Technical Services Engineer (Packaging Operations)
About the company
Vita Coco, the pioneer in coconut water and the #1 selling coconut water in the US, is a passionate, fun-loving, one of beverage’s fastest growing and most profitable segments. Beyond its impressive hydration and functional benefits, Vita Coco has built a real following in popular culture with celebrities, professional athletes, top-selling musicians, and many more.
The Vita Coco Company is a publicly traded family of brands on a mission to reimagine what’s possible when brands deliver healthy, nutritious, and great tasting products that are better for consumers and better for the world. It all started when our founders, Mike and Ira, had a chance encounter with two coconut water lovers ata bar in New York City. After realizing all the benefits, they hatched a plan to bring more coconut goodness to the U.S with Vita Coco. Buzz around Vita Cocos welled, as coconut water evolved into a mainstay at stores across the country.
In the U.S. Vita Coco is sold at over 75,000 retailers including Whole Foods Market, Safeway, Target, GNC, Kroger, Publix, Ralph’s, Stop & Shop/Giant, Costco, select Wal-Mart stores and many chain and independent groceries and retailers. It is also sold in dozens of U.S. airports and university campuses, as well as online at Amazon.com.
Pioneers in the functional beverage category, today, The Vita Coco Company’s brands include the leading coconut water, Vita Coco, sustainable enhanced water, Ever & Ever, and protein-infused water, PWR LIFT. With its ability to harness the power of people and plants, and balance purpose and profit, The Vita Coco Company has created a modern beverage platform built for current and future generations.
Vita Coco was founded in 2004 and is based in New York City, with operations in Europe and Asia.
Your tasks
In a Nutshell, we’re looking for… A Technical Services Engineer (Packaging Operations) who will be responsible for providing operations support and technical consultancy to strategic co-manufacturing partners. This role will collaborate closely to implement manufacturing excellence, develop and lead maintenance systems, and continuous improvement initiatives. This role will entail about 50% travel, primarily within the Asia Pacific region.
Operations Support
- Provide Technical Support to ensure Quality, Productivity & Costs are optimized in our packaging operations.
- Provide support on building Aseptic Packaging operations expertise throughout our supplier network.
- Support plant trouble shooting and in the resolution of manufacturing related issues.
- Support Vita Coco training program, assessing in-house expertise and identifying actions for a skill development plan for aseptic packaging operations team.
- Work closely with co-manufacturing partners and Corporate HQ in executing new packaging launches and commercialisation of new products.
- Conduct audits of all co-manufacturing facilities to evaluate the manufacturing process and coordinate required follow-up actions.
- Work closely with co-manufacturing partners and QA Team to investigate and resolve product quality or operational issues.
- Supporting the development of robust preventive maintenance system to maintain production efficiency.
Innovation and Improvement
- Support and execute trials with co-manufacturing partners in new product/process development.
- Work together with co-manufacturing partners on product improvements and new product development.
- Perform technical feasibility and manufacturing audits for potential new manufacturing partners and material suppliers.
- Support the technical development to bring new and existing manufacturing partners in compliance with Vita Coco best in class standards.
Project Management
- Support projects involving new plant installations and continuous improvement opportunities.
- Manage overall project timelines to ensure on-time delivery of projects.
- Work closely with co-manufacturing partners to provide technical support during entire project phase.
- Identify project opportunities and lead the execution to strengthening the manufacturing and supply chain operations within our network.
- Identify cost savings opportunities in our co-manufacturing partners and define action plans needed to execute the project and capture the saving opportunities.
Requirements
DESIRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE
- More than 4 years’ technical and operations experience on Tetra Pak aseptic fillers, preferably with more than 2 years in field service engineer role.
- More than 4 years’ experience in food manufacturing industry, preferably in beverages.
- Familiar with factory manufacturing processes and constraints related to low acid food & aseptic beverage production.
- Exposed to food quality requirements such as HACCP, GMP, GSFI, and ISO Systems.
- Excellent oral and written communication skills, interpersonal skills to work effectively in a multi-disciplinary team and across different cultural working ways.
- Willingness to travel around the region (˜50%).