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- Tasks: Ensure food safety and quality for itsu grocery products while managing supplier performance.
- Company: Join itsu, a leading Asian-inspired healthy eating brand with global ambitions.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, bonuses, health insurance, and 50% discount in itsu shops.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on food safety and quality in a dynamic, innovative environment.
- Qualifications: 6+ years in food safety, degree in food science, and strong stakeholder management skills.
- Other info: Hybrid working options and a commitment to diversity and inclusion.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
The ideal candidate:
- At least 6 years’ experience working in a food safety and technical role with manufacturing and retail/brand experience.
- Strong knowledge of food safety, microbiology and food regulations.
- Expertise in the chilled and frozen food category preferable.
- Internal & external audit experience and an understanding of requirements for GFSI accreditations.
- Excellent attention to detail whilst never losing sight of the bigger picture.
- Strong stakeholder management and communication skills & able to work with a number of different suppliers.
- Experience working with international suppliers (Asian suppliers preferred) and willing to lone travel to Asia.
- Line management experience preferable.
- Qualified to degree level in food science or a similar subject.
- Have a passion for food & Asian inspired food in particular.
Scope of the role:
- Responsible for the quality, safety, legality and authenticity of itsu [grocery] products and supplier performance.
- Support the Head of Technical to maintain and improve the food safety & quality management system and ensure AA Grade certification against the BRC A&B standard is maintained.
- Has ultimate accountability for certain procedures and records.
- Responsible for driving the awareness and improvement of a food safety culture and ensuring it is always considered during decision making.
- Support the Head of Technical in creating the technical strategy, implementation and embedding within the supply base.
- Manage the Category Food Technologist/Senior Food Technologist with a focus on their development plan progression.
Key responsibilities:
- Oversee the approval and management of suppliers. Ensures all safety, legal and quality information is captured and assessed within the required timeframes, kept up to date and risks successfully managed.
- Drive an improvement in supplier performance through relationship building, supplier reviews, KPIs and the creation of strategic technical plans.
- Analyse and interpret trends in customer complaints and product testing.
- Conduct investigations with suppliers for high risk issues and coach the Food Technologist/Senior Food Technologist through low and medium risk investigations to identify the root cause and put corrective and preventative actions in place.
- Oversee the ongoing monitoring of product quality, safety and authenticity and the management of investigations for routine surveillance testing, shelf-life evaluation and organoleptic testing.
- Responsible for the technical elements of NPD and EPD projects ensuring the gate process is followed, testing is completed on time for nutritional, cooking instructions and shelf life and any technical issues are foreseen and resolved prior to launch.
- Attends production trials and first productions.
- Responsible for the technical sign off at gate 2 and supports the Food Technologist/Senior Food Technologist to approve the product specifications and artwork accurately and on time.
- Signs off compliance with itsu [grocery] brand standards, labelling regulations and always has the consumer at the forefront.
What we offer:
- Competitive salary
- Competitive bonus scheme
- 25 days holiday + bank holidays (two bank holidays are interchangeable for other religious holidays)
- Health insurance
- Company pension scheme
- Hybrid working (2 days wfh)
- Opportunity to work from home abroad
- 50% employee discount in itsu shops
- Free itsu lunch
- Discounts at major retailers
- A sizeable training budget to support your ongoing development
Category Technical Manager employer: Itsu Limited
Contact Detail:
Itsu Limited Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Category Technical Manager
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to folks in the food safety and technical field, especially those who have experience with Asian suppliers. A friendly chat can lead to insider info about job openings that aren't even advertised yet.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by brushing up on your knowledge of food safety regulations and microbiology. We want you to be able to discuss how you can drive supplier performance and improve food safety culture at itsu with confidence!
✨Tip Number 3
Show off your passion for food, especially Asian cuisine! Whether it's through personal projects or previous work experiences, let your enthusiasm shine through during interviews. It’s all about connecting with the brand's vision.
✨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 serious about joining the itsu family!
We think you need these skills to ace Category Technical Manager
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights your experience in food safety and technical roles. We want to see how your background aligns with the requirements, especially if you've worked with chilled and frozen food categories.
Showcase Your Passion: Let your love for food, particularly Asian cuisine, shine through in your application. We’re all about that passion at itsu, so don’t hold back on sharing why you’re excited about this role!
Be Clear and Concise: When writing your cover letter, keep it straightforward. We appreciate excellent attention to detail, so make sure your communication is clear and to the point while still showcasing your personality.
Follow Our Anonymisation Guidelines: Remember to remove your full name, university details, and any personal photos from your CV and cover letter. We want to ensure a fair review process, so stick to our guidelines when applying through our website!
How to prepare for a job interview at Itsu Limited
✨Know Your Food Safety Inside Out
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of food safety, microbiology, and regulations. Be prepared to discuss specific examples from your past experience that demonstrate your expertise in these areas, especially related to chilled and frozen foods.
✨Showcase Your Stakeholder Management Skills
Since this role involves working with various suppliers, be ready to share experiences where you've successfully managed relationships. Highlight your communication skills and how you've navigated challenges with international suppliers, particularly those from Asia.
✨Demonstrate Your Attention to Detail
Prepare to give examples of how your attention to detail has positively impacted your previous roles. Discuss how you balance this with the bigger picture, especially when it comes to maintaining quality and safety standards.
✨Be Ready for Technical Challenges
Expect questions about how you would handle technical issues during product development or supplier audits. Think of scenarios where you've identified root causes and implemented corrective actions, and be ready to explain your thought process.
