Process Technologist – Mechanical Fitter & Pilot Plant Operator

Who we are? 

If you are in the Unilever Ice Cream business or consider choosing to work for the Unilever Ice Cream business, you will work for the Global, leading Ice Cream player with €7.9bn Turn Over in 2023. The Ice Cream business is operating in a highly attractive category, as we are part of the 1 trillion snacking and refreshment industry, growing consistently at high pace. We have strong brands equities: 5 of top 10 selling brands including Wall’s, Magnum, Ben &Jerry’s. We are investing to unlock the full growth potential of Ice Cream as a standalone entity, once we separate from Unilever, which is planned to happen by November 2025.

Ice Cream has distinct characteristics from Unilever’s other operating businesses and the growth potential of Ice Cream will be better delivered under a different ownership structure. As Ice Cream company we are committed to developing and nurturing talent within our Ice Cream company. You will have options for career growth and exploration, allowing you for you to explore roles and opportunities across the new organisation. Your career development will be a priority for us, and we are dedicated to supporting your growth journey within the new company. We hope that you will want to build the new chapter of our Ice Cream history together with us.

About Ice Cream:

Life Tastes Better With Ice Cream 

Unilever Ice Cream is the largest global Ice Cream Company in the world, with over 100 years of experience delivering a diverse range of indulgent, yet responsible, craft food experiences and treats delighting consumers. Committed to innovation, quality, and sustainability we have 35 brands, including 3 one billion Euro brands (Magnum, Wall’s, Ben & Jerry’s), a strong presence in over 60 countries, generating annual revenue of over $8 billion. All brands are driven to transform moments into memories through indulgent yet responsibly made and marketed products. We have a well-developed strategy to deliver growth and value creation which is clear on where to play and how to win. 

We turn the ordinary into the extraordinary by designing unique and innovative Ice Cream experiences that make life taste better, creating joyful experiences. In our Ice Cream business, we’re crafting the future through innovation and imaginative minds, creating unique products. We spark moments of happiness for people and within the communities where we operate. However, it is not as simple as it may seem. As Ice Cream makers we are serious about happiness. With warm hearts, we create the coolest products.

A job at Unilever is a career made by you, with development opportunities, benefits and a working culture that embraces diversity and is pioneering flexibility. There’s no better time to join our team!  

Job Summary

The Unilever Ice cream business in ANZ is large and highly successful.  The ANZ Ice Cream R&D team is the driving force behind the creation and delivery of benefit-led, innovative ice cream products across our world-renowned global (e.g. Magnum, Cornetto, Paddle Pop), premium (e.g. B&J) and local (e.g. Blue Ribbon, Golden Gaytime, Splice, Weis and Streets) brands.  The team embraces agile innovation and are fully connected within the market to land global, regional and local projects. 

The business reaches across all Ice Cream experiences from familiar in-home tubs, pints and mono portions to global and local classics and kid’s favourites.

We are looking for a Process Technologist - Mechanical Fitter & Pilot Plant Operator who will be responsible for the operation, maintenance, improvement and repair of equipment within the R&D pilot plant which supports the delivery of the complete R&D program agenda. You will have end to end accountability for the pilot plant equipment, operation of trials, organisation, safety and hygiene standards of the plant. Working closely with the Supply Chain team to ensure all relevant site policies, procedures are standards are complied with.

The role also works with Global and EU process development teams as well as cross functional teams including (Marketing, Supply Chain, SUIT). Supported by core skills to work within an autonomous team, you will manage the R&D pilot plant to ensure R&D related projects across innovation, quality, complexity and cost reduction, are executed as required ensuring reliability of the pilot plant to design, shape and deliver brilliant, sustainable, product experiences.

Role Responsibilities:

• Knowledge and application of technical skills to operate, maintain, improve and repair equipment.

• Requires a high level of mechanical competence, understanding the principles of mechanism and motion and able to conduct machinery repairs and adjustments.

• Understand and conduct complex fault finding and repairs.

• Monitor and evaluate the condition of equipment, machinery and components using instruments and diagnostic techniques.

• Responsible for the maintenance of equipment within the pilot plant including but not limited to; ice cream mix plant, freezers, pilot plant manufacturing lines including tub and extrusion, chocolate dipping systems, homogenisers, aging tanks, glycol system and small scale mixing systems.

