Application Specialist

Puratos; Fringford; On-site; GBP 50,000; Full time

Job description

Do you have the appetite to Grow Your Magic? For Puratos UK, based in Fringford, we are looking for a Application Specialist.

Mission: Develop business at major industry key accounts by leveraging top-tier technical expertise.

Collaboration: Work closely with business development teams to manage projects, propose innovative solutions, and troubleshoot issues for large account customers.

Innovation: Partner with R&D managers to contribute to new product development and formulation.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES

• Partnering with our customers to understand their needs and co-create tailored solutions.
• Evaluate, analyse and interpret our customers’ technical problems, proposing and developing solutions alongside them.

Develop inspirational finished goods and concepts:

• Product development of finished goods and demonstration from lab trials through to scale-up on plant.
• Identifying and managing new business opportunities and risks to existing portfolios.
• Participate in strategic exercises to develop key account plans, in close collaboration with the key account manager.
• Technical Point of Contact (TPOC) for specified customer accounts.

Build and share knowledge and experience:

• Develop and share expertise in industrial ingredients, manufacturing technologies and equipment.
• Understanding what, why and how to use ingredients to create and ameliorate healthy and delicious products.
• Mastery of process automation from in-store bakery (ISB) to full plant scale.

New product development and innovations:

• Translate guidelines and new developments from head-quarters towards the local market.
• Translation of creative concepts into inspirational finished goods within the framework of an industrial production environment.
• Explaining complex technical concepts in simple terms to educate and stimulate.
• Organise and/or give training sessions to R&D, Sales & Marketing teams.
• Look for relevant industrial equipment that can be used in the IC.
• Assure high quality work by designing standardised product testing protocols.
• Covering for R&D manager when required.

Network building:

• Frequent large account customer visits to maintain a strong relationship with the technical teams.
• Operate in a cross-functional team with our Marketing, Operations and Sales colleagues.
• Develop and maintain a network of ingredient and equipment experts, industrial machinery manufacturers, professional bakery/patisserie organisations in Puratos and externally.

WHO ARE WE LOOKING FOR?

We're on the hunt for a dynamic opportunity creator! Someone who is persistent, resilient, and has the knack for turning a "no" into a "yes." We need a relationship builder who excels both internally and externally, and truly understands the power of positive customer engagement.

The successful candidate will:

• Have at least 5 years’ experience working in Industrial or In-Store Bakeries.
• Proven understanding of the role and relationships of food ingredients.
• Be able to travel in the UK and occasionally abroad (30% on average).
• Be open to flexible working hours.
• Be computer literate (primary usage: Microsoft Office Suite and SAP tools).
• Hold a Drivers’ license and a Basic Food Hygiene Certificate.
• Presentation skills to promote ideas and products.
• Good knowledge on process & equipment and finished goods.
• Customer oriented, with strong sense for business development.
• Willing to share knowledge with colleagues and customers.

WHY WOULD YOU JOIN PURATOS?

You will be welcomed in a dynamic, entrepreneurial work environment where passion for innovation, team spirit and continuous improvement are key. You will have responsibilities and the possibility to take ownership of your work and grow yourself.

In addition, you can count on attractive benefits such as:

• A competitive salary package up to £50,000 based on experience which is reviewed on an annual basis.
• BUPA healthcare, single cover paid by Puratos with the option to add family members at a cost to you.
• Pension – 3.5% employee with 5% employer or 5% employee with 7.5% employer contributions.
• Life Assurance – 2 x salary and 20% spouse pension.
• Perkbox – online discount platform and wellbeing Hub.
• Cycle to Work scheme.
• Rewarding career and growth potential worldwide.
• Continuous training in product technology and business principles.

Puratos has been developing innovative products for the bakery, patisserie and chocolate industry since 1919, the group’s annual turnover now exceeds 3€ billion. We believe that Food innovation is energy for good. That is why we are constantly striving to grow our positive impact with the creation of innovative food solutions that promote health & well-being and steadily move businesses, customers, people, and the planet forward. We help customers be successful with their business, by turning technologies and experiences from food cultures around the world into new opportunities. Together, we improve the lives of people and protect the planet.