Your Mission
An application specialist at Pirates is responsible for innovating and evaluating products, validating their commercial viability, and delivering customized solutions to address specific customer needs—primarily within industrial bakery, pâtisserie, and chocolate operations.
What you do
Providing specialized technical guidance to commercial bakeries and pastry operations to enhance production efficiency and product quality.
Provide tailored solutions to meet customers’ requirements and facilitate the seamless implementation of products and concepts.
Forging enduring and mutually beneficial alliances with designated accounts is a key responsibility.
Assisting the Director of Research & Development in driving innovation and advancing new product initiatives.
Collaborating with clients to discern their requirements and jointly develop customized solutions that meet their unique needs.
Driving the execution of projects to implement both existing and newly developed products at clients’ operational sites.
Translate Pirates Group’s New Product Development (NPD) guidelines to align with the Kenya market and facilitate the seamless introduction of new products by conducting test baking, preparing samples, and delivering training sessions.
Identifying and mitigating new business opportunities while assessing risks to current portfolios, this role will assist the business development team in achieving their sales objectives.
Working collaboratively within cross-functional teams alongside local Technical, Marketing, and Sales colleagues, as well as engaging with Pirates’s diverse and international global network, is essential. Leveraging collaborative working tools and data analytics will drive effective teamwork and informed decision-making.
Stay abreast of both current and emerging baking and ingredient trends while maintaining an in-depth mastery of all Pirates products.
Establish and nurture enduring, robust connections with customers while concurrently cultivating and sustaining a network of ingredient and equipment specialists, both within Pirates and externally.
What we expect from you
A bachelor’s degree in food science or a closely related discipline is required.
With a minimum of five years of practical expertise in an industrial bakery environment, you bring a strong foundation of operational knowledge and technical proficiency to this role. Your background includes direct involvement in large-scale production processes, ensuring efficiency, quality control, and adherence to industry standards. This experience equips you with the ability to optimize workflows, troubleshoot challenges, and maintain high productivity levels in a fast-paced manufacturing setting.
You possess a genuine enthusiasm for food and a steadfast commitment to prioritizing ethical and sustainable practices for the benefit of the planet and generations to come.
A solid grasp of pâtisserie automation, analytical techniques, and new product development (NPD) processes is essential, along with expertise in ingredient selection to craft and refine nutritious yet delectable products.
Possesses a comprehensive understanding of the roles and interactions between ingredients, additives, and fundamental food chemistry principles.
Proficiency in utilizing professional tools, including Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems, spreadsheets, and presentation software, is required.
Individuals should possess a solid understanding of process operations and equipment functionality, as well as familiarity with finished goods standards and specifications.
Customer-focused with a keen aptitude for fostering business growth and cultivating strategic partnerships.
Proficient in transforming imaginative ideas into compelling end products while adhering to the constraints and standards of an industrial manufacturing setting.
Analytical acumen and a proactive approach to problem-solving are essential.
Exceptional written and verbal communication abilities are essential, with the capacity to engage and motivate customers effectively.
A collaborative team contributor who demonstrates respect for colleagues, a willingness to assist, an open-minded approach, energetic participation, and humility.
Demonstrates strong proficiency in systematic planning and meticulous organization, coupled with an acute focus on detail.
The role requires the capacity for travel as needed.
Qualifications
BA/BSc/HND
Experience Required
5 years
