Process Improvement Engineer

PepsiCo UK is home to some of the world's most loved food and drink products. Making everyday favourites like Walkers, Quaker, Doritos, Pipers, and Monster Munch, to name a few! We have a fantastic reputation for developing and launching products that our consumers love. PepsiCo products are enjoyed by consumers around the world more than one billion times a day in more than 200 countries and territories. The company generated $70 billion in net revenue in 2020. We pride ourselves on being a great place to work and have recently been voted a Top Employer for the 11th year in a row.

"Our vision is to be the Global Leader in Beverages and Convenient Foods by Winning with PepsiCo Positive (pep+). Pep+ is our strategic end-to-end transformation that puts sustainability at the centre of how we will create value and growth by operating within planetary boundaries and inspiring positive change for the planet and people."

We are currently recruiting for a Process Improvement Engineer to drive operational excellence at the Lincoln Manufacturing site, specifically focusing on our Pellet Plant area within the Plant. This role will operate on a days-based contract working Monday – Friday, leading shift teams, and driving performance improvement.

What You’ll Be Doing:

This role has responsibility for all technical activities in the pellet plant area of Lincoln Site. The role will be responsible for driving area performance through process control and engineering improvement, supporting the site manufacturing team with specialist support in their area of responsibility, owning the governance of the IPS programme, supporting on-site trial activity, and continuous improvement activities.

• Working with Lincoln team and external departments and agencies, build an in-depth and expert understanding of the pellet plant processes.
• Use process management tools and techniques such as the application of Six Sigma methodology to develop existing ways of working and drive high accuracy of process management within the pellet plant.
• Focusing on improving standards (target 80% of time) through QCDM framework - Identify opportunities for improvements and drive actions to correct.
• Owning the methodology to support others to “Maintain the Standard” through coaching problem-solving skills on shift.
• LSS Kaizen leader/Green belt – responsible for delivering improvement projects including productivity.
• Coaching and development of the operations team and pipeline potential future specialists and process engineers.
• Ensuring training material & validation processes are optimised and fit for purpose through collaboration with Trainers & MPE Execute team.
• Leading and supporting improvement projects, through the change management process, from minor changes through to Capex justification and commissioning.
• Owning and auditing of standard settings (IPS & system audits).
• Developing Continuous Improvement culture through using the QCDM framework and methodology.
• Ownership of standard work for ZO and GOs within their area of responsibility.
• Work closely with the shift leadership team to coach appropriate problem-solving tools to preventative actions.
• Work with central BU departments (such as NPD) supporting line trials, product and packaging development work and equipment improvement activities.

Qualifications:

The Lincoln facility consists of highly automated and complex machinery. The candidate must be knowledgeable concerning sophisticated processing and packaging machinery and materials being used. The Process Improvement Engineer must be able to coordinate daily activities with the Productivity and Training and CI Manager, Line Operations Manager, and other operating departments, staff groups, and/or suppliers. The Process Improvement Engineer is expected to develop, recommend, and implement productivity improvements. To do this, the role holder will need the following skills:

• The candidate is likely to be educated to a Masters Degree level in a scientific or numerate discipline or have the capability to operate at that academic level.
• Problem Solving.
• Lean Six Sigma / DMAIC (Green Belt).
• Strong Data analysis skills.
• Good Technical/Process engineering knowledge with experience in Continuous Improvement.
• Ability to apply technical knowledge in a consistent, methodical way when problem-solving.
• Capable of planning complex trials, data collation and analysis.
• Understanding of production systems with the ability to document, track and audit information.
• Coach and facilitator with a passion for developing & training others.
• Effective interpersonal skills, with a co-operative style that builds strong relationships and respect with others.
• Assertive, independent and self-sufficient, with the ability to cope effectively under pressure and meet tight deadlines.
• Able to develop a culture of problem solving within the operational frontline team.
• Ability to think strategically and develop action plans through prioritisation of work streams.
• High level of technical knowledge of process and analytical data of site is preferred for optimization of performance.
• Strong coach and facilitator with the ability to influence behaviour and identify training needs at all levels.
• Planning ability – complex trials, data collection and analysis.
• Self-starter with the ability to think strategically and develop action plans through prioritisation of work streams.
• A strong role model for Safety, Quality, and Food Safety behaviours.
• Flexible working style to suit the priorities and coverage of other production areas.
• Prioritisation of workload and self-management.

We are an equal opportunity employer and comply with the Equality Act 2010. We value diversity at our company; it is an essential part of our success. We do not discriminate based on age, pregnancy or maternity, marital/civil partnerships, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or gender reassignment, disability or race including; colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin.