Research & Development Project Manager – Food Technology

Snack Creations is the leading global innovator at the forefront of the healthy snacks market – supporting and enabling brands, manufacturers and retailers to develop winning snack propositions. 

Using Digital Technologies to Accelerate Healthy Snack Product Innovation

Snack Creations are partnering with the University of East Anglia (UEA) on their 3rd project together, with a £300k Innovate UK grant. The project seeks to develop a deep understanding of Snack Creations raw materials, recipes, processes and products. The project explores the opportunity to innovate using AI (artificial intelligence) and ML (machine learning). This would be transformational to an industry that is relatively traditional in its manufacturing methods.

The Role 

This is an exciting project to apply AI and Machine Learning technologies to explore and establish patterns and correlations between raw materials, recipes, processing conditions and sensory attributes of products. It will provide the necessary infrastructure for effective data capture and provide full visibility of end-to-end manufacturing of the products.

The role will support the team in building digital databases for elements of the manufacturing process and develop software prototyping design tools. It will oversee and facilitate the day-to-day actions of the project, whilst being a continuity figure between Snack Creations and the UEA. The project will be support by skilled experts in AI and food technology sensory testing to support the project success.

This opportunity will suit a scientist or researcher that's keen to join a project team to create, implement and embed new technologies into an agile and forward-thinking business. 

To be successful you will be; 

• educated to masters level in science, ideally food science or material science;
• have a scientific understanding of the food matrix and material characterisation;
• experienced in carrying out research, working in lab environment, carrying out experiments, understanding scientific literature;
• able to demonstrate: attention to detail, great communication skills, highly organised, advanced project management skills;
• friendly with a can-do attitude, agile in approach with tenacity. 

In addition, you will have a keen interest in some or ideally all of the following; food, snacking, healthy snacking, digital solutions, AI solutions, sustainability, food industry. Innovations and improvements.

Starts on 1st September 2024, and funded for 18 months (ending 28 February 2026). The role will report to the Business Project Lead and Head of Research & Development at Snack Creations. Position is full-time, fixed term, working flexibly from Snack Creations (Forest Way, Norwich) and the UEA (University of East Anglia, School of Pharmacy, Research Park, Norwich). 

Apply Now

If you have the relevant skills and experience, click the apply button above and email your CV and covering letter (as one document of no more than 500 words) explaining how you meet the requirements for the role.

Applications are reviewed as received, so we encourage you to apply soon. Advertising will remain live until the recruitment process is complete.

We look forward to receiving your application.

Closing Date for applications 22.07.24