Manager Technical Services

AdvancePierre Foods•Claremont, NC

About The Position

The Manager Technical Services provides leadership and technical direction for Research and Development Technical Services at assigned manufacturing facilities and co-manufacturers. The role serves as the subject matter expert for assigned processes and owner of manufacturing instructions, leading plant commercialization, process validation, and continuous improvement in partnership with R&D Scientists, Operations, Engineering, Quality, and external suppliers. The position supports safe, reliable, and cost-effective manufacturing execution, business growth, innovation, and operational excellence. The manager provides technical support to manufacturing teams, leads structured problem-solving for quality and manufacturing issues, and helps ensure products are manufacturable and processes are capable. The role also supports equipment and technology evaluation, manufacturing data and digital initiatives, and special projects. Travel to manufacturing facilities is required based on assignment and business needs and may exceed 25%. Management and supervisory responsibilities may apply depending on assignment.

Requirements

BS, MS, or PhD in Food Science, Meat Science, Food Engineering, or a related field; alternatively, at least 5 years of relevant experience without a degree.
At least 5 years of experience in food manufacturing, R&D, technical services, or process engineering.
Demonstrated experience supporting plant commercialization, process validation, and manufacturing operations.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office or equivalent software.
Strong verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to explain technical information clearly to technical and non-technical audiences.
Effective collaboration and stakeholder engagement capabilities.
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
Ability to work independently while influencing cross-functional teams.
Solid understanding of food processing equipment and manufacturing systems.
Willingness to travel to manufacturing facilities as required; travel may exceed 25% based on assignment and business needs.
Ability to work in manufacturing environments, including lifting up to 40 pounds and exposure to plant conditions.
Ability and willingness to perform the physical requirements of the job, with or without reasonable accommodation.

Nice To Haves

Bakery manufacturing experience.
Experience with manufacturing systems, data platforms, and digital tools.

Responsibilities

Serve as the subject matter expert for assigned manufacturing processes and products.
Own and maintain manufacturing instructions, including equipment, process settings, and cook/oven parameters.
Lead and oversee process validation, plant trials, and commercialization activities.
Support first production, new product introductions, and ongoing plant execution.
Provide technical support to manufacturing teams for problem resolution and operational challenges.
Lead structured problem-solving for product quality and manufacturing issues using data analysis and plant trials.
Partner with R&D Scientists to ensure manufacturability and process capability during product development.
Execute and support cross-qualifications, specification change qualifications, and line validations.
Support new line start-ups, automation projects, repatriations, co-manufacturing transitions, and new plant start-ups.
Drive process improvements, specification optimization, and cost-reduction initiatives.
Apply food science and process technology principles to improve yield, quality, and consistency.
Support capital planning by advising on equipment selection, design, and resource needs.
Collaborate with engineering teams and external equipment suppliers to evaluate and validate new technologies.
Conduct routine manufacturing instruction audits to ensure accuracy and data integrity.
Use systems such as NPD, Global Specification Management (GSM), and DevEx.
Support data and digital initiatives, including manufacturing instruction design and cleansing for enterprise platforms.
Travel as needed to support assigned and unassigned facilities based on business priorities.
Lead or support special projects and other duties as assigned.
Demonstrate responsible use of approved AI tools, including safeguarding sensitive information, following company policies, and validating outputs; people leaders are also expected to enable responsible adoption and ensure accountability for AI-supported outcomes.