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- Tasks: Join our technical team to ensure food safety and quality compliance.
- Company: Donald Russell is a family-run food business with a rich heritage in butchery since 1974.
- Benefits: Enjoy a supportive work culture, training opportunities, and the chance to make a real impact.
- Why this job: Be part of a company celebrating 50 years of excellence and innovation in the food industry.
- Qualifications: Strong background in food production; relevant training courses required.
- Other info: Opportunity to work with prestigious clients and contribute to exciting new projects.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
Donald Russell is a quality food business with a rich heritage in butchery based in Inverurie, Aberdeenshire. With three key arms to our business, we have been supplying hotel and restaurant groups in the UK since 1974. Our trade export arm exports to markets around the world including Europe and Asia, and we have been selling frozen food direct to consumers for 30 years. Part of Vestey Holdings Limited, we are a family business with strong values that are the foundations of our culture. In 2024, we celebrated 50 years in business, launched a new brand, website and TV advertising campaign. This year we have been awarded the Kings Royal Warrant, restructured our business, and are investing in a new ERP system that will be fully implemented in the next few months.
The successful candidate for this new role will have a strong background working in a food production environment and will be an integral member of the technical team, tasked with ensuring that Donald Russell remains a legally compliant Food Business Operator (FBO) and EC approved plant.
- Operating the supplier approval program, documentation, accreditations, and performance monitoring.
- Responsible for the delivery and reporting of KPI’s on Food Safety and Quality.
- Working in collaboration with the Health and Safety Manager to ensure regular training/refreshing of training and mentoring of the team to improve performance and technical understanding.
- Compliance and verification of labels.
- Identify trends in customer complaints, investigating & reporting weekly.
- Responsible for running product recall and traceability exercises.
- Organoleptic assessment of shelf life.
- Complaint investigation for all Food Safety & Quality issues using root cause analysis.
- Lead the site training plan with regards to food safety, and legislative requirements, including allergens, microbiology awareness and good practice.
- Trend results of environmental swabbing regime and communicate these results to relevant departments in the business and ensure corrective actions are carried out in a timely manner.
- Monitor the microbiological and chemical testing of products to ensure the results are within normal limits.
- Manage external raw material finished goods, packaging and ingredient specifications.
- Implement and maintain Quality Attributes (Inhouse & outsourced), and SOP’s/Recipes.
- Coach and mentor QC staff to drive standards forward.
- Educate and promote food safety and technical standards across the operational teams and coach best practice.
- Competently liaise with suppliers and auditors as required (internally & externally).
- Competently auditing against the defined internal audit schedule and closing out of non-conformances.
- Creation of specifications for all new products and upload to our system both inhouse and outsourced specifications.
Qualifications:
- Internal Auditor Course.
- HACCP Training (AIG).
- Food Labelling e-learning Course (FSA).
- Food Allergy online course (FSA).
- Traceability e-learning course (FSA).
- Root Cause Analysis e-learning Course (FSA).
- Food Allergen Training (FSS).
- Vacuum packing and modified atmosphere packing of food (FSA).
- Level 3 Intermediate Food Hygiene preferred.
Assistant Technical Manager employer: Donald Russell Ltd
Contact Detail:
Donald Russell Ltd Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Assistant Technical Manager
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with the specific food safety regulations and standards relevant to the UK food industry. Understanding the legal compliance aspects will not only help you in the interview but also demonstrate your commitment to maintaining high standards.
✨Tip Number 2
Network with professionals in the food production sector, especially those who have experience in quality control and technical management. Engaging with industry contacts can provide valuable insights and potentially lead to referrals.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare to discuss your experience with supplier approval programs and KPI reporting during the interview. Be ready to share specific examples of how you've successfully managed these processes in previous roles.
✨Tip Number 4
Showcase your ability to coach and mentor teams by preparing examples of how you've improved performance and technical understanding in past positions. This will highlight your leadership skills and fit for the role.
We think you need these skills to ace Assistant Technical Manager
Some tips for your application 🫡
Understand the Role: Read the job description thoroughly to understand the responsibilities and qualifications required for the Assistant Technical Manager position. Tailor your application to highlight relevant experience in food production and compliance.
Highlight Relevant Experience: In your CV and cover letter, emphasise your background in food safety, quality assurance, and any specific training or certifications you possess, such as HACCP or internal auditing. Use concrete examples to demonstrate your expertise.
Showcase Your Skills: Make sure to include skills that align with the job requirements, such as your ability to conduct root cause analysis, manage supplier approvals, and lead training sessions. This will show that you are well-suited for the role.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Write a personalised cover letter that connects your experience and skills to the values and goals of Donald Russell. Mention their recent achievements, like the King's Royal Warrant, to show your enthusiasm for joining their team.
How to prepare for a job interview at Donald Russell Ltd
✨Know Your Food Safety Regulations
Make sure you brush up on the latest food safety regulations and standards relevant to the role. Being able to discuss these confidently will show that you understand the importance of compliance in a food production environment.
✨Demonstrate Your Technical Knowledge
Prepare to talk about your experience with quality control processes, supplier approval programs, and any relevant technical training you've completed. Highlight specific examples where you've successfully implemented or improved these processes.
✨Showcase Your Problem-Solving Skills
Be ready to discuss how you've handled customer complaints or food safety issues in the past. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your answers and demonstrate your analytical skills.
✨Emphasise Team Collaboration
Since the role involves working closely with various departments, be prepared to share examples of how you've collaborated with others in previous roles. Highlight your ability to mentor and train team members, as this is crucial for improving performance and understanding.
