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.
- Other info: Flexible hours, free parking, and a commitment to inclusion and sustainability.
- 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.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
We are looking for an experienced food professional to step into a high-impact role at an important point in apetito’s growth. This is an opportunity to shape how we optimise, manage and introduce ingredients across the business, delivering real commercial, operational and quality benefits while supporting our expansion into our new Kitchen West production facility. For the first 12–18 months, the role will be embedded in a focused project team, identifying and driving opportunities to improve value, reduce complexity and deliver measurable business benefit without compromising the quality of our food. This will be a demanding, fast-moving phase requiring pace, resilience, strong judgement and the ability to turn opportunity into action. As the project outputs are embedded, the focus of the role will transition into a broader Ingredients Manager remit within the development team. You will lead the introduction and management of raw materials, take line management responsibility for our Food Technologists and NPD Raw Material and Change Control Co-ordinator, and continue to strengthen the way we deliver food technology, specifications and change control support across the business. This role is practical, delivery-focused and hands-on, requiring technical expertise, commercial awareness, project management discipline and the confidence to work through ambiguity. You will evaluate ingredients and materials, work closely with suppliers and internal teams, conduct trials, challenge existing ways of working and drive opportunities through to successful implementation. The role offers significant scope to make a visible difference: simplifying processes, unlocking value, improving consistency, supporting innovation and helping build stronger, more sustainable ways of working for the future. To succeed, you will need a proven track record of delivering cross-functional projects within food manufacturing, balancing cost, complexity, quality and risk in a commercially thoughtful way. Highly organised, energetic and results-focused, you will be able to build structure around complex work, prioritise the opportunities that matter most and translate ideas into measurable, sustainable business benefits. This is a fast-paced, challenging role with business-wide influence and genuine opportunity to bring about lasting change. It will require hard work, pace and determination, but for the right person it offers the chance to help shape how apetito operates and contribute directly to our future success. This role is based at our UK Head Office in Trowbridge Wiltshire. Overview We are looking for an experienced food professional to step into a high-impact role at an important point in apetito’s growth. This is an opportunity to shape how we optimise, manage and introduce ingredients across the business, delivering real commercial, operational and quality benefits while supporting our expansion into our new Kitchen West production facility. For the first 12–18 months, the role will be embedded in a focused project team, identifying and driving opportunities to improve value, reduce complexity and deliver measurable business benefit without compromising the quality of our food. This will be a demanding, fast-moving phase requiring pace, resilience, strong judgement and the ability to turn opportunity into action. As the project outputs are embedded, the focus of the role will transition into a broader Ingredients Manager remit within the development team. You will lead the introduction and management of raw materials, take line management responsibility for our Food Technologists and NPD Raw Material and Change Control Co-ordinator, and continue to strengthen the way we deliver food technology, specifications and change control support across the business. This role is practical, delivery-focused and hands-on, requiring technical expertise, commercial awareness, project management discipline and the confidence to work through ambiguity. You will evaluate ingredients and materials, work closely with suppliers and internal teams, conduct trials, challenge existing ways of working and drive opportunities through to successful implementation. The role offers significant scope to make a visible difference: simplifying processes, unlocking value, improving consistency, supporting innovation and helping build stronger, more sustainable ways of working for the future. To succeed, you will need a proven track record of delivering cross-functional projects within food manufacturing, balancing cost, complexity, quality and risk in a commercially thoughtful way. Highly organised, energetic and results-focused, you will be able to build structure around complex work, prioritise the opportunities that matter most and translate ideas into measurable, sustainable business benefits. This is a fast-paced, challenging role with business-wide influence and genuine opportunity to bring about lasting change. It will require hard work, pace and determination, but for the right person it offers the chance to help shape how apetito operates and contribute directly to our future success. This role is based at our UK Head Office in Trowbridge Wiltshire. 