Chris Bryant

Experience

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  Heinz Wattie's - An HJ Heinz Company

  Sept 1998 - Dec 2001

  • Product Development Technologist

    Mar 2000 - Dec 2001

  • Thermal Process Technologist

    Sept 1998 - Feb 2000
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  HJ Heinz

  Apr 2006 - Dec 2007

  April 2007 – December 2007; May – July 2010: Technical Services Manager.Managed and motivated a Technical Service team of 3 people and was responsible for planning, organising and directing the activities of the department at Heinz UK. With over 20 projects running simultaneously, my role included facilitating and tracking project statuses, problem-solving, cost-benefit analysis, allocating appropriate resources, balancing staff workloads, and ensuring services were completed on schedule and at the highest levels of quality. I gained comprehensive project management skills, and developed skills in reporting efficiently and effectively to all areas of the company. Show less I have successfully launched new products, commissioned new equipment, and completed multiple profit and process improvement projects within the Food Industry – all too strict cost, time and quality constraints. - Supported and managed Supply Chain and Quality Assurance initiated projects including feasibility, prototyping, factory scale-up and trials, technical sign-off, initial production and implementation.- Successfully developed and launched new products such as Heinz ‘Farmers Market’ chilled soups, KFC BBQ Beans and Heinz spicy beans range in the UK.- Liaised and cooperated with technical and commercial colleagues throughout Heinz and Watties – including co-packers and contractor facilities in order to manufacture new products and run Technical Services department.- Responsible for communicating project status information to the main stakeholders, running cost-benefit analysis, allocating appropriate resources, balancing staff workloads, problem-solving, and ensuring services were completed on schedule and at the highest levels of quality and safety. Show less

  • Technical Services Manager

    Apr 2007 - Dec 2007

  • Product Development Technologist

    Jun 2004 - Mar 2007

  • European Marketing & Innovation Team – Developer/Trainer (Secondment)

    Apr 2006 - Sept 2006
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  Self Employed

  Jan 2008 - Aug 2011

  Band Manager | Professional Musician

  Self-employed – Band Manager & Professional Full Time MusicianResponsible for the management, administration and delivery of services to clients for a 3-piece function band. Through market research and strategic planning I have successfully promoted a covers band from being ‘pub’ entertainment to being professional function entertainers. Developed and employed Social Media and Search Engine Optimisation marketing tactics to maximize the band’s exposure to new venues and to new clients. Performing as a solo musician and fronting a covers band has developed my confidence in engaging a crowd from 80 people to 800 people. Show less

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  Heinz Wattie's - An HJ Heinz Company

  Sept 2011 - Jul 2012

  Contractor - Product Development Technologist

  Integral role in developing a range of rich instant soups from brief to launch. Developing recipes and costing’s to match existing Australian made Quick Serve Meals (QSM), and tendering for further Australian business.

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  Groenz Limited

  Aug 2012 - Jan 2016

  Product Development Manager

  - Defined, planned and implemented project goals and milestones, delivering objectives to strict budgets, deadlines and service level agreements.- Work closely with the wider team to solve complex problems and develop customer specific solutions, considering key internal and external stakeholder groups and the various /changing stakeholder demands and requirements.- Support, coach and coordinate the RD&I project team, ensuring successful implementation of each element of the project in line with specified milestones and budget.- Monitor project progress and provide regular reports and metrics regarding the status of each product- Liaised with wider teams such as Operations and Finance departments to coordinate resources, create project schedules.- Act as the project interface between all relevant parties including the client, the internal business and departments.- Collaborate with Quality and Supply Chain to ensure each product is completed to standard and obtains the relevant approvals and meets regulations.- Balance priorities with competing workloads, projects, and miscellaneous ad hoc requests from across the company. Show less

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  J H Whittaker & Sons Ltd

  Feb 2016 - Jul 2019

  - Work with key stakeholders to define project requirements, implement plans, performance indicators, goals and delivery milestones.- Lead project activities to ensure deadlines and milestones are met, delivering project schedule updates at regular management meetings.- Identify and resolve all project discrepancies and issues, ensuring the project continues to run to time and to budget.- Ensure compliance with internal policies and procedures, considering the direct impact of each element of the project and suggesting amendment’s where applicable.- Recommend and implement action plans to improve technical performance and to meet the business goals of both new and existing products.- Translate company strategies into actionable requirements for product development.- Collaborate with all internal departments to ensure product launch and operational readiness. Show less

  • Continuous Improvement Technologist

    Jan 2018 - Jul 2019

  • NPD Process & Project Manager

    Feb 2016 - Jul 2019
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  Groenz Limited

  Aug 2019 - Apr 2022

  Research, Development and Innovation Manager

  - Deliver portfolio of business critical and complex business projects through cross-functional teams.- Manage the full project lifecycle including defining, documenting, planning, tracking and project completion.- Engage with key stakeholders (Procurement/Operations/Quality/Finance/Sales & Marketing) to leverage scale-expertise, ensure alignment to company goals, support and maximise opportunities.- Authorise and control specialist work of development team from table top design to factory scale up.- Prepare and submit accurate cost estimates and analysis for internal and external customers.- Manage all project meetings, driving key team members to make appropriate key decisions, grant relevant authority approval and escalating risks and issues as required.- Complete regular project reviews and documentation to ensure all work is carried out according to project plans, required quality standards and food safety standards and regulations.- Continually refine NPD Stage Gate processes from Concept to Launch utilising Workfront (Project Management software) to include Gate Keeping, Costings and Material approvals.- Go-between for interpreting customer’s requirements and translating these to technical teams and vice versa. Show less

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  Fix & Fogg

  Aug 2022 - Oct 2023

  Business Operations Manager

  Primary accountabilities include Project Management, Quality, Food Safety, Health & Safety, Continuous Improvement, Manufacturing Performance (OEE):- Develop and implement project schedules, milestone maps and deliverable requirements to ensure that inter-departmental obligations are managed and met.- Ensure projects are completed on schedule, within budget, in accordance with customer requirements and meeting all applicable quality and food safety standards and regulations.- Collaborate with supervisory personnel, contractors and suppliers to discuss and resolve risks and issue such as work procedures, customer complaints and quality issues.- Contribute to the strategic direction of the business and operational strategy including continuous improvement of existing operating practices, manufacturing performance, and quality.- Employ budgeting practices and process to monitor manufacturing costs and ensure projects are cost efficient with a focus on margin improvement.- Owner of Food Safety and legal compliance of manufacturing materials and finished goods.- Help F&F to be at the forefront of sustainability, environmental and community-based measures, including upkeep of B Corp and Non-GMO certification. Show less

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  Navigate Food - Food Technology Consultants

  Oct 2023 - now

  Food Technology Consultant