-class product solutions and sharing deep product expertise across the organization. Acting as a trusted partner to customers, you will provide technical guidance on product selection, applications, and chocolate handling optimization to improve manufacturing efficiency. You will deliver technical support, troubleshoot issues at customer sites, and conduct training sessions on our products and applications. This role is integral to building strong customer partnerships and ensuring exceptional product performance and continuous improvement.
Key Responsibilities
- Define Recipe Requirements Based on Customer Specs, Reference Material and in Collaboration with Internal Colleagues (Product Expert & Process Engineer).
- Communicate and Align with Customer and Stakeholders on Project Content and Status.
- Be present on Customer’s site to work through any new product implementation as well as advising how to develop customers business.
- Maintain and develop customer relations to maintain communication and insights.
- Main good overview of customers capabilities, product portfolio, future pipelines and launches.
- Perform Application Tests with the Application Lab with or without Customer, e.g. Trials on New Chocolate, Compounds and Fillings.
- Provide on site Technical Advice to Customer on Application during Industrial Trials and to ensure a Smooth Transition to Industrial Scale up (Troubleshooting).
- Identify, Inform and Organise Project Members and Stakeholders, e.g. Establish a Team for Innovation or Large projects, Organize Project Team Meetings.
- Ensure Compliance for New Products Through Regulations Knowledge.
- Give Application Training to the Customer workforce and internal colleagues when required.
- Assess Existing Technology & Equipment and Maintain Knowledge of State of the Art Technological Possibilities for All Kinds of Customer applications.
- Log Trials and Results in System (SFDC or other).
- Promote new products to customers, through innovation days and customer visits.
- Receive and translate customer briefs for a New or Existing Solution.
- Balance Time and Resource Effort vs. Benefits of the Request, e.g. Discuss Feasibility, Assess risks, Ensure Compliance with Business Standards.
- Collect Customer Feedback on Sample and Testing’s and Define Next Steps in Product Creation.
- Along with QA make a GO/NO GO Decision to Production in Case of OOS and Report the OOS Specificities to Customer.
- Drive continuous improvement initiatives re processes, technologies, and organisation.
- Ownership and autonomy within the account.
About You
- Bachelor’s / Master’s Degree in Food Science or similar field.
- Minimum 5 years’ experience in the food industry.
- Experience in Project Management.
- Outstanding presentation skills.
- Proven track record in continuous improvement management.
- Experience in a product development, strong application knowledge.
- Experience in Sales or client interaction.
- Good knowledge of working tools (MS Office, Salesforce, SAP...).
- Fluent Business English.
- Willingness to travel within the UK.
Customer R&D Specialist in Banbury employer: Barry Callebaut
As a Customer R&D Specialist, you will thrive in a dynamic and innovative environment that prioritises employee growth and collaboration. Our company fosters a culture of continuous improvement, offering extensive training opportunities and the chance to work closely with customers to develop cutting-edge product solutions. Located in the heart of the UK, we provide a supportive workplace where your expertise will be valued, and your contributions will directly impact customer success and satisfaction.
