About the Role
As Value Stream Manager - NPD & Convenience Foods, you will hold end-to-end ownership of Capwell’s NPD and Convenience Foods value stream - covering the Beverage Plant, Ready-to-Eat (RTE) operations, Extrusion and Puffed Snacks, FRK production, and Fried Snack manufacturing.
You will be accountable for the health of the entire stream: its flow, its cost, its quality, its food safety, its people capability, and its ability to absorb and commercialize new products at pace. Reporting to the Head of Manufacturing & Engineering, you will lead a team of supervisors, shift leads, and production operators, and serve as the manufacturing execution lead within Capwell’s NPD Stage-Gate process.
This is a build role. You will bring lean rigour to a manufacturing environment that is growing fast, standardize where standards do not yet exist, and create the operational foundation that allows Capwell to launch new products reliably and at scale.
Key Responsibilities
Value Stream Flow & Lean Leadership
- Map, manage, and continuously improve the end-to-end flow of materials and information through the convenience foods value stream - current-state to future-state
- Drive systematic elimination of waste across the stream using lean tools: takt time management, standard work, visual management, 5S, Kaizen, and pull systems
- Lead daily, weekly, and monthly tier management routines - embedding structured accountability at every level of the stream
- Own the stream’s capacity model and OEE program, identifying top loss contributors and leading focused improvement activities
NPD Commercialization & Scale-Up
- Serve as the manufacturing lead in Capwell’s NPD Stage-Gate process - from feasibility assessment through line trials, process validation, and commercial launch sign-off
- Own the ramp from validated pilot to full commercial production - establishing manufacturing standards, SOPs, yield targets, and quality control points for every new product
- Maintain an NPD pipeline tracker and represent manufacturing readiness at every Stage-Gate checkpoint
Technical & Process Leadership
- Provide deep technical leadership across extrusion processing, puffed snack manufacturing, seasoning and flavouring systems, frying technologies, beverage processing, and RTE food manufacturing
- Optimize process parameters across all lines to improve product quality, throughput, yield, and cost efficiency – working closely with Engineering and Maintenance to drive equipment reliability and planned maintenance compliance
Operational Performance
- Set and deliver performance targets across safety, quality, output, OEE, waste, labour productivity, and cost of manufacture for all plants in the stream
- Drive structured problem-solving (8D, 5-Why, RCA) at all levels - root-causing production losses and quality deviations to permanent resolution
Food Safety & Quality
- Own food safety leadership within the value stream: HACCP, GMP, allergen management, traceability, and food defense – across both established operations and new product trials
- Build systems capable of achieving internationally recognized food safety certifications (FSSC 22000, BRC, KEBS or equivalent)
Cost & Margin
- Own full manufacturing cost accountability across raw materials, utilities, labour, packaging, and waste, with particular rigour on cost-to-manufacture for new products
- Drive yield improvement and waste elimination programs with measurable, sustained impact on manufacturing margin
People & Capability
- Lead, develop, and build a high-performing team of supervisors, shift leads, and operators, with clear accountability frameworks and a strong continuous improvement culture
What We Are Looking For
- 8–12 years of progressive food manufacturing experience, with at least 4 years in a senior value stream, plant, or operations leadership role
- Demonstrated application of Value Stream Management or lean manufacturing in a food or FMCG environment - including value stream mapping, takt time management, and structured waste elimination
- Hands-on technical expertise in snacks, extrusion, convenience foods, RTE, or closely related food categories - essential and non-negotiable
- Proven ownership of NPD commercialization from the manufacturing side - line trials, process validation, yield establishment, and scale-up to full commercial production
- Food safety certification (HACCP minimum; FSSC 22000 or BRC strongly preferred)
- Lean Manufacturing or Six Sigma Green Belt certification is a strong advantage
- Strong cost management capability with measurable impact on manufacturing cost and margin
- Degree in Food Science, Food Technology, Food Engineering, or Industrial Engineering - required
