Supplier and Raw Material Technical Manager
Location – Sittingbourne
Salary – £50,000 - £55,000 depending on experience
Hours – Monday to Friday 8.30am – 5pm with some flexibility to meet business needs
Minimum of 3 years’ experience in a Food Safety role with a Retail or Manufacturing background. Minimum level 3 in HACCP and Food Safety; level 4 desirable.
The Role
Own supplier approval and relationships, raw-material and packaging assurance, supplier specifications and incoming-material controls
Reporting to the Head of Group Technical the role will be based at the main office but will involve travel to other COOK and supplier sites. Some remote working may be possible and the role will require close collaboration with other stakeholders across the business and externally.
What you will be doing: Accountabilities:
- Lead Supplier Specification Technologist
- Supplier approval, due diligence and technical relationships, including supplier onboarding and maintenance of approval status in collaboration with Procurement.
- Ensuring raw material and packaging specifications and approved and maintained.
- Ensuring that all supplier due diligence is maintained including proactive review of CoC/CoA to identify risks.
- Support packaging and material assurance activities including packaging migration and suitability assessments.
- Accountable for ensuring delivery of VACCP testing regimes and reporting of results.
- Identifying continuous improvement opportunities across the remit.
- Input into Group Tech budget proposal to deliver our strategy.
Main responsibilities:
- Review and approval of supplier and specifications for externally manufactured product specifications.
- Further develop supplier due-diligence processes including financial/Companies House checks to identify supply continuity and potential brand/reputational risks.
- Conduct Supplier and raw-material risk assessments, feeding into the Supplier audit risk-based schedule.
- Conducting supplier audits, reporting and supporting closure of corrective actions.
- Conduct VACCP assessments including ingredient authenticity/adulteration and food-fraud risks and devising appropriate testing regimes.
- Lead and develop goods in processes and assessment criteria.
- Maintain traceability and supporting supplier documentation for export, customer due diligence and product issues.
- Ingredient suitability and sourcing for clean-label work with Procurement and Food.
- Provide Group Technical representation at quality meetings; ensure resulting actions are controlled and tracked.
- Constantly seek opportunities for system improvement and champion efficiency and effectiveness.
Safety:
- To be an effective member of the team by adhering to all food safety controls, processes and instruction and ensuring that you lead others wherever required and to take responsibility for the safety of yourselves and others, adhere to all safety instructions and seek to improve standards wherever necessary.
Good To Have
- Experience ofSupplier management in a retail and/or food manufacturing environment and a comprehensive knowledge of quality systems.
- Self-starter with great attention to detail.
- Able to communicate effectively at all levels.
- Organised and used to managing your own deadlines/taking initiative.
- HACCP and Food Safety level 3 minimum; level 4 desirable.
- Background in Retail or Manufacturing.
- Minimum of 3 years’ experience in a Food Safety role.
If you tick most of these boxes but not all—don’t stress. We’re all about potential.
Excellent Benefits including
- Additional leave
- Casual dress
- Company events
- Company pension
- Cycle to work scheme
- Discounted or free food
- Employee discount
- Employee mentoring programme
- Free flu jabs
- Life insurance
- On-site parking
- Paid volunteer time
- Profit sharing
- Referral programme
- Sick pay
- Store discount
- Work from home
What Cook is About
We’re a proudly independent, family-owned B Corp, which basically means we care. A lot. About our food. About our people. And about doing the right thing—even when it’s not the easy thing.
Our vision for COOK has always been that we are a place where EVERYONE is welcome. We want everyone to feel like they belong at COOK. We all have different roles, different abilities and different personalities. By collaborating we can do remarkable things. Whatever your story, if you would like to grow with COOK.
Technical Manager Supplier and Raw Material in Sittingbourne employer: Cook Trading Limited
At COOK, we pride ourselves on being more than just a food retailer; we are a community hub where our Retail Team members play a vital role in creating a welcoming atmosphere for customers. Located in Didcot, we offer excellent benefits such as paid breaks, staff discounts, and opportunities for personal growth within a B-Corp-certified business that values sustainability and community engagement. Join us to be part of a supportive work culture that celebrates diversity and encourages collaboration, making every day at COOK a rewarding experience.
