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- Tasks: Support technical managers in supplier management and product compliance while ensuring food safety.
- Company: Join Brakes, the UK's largest foodservice supplier with a passion for quality food.
- Benefits: Generous holiday allowance, discounts on food, and career progression opportunities.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in food safety and quality while working in a collaborative environment.
- Qualifications: Food Science/Technology degree preferred; relevant experience also welcome.
- Other info: Diverse and inclusive culture where your unique talents are celebrated.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
Brakes are currently recruiting for a Product Technologist to join the team on a full time, permanent basis. The role is based at our Ashford office and reports to the Head of Product Technology. It will be your responsibility to provide support to the technical managers in delivering effective supplier management, product compliance, and due diligence.
This role is offering a hybrid working contract,with 1-2 days per week in our Ashford, Kent office for Team Collaboration, so you must be in a commutable distance and open to travel.
Key Accountabilities & Responsibilities:
- Issue and review performance scorecards
- Monitor GFSI status, responding to changes and maintaining data
- Monitor supplier SEDEX membership status, review risk reports and audit outcomes
- Ensure supplier and site contacts are up to date in relevant systems
- Monitor supplier and site (non-GFSI) certification status that may impact on chain of custody or product claims
- Monitor and report on audit status
Product maintenance:
- Ensure routine specification reviews are completed
- Review specifications to pack copy generation stage
- Undertake product quality assessments
- Review artwork proofs
- Issue and review product scorecards to verify policy compliance
Certification maintenance:
- Ensure certified product lists are maintained
- Complete mass balance exercises for certified ranges
- Complete internal certified claim validations
Other activities:
- Support complaint and rejection investigation with suppliers, as necessary
- Flexibility to support multiple categories on projects, as necessary
- Gather product or ingredient data from suppliers in support of customer requests, policy development etc.
- Support technical managers with specification and artwork progression, as necessary
- Provide first line cover for technical managers in responding to category team and supplier queries.
- Using the Assure database to maintain product and supplier data, conduct spec audits and carry out database searches as appropriate.
- Attend product panels where required.
- Support TM in resolving issues as they arise.
- Support TM in delivering specific projects as they arise.
About you:
The ideal candidate must have a technical background, and have a full understanding within a food service / fast-paced technical team (QA/QC) with a relevant degree in Food Science/Technology. You will be able to demonstrate a good understanding of category and procurement strategies and be able to prioritise your workload and work well under pressure. This is a key role to ensure all customer complaints are investigated thoroughly so effective communication and interpersonal skills are essential. Ideally, you’ll have good analytical skills to review data and highlight any common trends or patterns to reduce any further complaints or incidents. If you enjoy working closely with suppliers and customers, this is a great role where you will take full accountability and control to ensure the best outcome is always achieved.
- Early Access to Your Earnings: Use our dedicated Wage Stream app to access your earned salary whenever you need it, helping you manage your finances with ease and confidence.
- Flexible Time Off: Take advantage of the option to purchase additional annual leave.
- Comprehensive Wellbeing & Health Support: Benefit from our Employee Assistance Programme, offering confidential mental health support, 24/7 GP appointments, physiotherapy, flu vaccinations, eye tests and a wide range of health services for you and your family.
- Competitive Pension Scheme: Secure your future with our robust pension plan designed to help you plan long term.
- Life Assurance: Peace of mind with life assurance coverage designed to protect you and your loved ones.
- Exclusive Discounts: Enjoy access to Sysco Perks, where you’ll find discounts on everything from gym memberships to your weekly grocery shop.
- Special Sysco Product Discounts: Get the chance to purchase our food products at significantly reduced prices.
- Free Mortgage Advice: Navigate the property market with confidence thanks to complimentary expert mortgage guidance.
- Enhanced Family-Friendly Leave: Our policies support you through important life moments, offering greater flexibility and care for you and your family.
Additional Information
At Brakes everyone is welcome. We don’t want you to ‘fit our culture’ we want you to help define it and we actively celebrate the unique talents of each and every colleague. We don’t just look at your CV, we’re more focused on who you are and your potential. As part of our values, we are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive culture where everyone has a voice, is appreciated and has the same opportunities. We work hard to ensure that everyone feels part of our business, as we care for one another and connect the world through food and trusted partnerships. Our ultimate goal is to ensure that everyone belongs and thrives at Brakes and we recognise that Brakes can only thrive when everyone feels they belong. We\’ll do everything we can to support you during your application. If you need us to make any adjustments to our recruitment process, speak to our resourcing team who will be happy to support you.
Brakes
Built on a passion for food and feeding the nation, we are the UK’s largest foodservice supplier. Every day Brakes deliver the highest quality fresh and frozen food and ingredients from our nationwide network of distribution centres to some of the nation’s most famous pubs and restaurants, as well as schools, caterers, care homes and hospitals. Our customers depend on us, and our 8,000-strong workforce is dedicated and proud to be part of this vital provision. And we’re growing!
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Product Technologist employer: Brakes Food Shop
Contact Detail:
Brakes Food Shop Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Product Technologist
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the industry, attend events, and connect with potential colleagues on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its products. Understand their values and how they align with your passion for food safety and quality. This will help you stand out as someone who truly cares about what they do.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your responses to common interview questions, especially those related to supplier management and product compliance. Being articulate about your experiences will show that you're ready to tackle the challenges of the role.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in joining our team at Brakes.
We think you need these skills to ace Product Technologist
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Product Technologist role. Highlight your relevant experience in food safety, quality, and compliance, as well as any technical skills that align with what we're looking for.
Show Your Passion: We love candidates who are passionate about food! Share your enthusiasm for the industry and how it drives you to ensure quality and safety in products. This will help us see your fit within our team.
Be Clear and Concise: When writing your application, keep it straightforward. Use clear language and avoid jargon unless it's relevant. We appreciate a well-structured application that makes it easy for us to see your qualifications.
Apply Through Our Website: Don’t forget to submit your application through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it’s super easy to do!
How to prepare for a job interview at Brakes Food Shop
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of food safety, quality, and compliance. Familiarise yourself with the GFSI standards and SEDEX membership requirements, as these are crucial for the role. Being able to discuss these topics confidently will show that you're serious about the position.
✨Show Your Passion
Brakes is looking for someone who is genuinely passionate about food and its integrity. Be prepared to share examples of how you've demonstrated this passion in your previous roles or experiences. This could be through projects, studies, or even personal interests related to food technology.
✨Communicate Clearly
Since you'll be working collaboratively across different functions, strong communication skills are a must. Practice articulating your thoughts clearly and concisely. You might even want to prepare a few questions to ask during the interview to demonstrate your engagement and interest in the team dynamics.
✨Be Ready to Adapt
The role requires flexibility and the ability to multi-task. Think of examples from your past where you've successfully adapted to changing circumstances or handled multiple priorities. This will help illustrate your capability to thrive in a dynamic environment, which is key for success at Brakes.
