Technologist Manager

About Oatside

Oatside is a fast-growing plant-based company committed to producing high-quality, delicious, and sustainable oat-based beverages. As we continue to expand our global manufacturing operations, regional footprint, and technological capabilities, we are looking for world-class technical leaders who are passionate about process engineering excellence, technological innovation, organizational capability building, food safety, and continuous operational improvement.

Role Purpose

The Technologist Manager is a hands-on process technology leader responsible for delivering process performance, yield, and utility efficiency at Oatside’s Chonburi manufacturing site. Reporting to the Head of Processing / Design & Commissioning, this role leads process calculations, line-level optimization, technical troubleshooting, improvement projects, and commissioning trials across upstream and downstream operations, working closely with the Principal Process Technologist, who sets the site technical standards and process technology roadmap.

The position turns engineered process design into stable, efficient daily operation on the factory floor, delivering measurable improvements in throughput, yield, utilities, and conversion cost. It is currently an individual-contributor manager role, with the expectation to lead and develop 1–2 technologists as the Thailand Technologist Organization grows.

Key Responsibilities

• Process Performance & Yield Optimization

·       Process Calculations & Mass Balance: Perform process calculations, mass and energy balances, line capacity checks, and fluid dynamics analysis for upstream (milling, slurry, extraction, enzymatic hydrolysis) and downstream (separation, formulation, UHT, CIP/flushing, filling interface) operations.

·       Line Synchronization & Throughput: Identify and resolve bottlenecks, hold-up losses, and upstream/downstream imbalances on production lines to achieve steady-state operation and target throughput.

·       Yield & Flushing Optimization: Monitor and improve product recovery, flushing water regimes, and product/water interface management to increase yield while reducing water usage and effluent generation.

·       Raw Material Variation Management: Adjust process parameters, enzyme dosing, and milling settings within approved operating windows to manage natural variation in raw oat quality and maintain consistent viscosity, flavor profile, and yield.

·       Process Performance Tracking: Track yield, mass balance, product losses, and utility consumption on a daily and weekly basis, report performance against targets, and escalate deviations early.

• Technical Troubleshooting & Operations Support

·       Process Troubleshooting: Act as the first-line process technical expert for Production, leading investigation of process deviations, product quality issues, and yield losses on the factory floor.

·       Root Cause Analysis: Lead root-cause analysis (5-Why, Fishbone, DMAIC) for recurring process problems and implement corrective and preventive actions together with Production, Engineering, and Quality.

·       Operational Standards & SOPs: Draft and update SOPs, one-point lessons, CIP sequences, and flushing protocols for critical process steps, and submit them for technical endorsement and approval.

·       Operator & Engineer Training: Train production operators and site engineers on process principles, operating windows, troubleshooting guides, and mass balance tools.

• Process Improvement & Cost Reduction

·       Improvement Project Delivery: Plan and execute process improvement projects on enzyme digestion, decanter/separator recovery, CIP cycle time, and line cycle time, each with a clear baseline, target, and verified result.

·       Cost Savings Delivery: Quantify and deliver savings in yield, utilities (steam, water, electricity), CIP chemicals, and product losses that contribute to the site conversion cost per litre target.

·       Business Case Preparation: Prepare cost-benefit and payback analyses for improvement and CAPEX proposals for technical review by the Principal Process Technologist and approval by the Head of Function.

·       Process Monitoring & Digitalization: Work with Automation and IT teams on inline instrumentation and real-time process monitoring (e.g., inline Brix/viscosity) and use process data to improve process stability.

• Commissioning & Technology Transfer Support

·       Design Review Input: Review PFDs, P&IDs, and technical specifications for process modifications and new equipment, providing calculations and technical comments for endorsement by the Principal Process Technologist.

·       Commissioning Trials: Plan and execute process qualification, functional trials, and performance tests during commissioning, and document results against design intent and critical process parameter (CPP) windows.

·       Technology Transfer Execution: Execute scale-up trials from R&D and pilot scale to commercial production, confirm operating windows, and prepare technical handover documentation for site operations.

·       Technical Documentation & IP: Maintain process documentation, CPP records, and the process knowledge repository to protect Oatside’s process IP and support business continuity.

• Safety, Food Safety, Quality & Governance

·       Hygienic Design & Compliance: Ensure process modifications comply with international hygienic design standards (EHEDG, 3-A), food safety regulations, HACCP, GMP, and Oatside internal engineering standards.

