Lead Process Controller – Food Manufacturing & Scale-Up

Job Description

We are seeking an experienced Process Controller to lead the development and scale-up of innovative retail food products within our added-value manufacturing environment. This role bridges the gap between kitchen concept creation and full-scale operational delivery, ensuring that every product is executed to the highest standards of quality, efficiency, and consistency.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead, motivate, and coach a small cross-functional process team, fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
• Partner closely with culinary, technical, and operational teams to translate kitchen concepts into commercially viable, scalable manufacturing processes.
• Plan, organise, and execute factory trials, ensuring accurate documentation, clear communication, and successful progression through each stage of the product development lifecycle.
• Maintain a strong focus on process control, ensuring that all procedures, trials, and handovers follow agreed methodologies and meet customer and business expectations.
• Identify and troubleshoot process issues during development and scale-up, working with operational leaders to drive timely, practical solutions.
• Support the creation and maintenance of process documentation, including trial reports, specifications, risk assessments, and Standard Operating Procedures.
• Ensure all activities adhere to food safety, quality, and regulatory requirements, championing best practice across the team.
• Continuously assess opportunities to improve factory processes, workflows, and capability in support of long-term innovation and operational efficiency.

About You

• Previous experience in a food process or manufacturing role is essential, ideally within added-value retail food production.
• Strong understanding of factory trials, scale-up challenges, and process validation.
• Proven ability to lead, coach, and develop a small team.
• Excellent communication skills, with the confidence to engage stakeholders at all levels.
• Highly organised, methodical, and comfortable working to structured processes and deadlines.
• A proactive problem solver with strong attention to detail and a passion for delivering high-quality food products.

Salary– £55,00 – 60,000, dependent on experience in a similar position, academic understanding, and vocational training

Package:

Employers Workplace Pension Contribution

Company Private Health Insurance

30 days annual leave

Hours – Monday to Friday 08.30 – 17.00