Specification Technologist in Sittingbourne

A vacancy has arisen in our Technical Department for the position of a Specification Technologist. This is a fantastic opportunity to join our team of passionate and dedicated Technical and QA team at Bennett Opie Ltd.

Reporting to the Senior Specification Technologist, your role will be to support and strengthen the current team and wider business.

You will:

• Develop, manage and maintain finished product specifications.
• Manage and respond to customer or consumer enquiries, requests for information and complaints.
• Assist with the general running and requirements of the Technical Department.
• Create and maintain specifications of the manufactured and imported products including on-line customer specifications to meet the critical path and/or customer requirements ensuring right first time.
• Maintain, review and update live finish product specifications ensuring that all details are up to date.
• Ensure all specifications meet legal requirements, including food safety and labeling regulations.
• Work with suppliers to obtain and manage accurate specification information.
• Liaise with NPD Manager, quality assurance, and other teams to obtain specific product/process information and to ensure all NPD projects are completed successfully.
• Maintain comprehensive records of all specifications and related documentation.
• Audit internal processes to ensure adherence to specifications.
• Address queries and issues related to product specifications.
• Assist the artwork creation for new products, re-design and any amendment requests ensuring critical path is adhered to and any potential issues are communicated to relevant functions in the business to achieve successful launch.
• Approve artwork. Ensure the legality and accuracy of information as part of the sign off procedure.
• Manage the approved label database and upload data as required that supports the finished product labeling operation.
• Manage time-critical assignments that involve varying degrees of complexity.
• Assist in maintaining finish product integrity list. Maintain information for all current SKUs and update with new/re-design lines ensuring all brand integrity claims meet customer requirements.
• Develop and manage customer database technical information (score cards, alert notes etc.) and communicate this information to the relevant departments within the Company.
• Provide technical support to customers including e-form, KPI's, customer specification forms and completing Bennett Opie SAQ.
• Manage the company's customer complaint system.
• Assist in completing new line forms.
• Coordinate the internal audit system.
• Raise and manage imported goods non-conformances.
• Ensure Organic/Fairtrade compliance with relation to updating MIPS/SIPS and the Trading Schedule.
• Complete traceability, GMP and Systems audits as required.
• Complete traceability with non-GFSI certified raw material suppliers.
• Assist completion and maintenance of the supplier risk assessment and approval process and maintain approved supplier registers. Ensuring that all information is accurate, up to date and appropriate to enable management of the risk posed by each supplier.
• Assist ingredients and packaging risk assessments and approval process and maintain the approved ingredient and packaging registers.
• Contribute to customer audits and visits; to ensure the customer interface internally and externally are managed professionally and in a timely manner.
• Respond to general technical enquiries and complete any reasonable additional tasks to support business needs as required.
• Help with cover during holiday/sickness.

The ideal candidate will have relevant experience, a proven record of achievement, experience with retailer specification writing, excellent IT skills, communication skills, will be self-motivated, highly organised, have an ability to prioritise and will need to work to tight deadlines.

The successful candidate will have:

• Good level of education GCSE Grade C or above in English and Mathematics.
• Exemplary communication skills both verbally and written.
• Previous experience in food sector administrative role.
• Excellent attention to detail.
• Enthusiastic and willingness to learn.
• Ability to follow instructions and procedures.
• Have a flexible can-do attitude with a solution-focused nature.
• Have a passion for food, food safety and working as a team.
• The Right to Work in the UK (without Sponsorship requirements).

This position is office based, 35 hours per week, 9am – 5pm Monday to Friday with 1 hour unpaid lunch break. NO weekends.

The benefits include working with supportive colleagues, a salary of £28,000.00 to £31,000.00 per annum depending on experience, 25 days annual leave plus Bank Holidays, EAP, Perks for Work, and a discretionary Company Bonus (eligibility period applies). Working for a Family Run Company that has operated for in excess of 145 years, where you are a person and not a number.

Please note; we are unable to offer Sponsorship. The Company reserves the right to remove, amend, pause or close this vacancy at any time. We thank every applicant for their interest in our organisation, however, only those who are selected for interview will be contacted.

Job Types: Full-time, Contract

Pay: £28,000.00-£31,000.00 per year

Benefits: Cycle to work scheme, Employee discount, Free parking, On-site parking.

Ability to commute/relocate: Sittingbourne ME10: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (required).

Application question(s): Do you have previous experience within a similar role? Do you hold any specification experience within other sectors?

Education: GCSE or equivalent (required).

Experience: Food Sector Administration: 2 years (required), Administrative: 4 years (required), Food safety: 1 year (preferred).

Language: Fluent English (required).

Work authorisation: United Kingdom (required).

Location: Sittingbourne ME10 (preferred).

Work Location: In person.