Senior Technologist

Reporting to the Technical Manager, you will be responsible for managing the end-to-end specification process, ensuring accuracy, compliance, and alignment with customer, legal, and certification standards. As a Senior Food Technologist, you will play a pivotal role in shaping the direction of our product development. Maintain and verify accurate technical specifications, ensuring compliance with industry standards. This position is essential to upholding the Company’s commitment to product quality, safety, authenticity, legal and customer satisfaction. In general, it provides excellent technical support to suppliers, customers and commercial teams.

Benefits:

• 25 Days Annual Leave + Bank Holidays
• Life Assurance
• Company Pension
• Referral Scheme
• Long Service Award Scheme
• 50% Discount Off Purchased Stock
• On-Site Parking
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Health Assured Wisdom Wellbeing - Software Application
• Eye Care Vouchers

Key Relationships:

• Internal: Working within the Technical Team to support production of product safety and compliant information. Supports the Sales, Marketing, Customer Engagement, and NPD teams.
• External: Liaises with suppliers, customers, and key stakeholders to manage product information and any other queries.

Responsibilities:

• Leading product launches, reviewing and approving specifications, as well as writing full specifications when needed.
• Playing a leadership role in developing junior team member(s) and driving continuous improvement.
• The management of deadlines and communication surrounding critical paths to launch.
• Acting as a Food Safety Champion, ensuring that all products are safe, legal and meet high-quality standards.
• Acting as the vital link between our Company and its suppliers, ensuring all raw materials and finished products meet safety, quality, and legal requirements.
• Verifying product specifications to ensure alignment with regulatory requirements, customer expectations, internal standards and validate product claims based for compliance.
• Ensuring customer portals like Nutritics, ERUDUS, Smart Supplier etc. have correct information and are up to date.
• Ensuring specification database(s) is accurate, current, and accessible to relevant stakeholders.
• Validating product labels to ensure they accurately reflect specifications and comply with labelling regulations and legal requirements, working alongside the Warehouse team to ensure proper implementation and adherence.
• Being responsible for driving the product approval process and ensuring that specifications are accurate, up-to-date, and compliant with standards such as BRC.
• Ensuring specifications are updated in line with EPD changes, supplier amendments, and legal or customer requirements.
• Organising inductions for new starters, maintaining records and managing internal audits.
• Collaborating with the Technical Manager to identify and implement process improvements, enhancing efficiency, accuracy, and compliance.
• Providing cover for absences within the Technical Team.
• Staying informed on changes in food legislation and proactively adjusting specifications and processes to maintain compliance.
• Monitoring and reporting on food safety alerts.
• Any other tasks as directed by the line manager.

Essential Experience and Qualifications:

• A degree in Food Science, Food Technology or similar field.
• At least 3 years of experience in a Specification Technologist role or a similar position within the food industry.
• Formal legal labelling training or qualification.
• Previous experience in using Point 74 Spec system would be advantageous but not essential.
• A strong knowledge of food composition, basic nutrition, and allergen management.
• Knowledge of food labelling legislation, regulations, and compliance standards.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications (Excel, Word, Outlook, PowerPoint) and experience using data management systems.
• Strong administration skills and ability to prioritise to meet deadlines.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• A proven ability to manage data accurately and effectively.

Key Performance Measures:

• On-time Launches.
• Specification Life Management (No Outstanding Specification Reviews).
• Takes ownership of responsibilities and delivers on commitments consistently.
• Prioritises customer needs and works to provide excellent service and solutions.
• Proactively tackles tasks, makes decisions, and takes initiative to achieve objectives.
• Strives for measurable outcomes, ensuring high performance and efficiency.
• Delivers clear, concise, and impactful communication to stakeholders.
• Quickly adapts to new situations, processes, and information to improve performance.