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 Seek and enact a high-impact programme of ingredient, raw material, packaging and finished product opportunities, unlocking measurable benefits in cost, quality, consistency, operational performance and customer proposition. Work in close partnership with Procurement, suppliers, project teams and cross-functional stakeholders to spot opportunities, shape solutions and turn technically and commercially viable ideas into action. Build and manage a clear, energised opportunity pipeline, bringing structure to complex work through defined benefits, plans, timings, dependencies, risks, resource needs and governance. Challenge unnecessary cost, complexity, duplication and over-specification, creating space for smarter ways of working while safeguarding food safety, compliance, product quality, customer expectations and operational performance. Lead hands-on evaluation of ingredients, materials and finished products, using assessment, trials, technical validation and impact analysis to build confidence and drive better decisions. Drive approved changes through specification, change control, data, trial approval and implementation processes, ensuring great ideas are delivered accurately, efficiently and right first time. As the role transitions after 12-18 months, you will also take on responsibility to: Lead the introduction of new and improved raw materials, packaging and finished goods, strengthening range propositions, improving product quality, reducing complexity and creating competitive advantage. Provide clear, practical leadership to the Food Technologists and NPD Raw Material and Change Control Co-ordinator, creating focus, momentum and alignment across priorities, workload, resources and projects. Ensure product information and specifications are delivered with accuracy, agility and compliance with relevant legislation, policies, standards and business requirements. Bring practical expertise and fresh thinking to broader cost optimisation, continuous improvement and business change initiatives, supporting the Head of Product
Ingredients Manager employer: Apetito
At apetito, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work culture that fosters innovation and collaboration. Located near Bristol, our team enjoys competitive day rates, comprehensive benefits, and ample opportunities for professional growth within the exciting field of coldstore automation. Join us to make a meaningful impact in a supportive environment where your expertise is valued.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Ingredients Manager
✨Get Involved with Local Food Networks
Dive into local food science events, workshops, or meetups in your area. Places like farmers' markets or food innovation labs are great for connecting with professionals in the field and learning about part-time opportunities. Who knows, you might even stumble upon a gem like Apetito!
✨Leverage University Resources
If you’re currently studying, tap into your university’s career services for part-time roles specifically in food science. They often have connections with local businesses looking for interns or part-timers, and they can point you towards seasonal hiring periods when companies like Apetito are on the lookout for fresh talent!
✨Show Off Your Skills Online
Consider creating a blog or a social media account dedicated to food science and technology. Share your experiments, recipes or insights—this not only showcases your passion but serves as your portfolio when applying for part-time gigs. Plus, it’s a great conversation starter!
✨Think Outside the Box
Look for part-time roles beyond the usual suspects. Food tech start-ups, food safety organisations, or even NGOs focused on nutrition might offer flexible positions that fit your schedule. And don’t forget to regularly check the careers page of Apetito directly for any part-time openings!
We think you need these skills to ace Ingredients Manager
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Skills in Your CV:When applying for a part-time role in food science and technology, make sure to highlight relevant skills like lab techniques, food safety knowledge, and any experience with quality control methods. It’s handy to include any specific coursework or projects that relate directly to this field. The more relevant skills you showcase, the better your chances of standing out!
Tailor Your Cover Letter with Passion:In your cover letter, share why you are passionate about food science and how this part-time role at Apetito fits into your career goals. We love to see enthusiasm, so mention any relevant experiences, like internships, workshops, or even personal projects, that have sparked your interest in this area. Let them know that you’re eager to learn and grow!
Quick References to Your Projects or Experiences:If you’ve worked on any specific projects, whether in university or during internships, give them a shout-out! Include links or a brief description in your CV or cover letter. This could be anything from research papers you've co-authored to experiments you've conducted. It’s a great way to demonstrate your hands-on experience in food science!
Don’t Forget Certifications!:If you’ve got any certifications relevant to food science, like HACCP or food safety training, make sure to pop those on your CV. These not only bolster your application but also show that you’re serious about the industry. If you don’t have any yet, consider starting one soon—it may even make your application more competitive for part-time gigs like the one at Apetito.
How to prepare for a job interview at Apetito
✨Show Off Your Lab Skills
Make sure you're ready to talk about your practical lab experience. You might be asked about specific techniques or tools you've used in food science, like chromatography or sensory evaluation. We want to see that you’ve got hands-on skills, so bring examples or even a portfolio if you've worked on interesting projects!
✨Think on Your Feet with Scenarios
In the food science field, you might get hypothetical scenarios during the interview. Be prepared for questions like how you’d handle a food safety issue or optimise a product's flavour profile. Practising these types of questions can help us demonstrate our problem-solving abilities and analytical thinking.
✨Highlight Your Passion for Food Innovation
Since it’s a part-time role, let’s emphasise your enthusiasm for food technology and innovation. Share any personal projects or experiences that show your commitment to the field. This can help us connect with the interviewers at Apetito and showcase our motivation beyond just technical skills!
✨Network with Your Peers
Connecting with others in the food science community can give us insights into what's hot in the industry. We can also gather tips from peers about Apetito and what they might be looking for in a candidate. It’s all about making those connections and getting the inside scoop to set us apart!