·       Process Safety & Risk Assessment: Participate in HAZOP studies, process safety reviews, and risk assessments for new and modified process systems, and close assigned actions on time.

·       Quality & Thermal Validation: Verify that processing parameters deliver the required microbiological lethality, organoleptic quality, and shelf-life stability, and support thermal validation studies.

·       Management of Change (MOC): Initiate and document MOCs for process changes, ensuring all required reviews and sign-offs are completed before implementation.

• People Development & Team Leadership

·       Team Leadership (Future Scope): Lead, coach, and develop 1–2 technologists as the team grows, setting work priorities and supporting their technical growth.

·       Knowledge Sharing: Share process knowledge with peers, engineers, and operators, and support the onboarding of new technologists into the Thailand Technologist Organization.

Qualifications and Experience

·       Education: Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Chemical Engineering, Process Engineering, Food Engineering, Bio-process Engineering, or a closely related engineering discipline.

·       Experience Level: Minimum 8 to 12 years of process engineering, process technology, or technical operations experience in food, beverage, dairy, liquid processing, or plant-based manufacturing industries.

·       Hands-On Process Experience: Direct factory-floor experience in process optimization, troubleshooting, and start-up of batch and continuous liquid processing lines.

·       Technical Expertise: Solid technical knowledge of grain slurry handling, enzymatic hydrolysis, liquid-solid separation (decanters, centrifuges), thermal processing (UHT, pasteurization), formulation, and CIP systems.

·       Process Calculations: Proven ability in mass/energy balances, fluid mechanics, heat transfer calculations, and reading and reviewing PFDs and P&IDs.

·       Project Delivery: Track record of delivering process improvement or capital project work with measurable results, including participation in commissioning and qualification trials.

·       Leadership Experience: Experience coaching junior engineers or leading project teams; formal people management experience is an advantage.

·       Languages: Fluent in English and Thai with strong written, verbal, and technical communication skills.

Technical Competencies

·       Oat & Beverage Process Technology: Strong working knowledge of oat slurry preparation, enzymatic conversion, viscosity control, separation technology, UHT thermal processing, and aseptic processing.

·       Process Calculations & Fluid Dynamics: Proficient in mass balance calculations, fluid flow dynamics, hydraulic balancing, flushing water regimes, and upstream/downstream synchronization.

·       Engineering Documentation: Able to read, check, and comment on PFDs, P&IDs, mass/energy balance sheets, and equipment technical specifications.

·       CIP & Hygienic Engineering: Good understanding of CIP sequence design, chemical concentration management, sanitary piping, and EHEDG / 3-A hygienic design standards.

·       Process Safety & Validation: Working knowledge of HAZOP, thermal lethality validation (Fo/Po values), management of change (MOC), and food safety risk management (HACCP).

·       Problem Solving & Data Analysis: Strong capability in root-cause analysis (RCA, 5-Why, Fishbone, DMAIC), statistical process control, and process data analysis; Six Sigma Green Belt is an advantage.

Behavioral Competencies

·       Hands-On Ownership: High ownership and follow-through, comfortable working on the factory floor and driving issues to closure.

·       Analytical & Data-Driven: Structured thinker who uses data and calculations to diagnose problems and support recommendations.

·       Results Orientation: Focused on delivering measurable improvements in yield, throughput, utilities, and cost.

·       Cross-Functional Collaboration: Works effectively with Production, Engineering, Quality, R&D, Automation, and equipment suppliers to solve problems together.

·       Clear Communication: Explains technical findings clearly and simply to operators, peers, and management in Thai and English.

·       Coaching Mindset: Willing to share knowledge and develop others, with the potential to lead a team as the organization grows.

·       Agility & Growth Mindset: Thrives in a fast-growing, expanding manufacturing environment and is eager to learn new technologies.

Why Join Oatside

·       Be part of a fast-growing, innovative plant-based brand with rapid international expansion.

·       Play a key role in process performance at the Chonburi site, with direct impact on yield, throughput, and cost.

·       Work in a modern, state-of-the-art food manufacturing environment with cutting-edge technology.

·       Grow with the Thailand Technologist Organization, with a clear path to team leadership as it expands.

·       Join a vibrant, collaborative culture that highly values ownership, continuous improvement, engineering mastery, and leadership development.

Equal Opportunity Statement

Oatside is an equal opportunity employer. We value diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all employees are respected, supported, and empowered to contribute their best.