• Leads pilot plant trials, set up of equipment, establishes operating settings and provides recommendations for operating parameters as well as areas for improvement. Includes cleaning and hygiene upkeep of the pilot plant.

• Support the design, modification, and development of world class factory processes for the manufacture of innovations within the pilot plant.

• Ensuring the safe & effective design, installation, commissioning and maintenance of pilot plant facilities and other tools used to deliver world class innovation in budget.

• Identify improvements and changes to the pilot plant that will increase functionality, improve safety and efficiency.

• Ensure the timely and effective communication & resolution and troubleshooting of issues affecting pilot trials.

• Manages pilot plant equipment services with contractors and service providers including but not limited to air conditioning, refrigeration for walk in cold store, equipment suppliers and cleaning and hygiene.

• Required to update the service and maintenance register.

• Required to ensure equipment records including operating manuals are available.

• Ensures SOP’s and Risk Assessments are in place

• Maintains the pilot plant fitter workshop

• General responsibilities as part of this role include; ensuring pilot plant is tidy, organised and to 5S standards, ensuring the pilot plant is clean and free from hygiene hazards.

• Ensuring outer areas and waste are managed in accordance with site standards.

• Responds to urgent pilot plant equipment maintenance when required.

• Training of new and existing R&D personnel in the safe operation of pilot plant facilities & the execution of processes used to scale up lab processes into plant

• Key point of contact for pilot plant related matters

• Hands-on experimental work in the Minto R&D Pilot Plant - manufacturing Ice cream products to generate new insights

Key Relationships

• EU & Global R&D Process Development Team

• ANZ Marketing Team

• ANZ, EU & Global Supply Chain (factories, maintenance, quality, etc.) and SUIT Teams

• Supplier/partner organisations

• Technical R&D specialists (CTI, Processing, Packaging, Formulation, Nutritionist, Digital & Data)

What You Will Need to Succeed

Experiences & Qualifications

Required:

• Core Engineering Skills – Background in Maintenance, Bench fitting and/or machining to operate at Maintenance Fitter/Mechanical Fitter level – minimum of 4 years’ experience required.

• Experience of working as part of an extended team (Operators and Engineers) within the manufacturing sector.

• Understanding or certificate in pneumatics

• Restricted electrical licence preferred (but not essential)

• Background and or knowledge of ice cream manufacturing.

• Experience of working in laboratories, pilot plant or factory environments

• Experience in Project Management & achieving timeline deadlines.

Desired:

• Strong communication skills.

• Comfortable working with equipment & machinery

• Comfortable operating ice cream machinery.

• Comfortable working under pressure, analyzing situations and providing recommendations

• Enjoys a hands-on practical working environment

• Able to work as part of a supportive processing team

• Eager to learn.

• Inquisitive mindset & positive, proactive can-do attitude

• Able to communicate effectively with other business partners

Leadership Behaviours

Should "meet expectations" on the Standards of Leadership behaviours relevant to the WL of this job.

• Purposeful impact

• Personal mastery

• Consumer love

• Agility

• Passion for high performance

Make no mistake we expect a lot from our people as they do of us. So, if you can rise to the challenge, don't waste any time - apply now!

Unilever embraces diversity and encourages applicants from all walks of life! This means giving full and fair consideration to all applicants and continuing development of all employees regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, marriage and civil partnership, and pregnancy and maternity.

We are committed to making reasonable adjustments to provide a positive, barrier-free recruitment journey. Should you require additional information or reasonable adjustments to allow you to present your best self during this process, please contact anz.talent@unilever.com.

Unilever is an organization committed to equity, inclusion and diversity to drive our business results and create a better future, every day, for our diverse employees, global consumers, partners, and communities.

This means we encourage people with all backgrounds to apply, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, Māori and Pacific Peoples, and people with disabilities. Interested in learning more, check out our Reconciliation Action Plan and Workplace Adjustment Policy on the Unilever webpage.

At Unilever we are interested in every individual bringing their ‘Whole Self’ to work and this includes you! We encourage you to advise us at the time of your application if you require any reasonable adjustment so that we can support you through your recruitment journey.