Find a job 
Featured Companies 
Featured Universities 
For Companies At a Glance
- 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, hybrid working, and generous employee discounts.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on food safety and quality in a dynamic, innovative environment.
- Qualifications: 6+ years in food safety, strong knowledge of regulations, and a passion for Asian cuisine.
- Other info: Diverse and inclusive workplace encouraging applicants from all backgrounds.
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 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.
About us:
itsu is the healthy eating, Asian inspired quick service retail & grocery brand with over 70 stores in the UK and a leading grocery business across Europe and beyond. Renowned for its best-in-class food made fresh in every shop every day, itsu has huge global ambitions with a commitment to continue to open many more stores and intensify the growth of its already thriving grocery arm. With its best-in-class healthy food, latest technology, innovation, and talented workforce, itsu is the future of fast food.
Scope of the role:
Overarching: 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. Including leading on key policies and projects to drive improvement. 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.
- Conducts food safety audits when required.
- 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.
- Conducts investigations with suppliers for high risk issues and coaches 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.
- Oversees 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 - London employer: itsu
Contact Detail:
itsu Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Category Technical Manager - London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the food safety and technical field, especially those who work with Asian suppliers. A friendly chat can lead to opportunities you might not find on job boards.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by brushing up on your knowledge of food safety regulations and microbiology. Be ready to discuss how your experience aligns with itsu's commitment to quality and safety.
✨Tip Number 3
Show off your passion for food! Whether it’s through personal projects or previous roles, share your enthusiasm for Asian-inspired cuisine during interviews to make a memorable impression.
✨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 at itsu. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive about their applications.
We think you need these skills to ace Category Technical Manager - London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV reflects the skills and experience that match the job description. Highlight your food safety knowledge, technical expertise, and any relevant audit experience. We want to see how you fit into our itsu family!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Share your passion for food, especially Asian cuisine, and explain why you're excited about joining itsu. Let us know how your background aligns with our mission and values.
Be Mindful of Anonymity: Remember to remove your full name, university details, and any personal photos from your CV and cover letter. We’re all about inclusivity, so let’s keep it anonymous to ensure a fair review process!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets into the right hands. Plus, it shows us you’re keen on being part of the itsu journey!
How to prepare for a job interview at itsu
✨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 within the chilled and frozen food categories.
✨Showcase Your Stakeholder Management Skills
Since this role involves working with various suppliers, be ready to share instances 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 Passion for Food
itsu is all about healthy, Asian-inspired food, so let your enthusiasm shine through! Talk about your favourite Asian dishes or trends in the food industry that excite you. This will show your genuine interest in the brand and its mission.
✨Prepare for Technical Challenges
Expect questions related to technical audits and supplier performance. Think of scenarios where you've conducted audits or improved supplier quality. Be ready to discuss how you approach problem-solving and ensure compliance with food safety standards.
