Process Engineer

Job Description

Job Summary

The role is required to support 3 key areas of business operation:

  • Heightened awareness of plant efficiency in terms of yield, energy conversion and consumption needs
  • A need for improved machinery reliability, lower ongoing processing and maintenance costs
  • New product development in a fast moving market

The main requirement of the role is to undertake technical investigation, documentation and objective comparison of existing and future technologies employed by Finlays.

Within the framework of developing materials and energy balances, key unit equipment is to be evaluated and alternatives for improvement investigated. Data should be analysed and evaluated to demonstrate the benefits from conception through to capital investment proposals.   Technical evaluation of the existing performance of Saosa Factory will be a key feature of this role, with opportunity to compare and benchmark with other’s standards within and out with the Finlay Group.

The Process Engineer will also own the Management of Change process on behalf of Saosa factory, maintaining the change register and providing assurance on the use of the system.

Key Duties

Technology development

  • Manage the process of change from existing to future technologies as the business moves forward, providing an auditable trail of development and documentary records of expected and achieved benefits.
  • Contribute fully to the development of NPD ideas from concept through to capital plans to be made in conjunction with specific process, mechanical and finance resources in the Saosa management Team.
  • Demonstrate and ensure the appropriate standards of process safety are incorporated retrospectively with existing plant and from day one for design.

Conduct meetings, prepare and present reports, and provide information to identify opportunities, establish outline business plans and performance objectives to obtain initial momentum for change.

Technical performance

  • In close liaison with key stake holders, evaluate existing process performance and contribute to a continuous evaluation and reporting procedure
  • Take the Lead on suitable process or unit equipment Projects
  • Take the Lead on suitable process performance investigations.
  • Liaise with key stake holders in Kenya and Overseas, preparing reports and conducting presentations and contributing to the maintenance of adequate records for future cross reference.
  • Demonstrate an appropriate balance between risk and Technical Development to ensure continued improvement in factory performance and development. 

Occasional duties:

  • Participation in cross group technology transfer and benchmarking activity
  • Visits to other extract plants within the Finlay group and to technology suppliers
  • Attendance at technical conferences to network and find new ideas

Supervisory Responsibilities

This is a specialised technical role providing support to the business through implementing best practice engineering on new technologies and guiding continuous improvement in plant performance.

The role will involve leading project activity and engagement of 3rd parties as required to meet the business objectives.

Responsibility for resources:

Finances

  • Projects of value up to $10m are likely to be generated with the right business case

  • Plant efficiency improvements of up to $2m per year are possible through continuous improvement techniques

Customer

  • New products can open up market sectors in excess of $20m. There are currently 3 new products in the pipeline

Suppliers

  • Effectively network with 3rd parties over various geographical locations to generate new ideas

Financial Impact:

  • Poor performance in this role may lead to missed opportunity in being able to supply new products.
  • Continuous improvement in plant performance is required in order to remain competitive in the extracts market

Job Context:

  • Normal conditions for a manufacturing environment-High temperatures, chemical risks, noise, dust, and involves the use of relatively uncomfortable safety equipment;
  • The job involves walking, standing, climbing, bending, sitting, working with computers-minor screen glare
  • Involves travelling and supervision of some activities at weekends and holidays
  • Tight deadlines which lead to working under stress

Related Job Experience

  • 3-5 years progressive experience in a Process role with primarily food production or fine chemicals experience, preferably with an emphasis on the application of basic chemical engineering principles to problem solving.
  • Practical working knowledge of process unit equipment design and the construction and application of materials and energy balances.
  • Experience of being involved in Health and Safety Management objectives

Educational Requirements

  • Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering or Industrial Chemistry.

Breadth of job related knowledge:

  • Good understanding of the unit processes that are present in tea extract production – solids handling, evaporation, chemical reactors, distillation columns, heat exchange, chillers, etc
  • Experience of management of change systems and the importance of good process safety
  • Ability to translate customer requirements into ideas for new technology to meet product specification demands

Analysis:

  • The job holder is required to solve day-day problems incurred at the work-place.
  • Creating and analysing trends in performance is important to support troubleshooting activity

Judgement and Decision-Making:

  • Makes recommendations on the day-day plant operations
  • Make decisions on options for delivering new ideas to be able to present the best 2 or 3
  • Able to stop a change from being implemented if it is not safe to do so

Contact:

  • Saosa Factory  Engineering, Production, QA, Sustainability, Supply chain and HR management functions, as well as UK based resources, Group Engineer, Head of Operations Finance FTE, Head of Procurement FTE, Technical Director FTE and Operations Director.

Additional Information:

  • The job requires that the incumbent is readily available on call or physically present at the plant outside working hours in the event of an emergency in area of accountability.