Senior Cocoa & Chocolate Scientist - #186385

Role Title: Senior Cocoa and Chocolate Scientist

Site introduction:

Our Hectar Laing Development Centre site is the beating heart of innovation at pladis, a dynamic hub where creativity, science, and consumer insight come together to shape the future of snacking. Home to our Innovation, R&D, Regulatory, and Technical Insights teams, this site supports both pladis Global and UK&I, driving progress across our sweet and savoury portfolios. With a state-of-the-art pilot plant and a culture of collaboration, High Wycombe is our centre of excellence for research and development. From the first spark of an idea to the final product on shelf, our teams work side by side to deliver exciting, high-quality snacks that delight consumers everywhere. It’s a place where every voice matters, and every innovation is powered by the passion and expertise of our people.

What will this role achieve?

This is a critical role responsible for building the know-how on Cocoa and translate that into innovative and sustainable chocolate confectionery and baked products. This role will work closely with other functions, e.g. procurement, sensory, marketing, regulatory, etc., to ensure an agile and smooth translation of science to products.

This role seats in the Global Innovation and Technology Team under the Breakthrough Product Director to ensure direct translation of opportunities against an ambitious and transformational breakthrough innovation strategy that is aligned to the growth ambition and sustainability aspirations of the company.

The role requires an individual who is competent and skilled at working across cultures and functions and collaborating to deliver with others. They need to be able to work effectively with external partners to identify appropriate opportunities and drive development of innovative solutions, best practice approaches and systems.

Key areas of focus for the role will be on:

• Know-how on Cocoa Materials and Chocolate Technologies
• Translation of above to confectionary and baked applications
• Developing solutions to technical hurdles
• Providing a technical response to product challenges
• Owning and delivering test trials from small-bench to medium-pilot scale and support upscaling to factory scale.
• Managing project plans

What will be your key deliverables?

Global R&D works hand in hand on many initiatives with partners in the other functions (both globally and within regions) to create strong competitive advantages for pladis including:

• Ingredients Technologies and Innovation
• Product Innovation
• Portfolio transformation for Health and Happiness
• Sustainability (i.e. environment-friendly initiatives)

Specifically on Breakthrough Cocoa programme, we need to:

• Define and deliver a medium to long term roadmap and align an agenda to drive innovation sustainability and productivity – build the internal cross-functional expertise and relationships to deliver that agenda.
• Support the Global Procurement team as we build strong and mid-term Sourcing Strategies.
• Build strong collaborative relationships with Suppliers to capture the best practices on the market and monitor project implementation.

The role will report to the Head of Global R&D Head of Cocoa Innovation*. It is expected that the incumbent will work very closely with their counterparts across the Central Innovation & technology team to effectively delivery the joint growth and transformation agenda and sustainability deliverables.

Principle Accountabilities

• Lead the creation and optimization of cocoa blends and chocolate products that engine Innovation pipeline.
• Build, curate and share deep knowledge of emerging cocoa processing methods, materials science and industry trends.
• Drive the development of proprietary and sustainable cocoa solutions, including cross-category product designs.
• Lead research and development of novel cocoa extenders, substitutes and flavour-modulating solutions.
• Own the end-to-end understanding of scalability, from bean processing through chocolate, confectionery and baked finished goods
• Lead prototyping cycles, pilot plant and factory trials, ensuring robust technical validation and readiness for launch.
• Provide expert technical support to operations, delivering solutions that balance quality, cost, performance and sustainability.
• Identify, develop and progress patentable opportunities within cocoa materials, chocolate technologies and related processes
• Work collaboratively and in partnership with other functions and teams (e.g. Sensory and Consumers Insights, Procurement, Supply Chain, Quality)

Bring your experience.

Essential

Excellent core technical skills and be able to understand the needs of the business, our consumers and customers to drive an exciting cocoa and chocolate technology agenda. The individual will be a self-starter and possess a drive for results.

What will the interview process be?

• Initial Telephone call with Talent Acquisition
• 1st stage interview – 45 minutes competency-based interview based on our company values and your experiences.
• 2nd stage interview – 60 minutes – a technical interview to understand your skill set/case study or presentation interview.
• Final interview based on Leadership Success Model Assessment/role competencies.

pladis does also use both Psychometric and Aptitude tests to support our processes so you may be asked to complete these as part of your process. Some processes may differ, but we will keep you updated!

What does pladis offer you?

• Annual Incentive Plan (AIP) – this is the business’s annual bonus scheme.
• Opportunity to self-enrol into Health Cash Plan
• Private medical Insurance (if eligible)
• Enhanced parental leave and a supportive phased return-to-work program to help colleagues balance family and career.
• Stakeholder Pension Scheme
• Life Assurance Cover ~ upon enrolment to Stakeholder Pension Scheme
• 25 days + bank holidays
• Holiday Enhancement Scheme
• 1 Volunteering Day per year
• Cycle to work scheme
• Discount and Cashback Scheme – make your everyday spending work hard for you on major high street brands, supermarkets and services
• Access to Employee Assistance Programme
• Financial Wellbeing Support
• Access to great training and development opportunities

Our Values

Purpose led – We’re energised and guided by our purpose to bring happiness with every bite

Agile – We’re ever evolving, we never stand still, always improving for our customers and our consumers.

Positive – We’re highly motivated optimistic, courageous, and we inspire each other to be better

Resilient - We’re persistent in the face of setbacks, quick to adapt, learn and move forward

Collaborative – We gain strength from operating as one pladis, winning and succeeding together

Best mix of ingredients

pladis is an equal opportunities employer, like every great recipe we’re a thoughtful mix. A happy and inclusive place to work that’s as diverse as our consumers and the communities we support, live and work in, all around the world. Where every voice is heard, and difference is celebrated. Where fresh perspectives and new ideas help us grow and thrive.

Accessibility at High Wycombe: Our High Wycombe site has accessible entrances and lifts between floors to support individuals with mobility needs, but currently does not have step-free access. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, and where possible to perform key job functions.

pladis is an Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to hiring a diverse workforce. All openings will be filled based on qualifications without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, marital status, veteran status, disability, age, religion or any other classification protected by law.

We operate a strict Preferred Supplier List. If you are a recruitment agency and wish to submit candidate to be considered for this vacancy, you must have agreed to, and signed, our terms of business.

We will not accept CVs from any other sources other than those currently on our PSL. We will not pay a fee for any candidate that has not been represented by a provider on our PSL.