Specification Technologist in Bury

Cranswick Country Foods PLC is a FTSE 250 listed British food business known for strong, sustained growth and significant investment of over £125m in the last five years to remain at the forefront of the industry. The company supplies the UK’s leading retailers, restaurants, and food-to-go chains with products such as fresh pork, gourmet sausages, cooked meats, air-dried bacon, sandwiches, savoury pastries, and a wide range of continental meats, cheese, olives, and antipasti. Cranswick partners closely with customers while also offering its own-brand products across multiple categories. The business focuses on developing multi-skilled, motivated, and empowered teams, supported by structured development and clear career pathways. Individuals joining Cranswick can expect a performance-driven environment with strong support for professional growth.

The Specification Technologist is an on-site role based in Bury, responsible for creating, updating, and maintaining product specifications to ensure accuracy, compliance, and consistency across all customer and internal systems. Day-to-day, this role gathers technical information from production, NPD, procurement, and suppliers to compile finished product specifications, ingredient declarations, allergen and nutritional data, and labelling information in line with customer and legal requirements. The role involves reviewing and approving artwork and labels, checking them against specifications and relevant legislation, and supporting internal teams during product launches and range changes. The Specification Technologist will liaise with customers on specification queries, manage documentation for audits, and help resolve any specification-related non-conformances. This position also supports continuous improvement in specification processes and contributes to maintaining high standards of food safety, quality, and legality.

Qualifications

• Background in food science, food technology, nutrition, or a related discipline, or equivalent experience in a technical/quality role within the food industry.
• Experience producing and maintaining retailer and customer specifications, including ingredient lists, allergens, nutritional data, and product descriptions.
• Working knowledge of UK and EU food legislation, food safety standards, labelling requirements, and retailer codes of practice.
• Strong attention to detail, accuracy, and organization, with the ability to manage multiple specifications and deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Competent user of specification and data management systems, as well as Microsoft Office (particularly Excel and Word).
• Effective communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to work cross-functionally with Technical, NPD, Production, and Commercial teams.
• Experience in chilled, meat, or ready-to-eat food manufacturing is advantageous; prior work in a high-care environment is a plus.
• Proactive approach to problem-solving, continuous improvement, and supporting successful product launches and range changes.