Quality & Technical Lead – Food Safety & Supplier Excellence

We are the leading Asian-inspired quick-service retail and grocery brand with over 80 restaurants across the UK, Belgium, and a growing wholesale business across Europe and beyond. Our renowned delicious food made fresh in every restaurant, every day, has made itsu a top choice for healthy eating. In addition to our restaurants, itsu [grocery] offers a range of high-quality Asian-inspired foods available online and in supermarkets. We are excited to be one of the leading brands in this specific group and have ambitious plans for continued growth both domestically and globally.

With its best-in-class food, latest technology, innovation, and talented workforce, itsu is the future of fast food.

This is the job:

• Own and drive ingredient and product quality consistency through the menu development process and into live operation, ensuring itsu food is delivered to the intended safety, quality, taste and presentation standards across all suppliers and shops. The role reports to our Technical Manager.
• This role is responsible for translating food intent into technically robust, scalable and consistently delivered products, acting as the bridge between Food, suppliers and operations to protect and continuously improve the itsu brand experience.

Core responsibilities:

• Own technical and quality accountability for products and ingredients from product finalisation through to live operation, ensuring food intent is translated into consistent, scalable and technically robust delivery across the supply chain.
• Co-own the development and ongoing management of Quality Attribute Sheets (QASs) with the Food Team, ensuring alignment between food intent and technical delivery.
• Assess supplier capability to deliver consistent quality at scale through trials, factory validation and supplier engagement.
• Validate products against QASs and defined quality attributes to confirm consistency prior to launch and throughout the product lifecycle.
• Work closely with suppliers and Food team to identify opportunities for product, ingredient or process improvements that enhance quality and consistency.
• Work alongside the food team on NPD processes.
• Ensure quality insights are captured and integrated into product passports, QASs and future menu development decisions.

This is you:

• Minimum 3 years’ experience within a Technical Function or Process Manufacturing roles within the food industry.
• Expertise of working with a range of different food categories.
• Preferably qualified to a relevant Food Science, Food Technology or Microbiological degree standard or equivalent.
• Knowledge and deep understanding of BRC certification and/or equivalent certification standards.
• Previous experience working with food manufacturers.
• Knowledge of the management of allergens, with insight into upcoming legislation and its implications for industry.
• Excellent computer proficiency (MS Office – Word, Excel and Outlook).
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including ability to effectively communicate with internal and external customers.
• Passion for food and quality.

Flexible working, including 1 day a week from home, and up to 2 weeks a year working from abroad. Generous time off allowances (including bank holidays). Free breakfast and snacks available every day. A free itsu lunch whenever you are in the office and 50% off in all stores, for when you are not. We cover a variety of different benefits such as physical, mental, financial, environmental and social wellbeing. An array of business events and socials throughout the year.