The posting
Overview At PepsiCo UK, we’re proud to make some of the nation’s favourite snacks and drinks—like Walkers, Quaker, Doritos, Pipers, and Monster Munch. With sites across the UK, including our Quaker mill in Cupar and Doritos factory in Coventry, we’re also home to one of the world’s largest crisp factories in Leicester. As a Specialist, you will build technical capability across UK manufacturing sites, helping teams strengthen their skills and embed best-in-class operational practices. You will drive loss elimination and ensure consistent deployment of optimisation and operational standards across all technologies, supporting sites in delivering safe, reliable, and efficient performance. You will provide expert coaching and lead problem-solving activities, helping teams identify root causes, remove barriers, and improve ways of working. You will work closely with IWS, Operating Unit, Expert Trainers, and site leadership teams, partnering to deliver performance improvement, elevate training quality, and maintain strong governance of our performance systems. Responsibilities Build technical capability across site teams by coaching, supporting leaders, and helping close gaps in performance and compliance. Deliver and facilitate technical training, ensuring teams follow standard training requirements, competency frameworks, and sign-off processes. Analyse site data for materials and inputs (such as raw ingredients, oils, film, and seasoning) to identify waste and prioritise loss-elimination opportunities. Lead and coordinate problem-solving teams to remove losses and strengthen problem-solving skills across technical and leadership groups. Support major change and transformation projects by providing technical input and ensuring new processes or equipment are implemented successfully. Work closely with cross-functional teams (including Spark, technical excellence teams, and manufacturing operations systems teams) to ensure standards are aligned and consistent ways of working are followed. Carry out site-level governance activities, auditing adherence to performance systems, identifying gaps, and supporting improvement action plans. Reinforce system discipline through coaching, regular health checks, and promoting strong alignment to operational standards across all technologies. Review data insights with your line manager and matrix manager to identify meaningful business decisions, while independently preparing and sharing reports that help influence continuous improvement across the wider team. Qualifications Must have: experience operating hi-speed packing machines. Certification in technical or engineering standards (such as SET) is beneficial but not essential. Confidence working with data, with strong analytical skills and the ability to draw clear insights from information. Experience using structured problem-solving methods, such as Lean Six Sigma or similar approaches. Excellent communication and presentation skills, able to explain complex technical topics in a clear and simple way for non-technical audiences. A proactive, self-motivated approach, comfortable working in complex environments and managing uncertainty. Strong leadership and coaching abilities, with experience developing technical specialists or subject-matter experts. Understanding of performance systems and audit processes, with experience supporting or completing internal or external audits. Why Join Us? We offer a competitive salary, bonus, flexible working, and a wide range of benefits—from critical illness cover and discounted gym memberships to enhanced parental leave and electric car schemes. Our commitment to wellbeing and career growth makes us a Top Employer for 14 years running. Equal Opportunities We’re an equal opportunity employer, committed to the Equality Act 2010. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and will provide any necessary adjustments to support you through the recruitment process. About PepsiCo PepsiCo products are enjoyed by consumers more than one billion times a day in more than 200 countries and territories around the world. PepsiCo generated nearly $92 billion in net revenue in 2024, driven by a complementary beverage and convenient foods portfolio that includes Lay’s, Doritos, Cheetos, Gatorade, Pepsi-Cola, Mountain Dew, Quaker, and SodaStream. PepsiCo’s product portfolio includes a wide range of enjoyable foods and beverages, including many iconic brands that generate more than $1 billion each in estimated annual retail sales. Guiding PepsiCo is our vision to Be the Global Leader in Beverages and Convenient Foods by Winning with pep+ (PepsiCo Positive). pep+ is our strategic end-to-end transformation that puts sustainability and human capital at the centre of how we will create value and growth by operating within planetary boundaries and inspiring positive change for planet and people. For more information, visit www.pepsico.com, and follow on X (Twitter), Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn @PepsiCo.
