Process Technologist - Pilot Plant Lead (Minto)

Who we are? 

The Ice Cream division at Unilever is preparing to stand on its own, aiming to become an independent, EUR 8.3 billion publicly listed company by the end of 2025. We’re on a mission to create the ultimate snacking company.​ A place where growth, innovation, founder and ownership mentality, and performance are cultivated and rewarded. And where we craft extraordinary ice cream experiences - transforming ordinary moments into lasting memories.​ Because we know, life tastes better with ice cream.​

About The Magnum Ice Cream Company:

The Magnum Ice Cream Company is all about growth. Growing our business. Growing our customers’ businesses. Growing our people’s careers.​ Growth begins with empowerment. So we free our people to be innovative, responsible entrepreneurs, driven and equipped to give our consumers more amazing products and unforgettable moments – and having fun doing it.​  

With 19.000 expert ice cream colleagues and iconic brands like Wall’s, Cornetto and Ben & Jerry’s, loved in 76 countries, we are the world’s largest Ice Cream company leading the industry.  We have been taking pleasure seriously for more than 100 years, serving happiness with every lick or scoop of ice cream for generations.  

We are investing to unlock the full growth potential of The Magnum Ice Cream Company as a standalone entity, once we separate from Unilever, which is planned to happen before the end of 2025.  

We dream big but keep things simple to act fast.​ 

If you want to grow with us, make an impact, and shape the future of Ice Cream, this is the place for you! 

Job Summary

The Magnum Ice Cream Company 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 – Pilot Plant Lead. In this role you will be responsible for the operation, 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 equipment.

• 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.

• Coordinate maintenance activities with relevant service providers for pilot plant equipment.

• Support the development of world class factory products within the pilot plant.

• Ensuring the safe operation of equipment within the pilot plant.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

What you will need to succeed?

Experiences & Qualifications

• 3+ years of business experience, preferably cross-functional.

• FMCG experience.

• Strong customer facing experience and proven track record is a must.

Skills

• Strong communication skills.

• Ability to write reports and analyse data.

• Comfortable working under pressure, analysing situations and providing recommendations.

• 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 cross-functional business partners.

• Enjoys a hands-on, practical working environment.

• Strong Mechanical Aptitude.

Leadership

• Minimum 4 years machine operating experience in a factory environment.

• R&D or Supply Chain experience in FMCG or other industry sectors (e.g. Pharmaceutical).

• Knowledge of batch & continuous processing for ice cream or foods is desirable.

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

• Experience of working and problem solving in a laboratory, pilot plant or factory environment would be advantageous.

• Background and or knowledge of ice cream manufacturing.

• Comfortable working with manufacturing equipment & machinery (specifically ice cream machinery – desirable).

What you can expect?

• A unique mix of global scale & start-up spirit—€8.3bn powerhouse with an agile, entrepreneurial mindset. We’re building a new high growth Ice Cream company from the ground up. ​

• Career without limits—42 markets, international opportunities, and fast tracked growth. ​

• A performance-driven culture—Freedom to act, disrupt and grow – your success is measured by impact.​

• A company that celebrates joy, innovation, and purpose—We create extraordinary careers, just like our ice cream creates extraordinary moments.

Are you excited to craft the Ice Cream future?

To apply, you must do so online. Please do not forget to upload your CV and a motivation letter.  

Your application will be reviewed against our requirements, and we will be in touch shortly after the closing date to provide you with an update on the status of your application.

As publicly announced, Unilever will separate its Ice Cream business which is expected by the end of 2025. This role will transfer to the new Ice Cream company.

For the recruitment of this position, we would like to emphasize that local conditions apply to the position.

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.