Process Manager

In support of our commitment to continuous quality improvement, we are seeking a Process Manager with a passion for delivering great food!

Working closely with our Production, Product Development and Technical teams you'll focus on identifying ways to improve the quality of our meals, through testing, monitoring and control of manufacturing processes to deliver the best meal experience to our customers.

You will embed yourself in the factory operation, learning what we do, how we do it and importantly why we do it; you will become the NPD factory process expert, understanding the operation from all perspectives. You will manage an on-going process audit programme, conduct day to day process monitoring, help validate equipment and processes, support the introduction of new and improved processes and identify & implement process controls.

We're looking for someone with experience in food manufacturing, strong attention to detail and a flair for problem solving in a collaborative environment.

You'll enjoy working as part of a team and seeing results in efficiencies, quality and making a difference to the lives of our customers. 

This is a great time to join apetito as we continue to win awards for sustainability and innovation and also see our new purpose-built state-of the-art manufacturing facility come to life in 2027. 

This role may suit someone with a background in Product Development, Continuous Improvement, Food Safety, Quality or Manufacturing within food operations

apetito is the UK's leading food supplier to the health and social care sectors serving more than 1,300 care homes, health care and education settings.

Our meals are expertly crafted by our dieticians and chefs, and then frozen to lock in the goodness.

Wiltshire Farm Foods, our sister company, is the UK's leading ready meal supplier cooking and delivering over 330 different delicious frozen ready meals across the UK.

Responsibilities

• →Proactive identification of opportunities to improve quality, reduce failure and minimise variability.
• →Support new and improved product trials.
• →Conduct extended process trials and monitoring post launch for  new and improved products.
• →Trial existing products through new processes.
• →Identify, support and drive the  implementation or improvement of key process controls for staged positive release.
• →Undertake process audits and lead on process investigations on failure or complaints.
• →On-going process validation of equipment and operations.
• →Engage with  key internal stakeholders to work  collaboratively and  identify process improvement and best outcomes.
• →Work with other stakeholders to establish appropriate quality attributes and standards taking into account operational capabilities.
• →Identify and deliver cost saving opportunities through improved processing efficiencies and methods.
• →Drive the Quality agenda forward
• →Resolve process driven  quality complaints.
• →Provide training and coaching to process stakeholders.

• Sound operational experience in a food processing environment
• Strong understanding of "food quality", the different impact parameters and improvement levers 
• Methodical with a keen eye for detail
• Ability to adopt a wide range of approaches to problem solving
• Good interpersonal, communication and influencing skills
• Experience of inter-departmental collaboration to achieve shared objectives
• Ability to work independently and manage short-term priorities
• Proactive hands-on approach
• Customer focused and a passionate about great food

• Degree, or equivalent experience 
• Demonstrable track record of successful process development
• Experience within ready meals
• Chilled or frozen food manufacturing

As a family-owned business, we take great pride in being a company that makes a real difference and is dedicated to creating outstanding meals to be proud of.

We develop a range of products designed to enhance health and well-being for all our customers.

We are driven by a passion for service and dedicated to feeding some of the UK’s most vulnerable people.

We proudly support British food and farming, focusing on using the best ethical and sustainable produce in alignment with our goal to reach Net Zero by 2040.

Our ethical standards are recognised by the ETI and we are an accredited Living Wage employer.Learn more about apetito’s commitment to a more sustainable future.

We embrace inclusion, empowering individuals from diverse backgrounds.

Our commitment to making a real difference extends to customers, communities, and staff and we're on a mission to build an inclusive workplace where everyone reaches their full potential.