Process Development Technologist

Location: manufacturing site outside of Wigan (4 days a week, 1 day WFH, easily commutable from Bolton)Contract type: 12 months FTCSalary: £50,000 - £55,000 + bonus and benefits Pod Talent is partnering with an exciting food manufacturer to appoint an R&D and Process Technologist for a high-profile change programme at one of its largest UK production sites. This is not a laboratory-led research position. It is a factory-facing product and process development role, focused on moving established food products across a simplified production network. You will make sure each product can be manufactured reliably on its new line while protecting its taste, texture, safety, quality and shelf life. Working closely with Production, Engineering, Quality and Supply Chain, you will turn technical challenges into practical solutions. That will include planning full-scale trials, interpreting production data, resolving issues found during testing and guiding products through to an approved manufacturing process. You will also support and develop a junior technologist. Key responsibilities Lead the technical workstream for a complex manufacturing consolidation project, from initial assessment through factory approval.Plan and oversee pilot and production-scale trials, setting clear objectives, measures and decision points.Assess how changes in equipment, batch size, heating, mixing or filling could affect the finished product.Review trial results and production data to identify causes of waste, inconsistency or poor line performance.Develop workable product or process adjustments and confirm that they perform consistentlyProvide day-to-day direction, coaching and technical support to a junior Technologist. What we’re looking for 3+ years of experience in the same, or similar roles. Food manufacturing background is a mustA degree in Food Science, Food Technology, Chemistry, Biology, Engineering or a closely related discipline.An experience of factory scale-up, production trials, product transfer or industrialisation.Evidence of personally leading technically demanding projects rather than only contributing to individual tasks.Confidence using data and structured problem solving to reach sound technical decisions.Strong communication and influencing skills, with the resilience to challenge decisions constructively in a direct, fast-moving factory environment.A practical, adaptable approach and the ability to build credibility with stakeholders at every level of the site. Why consider this opportunity? Take ownership of a visible project with a direct impact on how a large food production site operates.Join an established R&D team while retaining the autonomy to shape the technical delivery of the project.Gain leadership responsibility through the management and development of a junior technologist.There may be scope for the contract to continue or lead to another opportunity, although this cannot be guaranteed. Interested? If you have led food products through factory trials, scale-up or transfer and enjoy solving problems on the production floor, I’d love to talk. Apply now or contact serge@pod-talent.com for a confidential conversation. Please note: Relevant product or process development experience within food manufacturing is a core requirement for this role, and we are therefore only able to consider applicants with this background.Candidates must also have the existing right to work in the UK, as the position is not eligible for visa sponsorship.