Food Technical Lead

This varied role will be predominately based at their site in the Leicestershire area but will also involve travel to suppliers and customers. As the Food Technical Lead, you will work very closely in conjunction with procurement category leads, the technical functions, supply chain operation and the manufacturing site to deliver competitive advantage through in-depth knowledge of the product category and the end-to-end supply chain.

You will have the full support of the senior leadership team and will work with the teams to ensure sustainable change.Key Responsibilities:

• Develop an efficient & effective supply chain that maximises value & minimises risk - identifying areas for efficiency and enhancement, whilst maximising quality, visibility and integrity.
• Promote a culture of continuous improvement throughout the business, by encouraging managers to actively seek improvements in their own activities and processes.
• Support the development of appropriate quality standards and specifications and the consistent adherence to these.
• Identify opportunities to improve performance in the quality and processing of raw materials.
• Support identification and implementation of innovation of both product & process.
• Support the site/group agenda and delivery of targets.
• Support the identification of Profit Improvement Plan ideas relating to materials we procure.
• Develop, monitor & drive supplier KPIs.
• Develop the Approved and Preferred Supplier Lists to support delivery of the supplier strategy. Working with teams in new supplier selection providing expert knowledge on supplier technical capabilities.
• Identify potential new supply partners.
• Use appropriate measurement, analysis and evaluation methods to identify opportunities for improvement and document process improvements.
• Work with Manufacturing excellence teams to deliver best practice efficiency solutions.
• Map the process of manufacturing to understand steps to help build cost models, assess make v buy opportunities, and identify yield, labour & waste improvement and other opportunities.
• Support with change programmes across all areas of the business ensuring efficiency and yields continue to improve.
• Ensure that effective, planning, organisation and communication is in place internally & externally for the effective adherence to the critical path and successful implementation of processes into the business.
• Be known as a subject matter expert to advise and assist in the efficient development of best practice manufacturing processes.