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For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Support technical managers in supplier management, product compliance, and quality assessments.
- Company: Join a leading foodservice business with a passion for quality and integrity.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, generous holiday allowance, hybrid working, and staff discounts.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in food safety and quality while collaborating with diverse teams.
- Qualifications: Food Science/Technology degree or relevant experience; strong communication and analytical skills.
- Other info: Great career progression opportunities within a dynamic and supportive environment.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
Job Description
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:
Supplier maintenance:
- 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
- Provide certified product data for customer reporting
- 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.
Benefits:
- 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.
Product Technologist employer: Brakes
Contact Detail:
Brakes 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 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 a candidate who truly cares.
✨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 you're ready to tackle the role of Product Technologist.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. 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 CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the Product Technologist role. Highlight your relevant experience in food safety, quality, and supplier management. We want to see how your skills match what we're looking for!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're passionate about food safety and how your background makes you a great fit for our team. Keep it engaging and personal – we love to see your personality!
Showcase Your Attention to Detail: In this role, attention to detail is key. When filling out your application, double-check for any typos or errors. We appreciate candidates who take the time to ensure their application is polished and professional.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply through our website for the best experience. It’s straightforward and ensures your application gets to us directly. Plus, you’ll find all the info you need about the role and our company there!
How to prepare for a job interview at Brakes
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of food safety, quality, and compliance. Familiarise yourself with the key responsibilities listed in the job description, especially around supplier management and product maintenance. This will show that you're not just interested in the role but also understand what it entails.
✨Show Your Passion
Let your enthusiasm for food and quality shine through during the interview. Share any relevant experiences or projects that highlight your passion for food technology and how it aligns with the company's values. This can really set you apart from other candidates.
✨Prepare Questions
Have a few thoughtful questions ready to ask your interviewers. This could be about their approach to supplier management or how they handle product compliance challenges. It shows that you're engaged and genuinely interested in the role and the company.
✨Demonstrate Your Skills
Be ready to discuss specific examples of how you've used your analytical skills and attention to detail in past roles. Whether it's a project where you improved data accuracy or a time you resolved a complex issue, concrete examples will help illustrate your capabilities and fit for the role.
