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For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a team to innovate and improve food ingredients and products.
- Company: Join apetito, the UK's leading food supplier for health and social care.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, 25 days holiday, and a discretionary bonus scheme.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in food quality and sustainability while driving innovation.
- Qualifications: Degree in food production and experience in product development or quality roles.
- Other info: Flexible hours, free parking, and a commitment to inclusion and sustainability.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
Overview
Part time 30 hours per week, over 4 or 5 days per week.
As Ingredients Manager you will lead and support a team the New Product Development (NPD) team to deliver across two key areas;
- The introduction of new and improved ingredients and finished goods that deliver product excellence, improve value, and drive innovation.
- The delivery of an outstanding Food Technologist support service providing accurate and timely raw material and product specifications, artwork and product information.
This role is ideal for someone withexperience in product development, quality or technical role within food manufacturing.
As a results-driven individual you will be responsible for the overall execution of a dynamic programme of raw material projects to deliver measurable gains in cost reduction, product quality, and operational performance.
You will manage a change control process that enables the successful implementation of raw material, product, and process changes in a timely manner and aligned with all relevant policies and procedures.
You will support your team to deliver product information and specifications with agility, accuracy and in compliance with legislation, policies and standards.
Who we are
apetito is the UK\’s leading food supplier to the health and social care sectors serving more than 1,300 care homes, health care and education settings.
Our meals are expertly crafted by our dieticians and chefs, and then frozen to lock in the goodness.
Wiltshire Farm Foods, our sister company, is the UK\’s largest ready meal supplier cooking and delivering over 330 different delicious frozen ready meals across the UK.
Responsibilities
- Provide hands-on leadership support for NPD team
- Lead a programme assessing and introducing new and improved raw materials and finished goods
- Deliver an impactful programme of cost savings
- Identify and deliver raw material opportunities to improve finished product quality
- Ensure the change control process delivers results with agility and diligence
- Identify new ingredients, packaging and products that strengthen our range propositions and create competitive advantage
- Implement a right-first-time approach to raw material introductions
- Manage team resources, priorities, and project alignment
- Champion continuous process and service improvements
- Support projects assigned by the Head of Product & Process Development
About you
Essential:
- Degree level qualification
- Experience in food production
- Good communication and influencing skills
- Tenacious with the ability to drive projects forward to successful completion
- Can demonstrate commercial awareness
- Confidence to interact with suppliers and stakeholders at all levels
- Good sensory skills
- Sound understanding of food legislation
- Confident team leader with the ability to motivate a high-performing team
- Flexible and resilient – able to adapt priorities to meet business needs
Desirable:
- Experience in product development, quality or technical role within food manufacturing
Company Benefits
- Competitive salary – accredited Living Wage employer
- 25 days holiday per year, plus bank holidays
- Option to purchase up to 5 additional days holiday per year
- Discretionary annual bonus scheme
- Pension scheme – employer matched contributions up to 4%
- Life assurance scheme worth at least 1x annual salary
- Subsidised canteen
- Free parking
- Free turkey or voucher at Christmas
- apetito perks scheme including salary sacrifice options and retail discounts
Our Values
As a family-owned business, we take great pride in being a company that makes a real difference and is dedicated to creating outstanding meals to be proud of.
We develop a range of products designed to enhance health and well-being for all our customers.
We are driven by a passion for service and dedicated to feeding some of the UK’s most vulnerable people.
We proudly support British food and farming, focusing on using the best ethical and sustainable produce in alignment with our goal to reach Net Zero by 2040.
Our ethical standards are recognised by the ETI and we are an accredited Living Wage employer. Learn more about apetito’s commitment to a more sustainable future.
We embrace inclusion, empowering individuals from diverse backgrounds.
Our commitment to making a real difference extends to customers, communities, and staff and we\\\’re on a mission to build an inclusive workplace where everyone reaches their full potential.
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Ingredients Manager employer: apetito
Contact Detail:
apetito Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Ingredients Manager
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to folks in the food manufacturing industry, especially those who work in product development or quality roles. A friendly chat can lead to insider info about job openings that might not even be advertised yet.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! When you get the chance to meet potential employers, whether at a networking event or an interview, bring along examples of your past projects. This could be anything from successful ingredient introductions to cost-saving initiatives you've led.
✨Tip Number 3
Be proactive! If you see a company you’re keen on, don’t wait for them to post a job. Reach out directly through our website and express your interest. A well-timed email can make all the difference!
✨Tip Number 4
Stay updated on industry trends! Follow food tech blogs, join relevant forums, and keep an eye on new ingredients and innovations. This knowledge will not only help you in interviews but also show that you're passionate about the field.
We think you need these skills to ace Ingredients Manager
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the Ingredients Manager role. Highlight your experience in product development and any relevant food manufacturing roles. We want to see how your skills align with our mission at apetito!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're passionate about food innovation and how you can contribute to our NPD team. Let us know what excites you about working with us!
Showcase Your Achievements: When detailing your experience, focus on specific achievements that demonstrate your ability to drive projects forward. We love results-driven individuals, so share those measurable gains you've made in previous roles!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it shows you’re keen to join our team at apetito!
How to prepare for a job interview at apetito
✨Know Your Ingredients
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of raw materials and finished goods. Be ready to discuss how you can introduce new ingredients that enhance product quality and drive innovation. This shows you're not just familiar with the basics, but you're also passionate about improving the product range.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
As an Ingredients Manager, you'll be leading a team. Prepare examples of how you've successfully motivated and guided teams in the past. Highlight your ability to manage resources and priorities effectively, as this will demonstrate your capability to lead the New Product Development team.
✨Understand the Change Control Process
Familiarise yourself with change control processes relevant to food manufacturing. Be prepared to discuss how you've implemented changes in previous roles and the impact it had on product quality and operational performance. This will show that you can handle the dynamic nature of the role.
✨Communicate with Confidence
Good communication is key in this role, especially when interacting with suppliers and stakeholders. Practice articulating your thoughts clearly and confidently. You might even want to prepare a few questions to ask during the interview to demonstrate your engagement and interest in the company’s values and goals.
