Seafood Expert in London

New England Seafood International (NESI) was established in 1991 and is an importer and processor of premium fresh and frozen sustainable fish and seafood. NESI employs circa 850 people across three sites in the UK and imports a wide range of wild and farmed fish and shellfish from all around the world. We are part of the Sealaska Corporation, an Alaska Native corporation formed in 1971 and which is owned by 26,000 Tlingit, Haida and Tsimshian shareholders, who are all bloodline descendants of the first settlers to the Americas.

Our vision is to "show people how to enjoy fish every day" and we pride ourselves on our supply chain integrity, sustainable sourcing and high-quality product. Our values run through our business and are Respect, Customer Care, By Learning We Grow, Team Spirit and Integrity.

At NESI our core purpose is enhancing lives through fish, and we believe people are the most important asset to any business, that is why we choose to put all our people first by investing in developing our leaders to ensure they can support their teams in growing individuals, to reach their true potential.

Our species teams sit at the heart of our business, ensuring we have the most sustainable, highest quality, and most efficient products from 'Plate to Sea' through to manufacturing and the consumer experience. The team is expanding, and we are on the search for an individual to come and join our team, reporting to and supporting the Head of Species, in the end-to-end ownership and development of our Aquaculture Supplier base.

The primary objective of this role is to support the Head of Species Development in the comprehensive management and strategic development of NESI's aquaculture supplier base and associated species. This includes oversight from sourcing and primary processing within the supplier network to ensuring adherence to raw material and product standards across NESI manufacturing sites. The role also involves providing expert support during customer engagements.

A key focus of this position is the governance of variable species aquaculture standards, ensuring raw material compliance, and optimizing usage across both external suppliers and internal NESI facilities.

Role & Responsibilities

• Being the aquaculture species expert in NESI factories, from end to end, daily.
• Supporting our operation with getting the best possible product to the front of line.
• Ensuring consistent standardisation of specification standards.
• Aquaculture quality and usage trend analysis.
• Manage all relative supplier quality issues through internal systems and suppliers.
• Serving as the raw material expert as the first point of reference for our operations and site technical teams, responding in a timely fashion to issues online with all aquaculture species.
• Leading high-leverage initiatives to fundamentally improve the performance and quality of our raw material through our operations including:

• General fillet handling
• Compliance to raw material specification
• Improvements in Raw Materials process & handling (storage, defrost, debox)
• Ensuring we de-frost in the optimum way to preserve the quality of our raw material
• Supporting the Blueprint team with the improvement of yield and the elimination of waste and bi-product
• Working RMTs to ensure rejection / claim reporting is robust, so we can build up rejection reports that can be shared with our suppliers to improve quality long term.
• Leading a cultural change within the hearts and minds of Operations to deliver a high-quality product to customers and consumers
• Supporting training to build knowledge on the species and raw materials across all areas of our business
• Supporting the site technical team ensuring the quality standards are met and supporting through problem solving if they aren’t being met
• Being the 'go to' species expert for Aquaculture species in the factory from end-to-end processing as knowledge develops for other species.
• Work closely with the species directors in the supply base, input into specifications and raw material standards.
• Supporting NESI colleagues as the raw material expert as the first point of reference for our operations and site technical teams, responding in a timely fashion to issues on site.
• Working with raw material technicians to ensure rejection & claim reporting is robust within the internal K2 GRN system, allowing us to build up rejection reports that can be shared with our suppliers to improve quality long term.
• Monitor usage performance on each species and raise issues to the wider operations team.
• Supporting with training sessions in order to build knowledge on the species and raw materials across all areas of our business focusing on processes.
• Ensuring suppliers maintain compliance to audit standards across aquaculture live fish production process and primary processing within supplier base across all aquaculture species.
• Influence change with suppliers to invest in NESI standards for all live fish production and processing.
• Supporting our Innovation and NPD teams with fit for purpose raw material and supporting on trials for new products and new supply options.
• Collecting and analysing relevant data to provide meaningful measurement and KPIs to internal stakeholders, including our Operations teams and Suppliers.
• Support compliance management within all aquaculture species supplier base in line with technical standards.
• Becoming an expert in aquaculture species supply chains with ambition and aspirations to achieve and deliver.

What experiences, knowledge and capabilities do I need to demonstrate?

• Species & Technical Knowledge
• Knowledge of HAACP standards and factory standards against compliance requirements
• Auditing experience and skills for aquaculture and processing
• Understanding of process flows and related SOPs, CCPs and process compliance
• Detailed understanding of aquaculture production from brood stock to harvest, primary processing and developing other species production for compliance and commercial purposes
• Knowledge of aquaculture and factory processes
• Supplier compliance and continuous improvement
• Knowledge of organoleptic and physical assessment of fish quality
• Microsoft Word and Excel capabilities to complete Audit & Visit Reports, Yield Tracking
• A passion for seafood and quality improvement
• Well-developed interpersonal, communications and relationship-building skills:

• Proven ability to consider differing viewpoints and make decisions based on facts and the strategic direction of the business
• Proven ability to partner with colleagues and customers
• A growing ability to manage challenging stakeholders
• Work self efficiently within Expert team

Desired

• High level of experience within aquaculture production and primary processing and basic experience in other species
• Experience in seafood processing and quality management of multiple fish species.
• Understanding of variances in all aquaculture species sourcing – Lead auditor certification required.
• Management of K2 GRN system SNCR reporting and trending.
• A proven track record of working in a similar and fast-paced environment.

Any special requirements?

• Some weekend and night shift working support for operational decisions outside of office hours
• Travel to suppliers both in the UK and outside as required understanding some seasonal species can require longer periods of support in supplier bases be it continuous improvement or compliance auditing
• Supporting customer meetings both at NESI and customer offices
• Current driving license and passport

NESI Health and Safety

New England Seafood International will work to ensure it fulfils its moral and legal responsibilities and will not compromise on Health & Safety. We have a strong belief and culture that no one should be hurt resulting from our operations. Health & Safety will always be given priority when considering other business activities. We will ensure that all persons are provided with a safe working environment and have access to suitable welfare facilities including safe access and egress. We will ensure all our staff are site inducted, provided the necessary levels of H&S training to work safe on site and provided expert training for their role. In order for people to work safely and on completion of a detailed risk assessment, we will provide suitable and appropriate machinery, equipment and PPE to fulfil this objective. Our H&S objectives will always be reviewed frequently and will be communicated openly through the business and will be used to drive continued improvement to our H&S standards and culture. This is achieved by consultation and positive interaction with our employees.

NESI Food Safety

Every employee is expected to be proactive in adhering to Food Safety rules and is encouraged to actively promote and cultivate a Food Safety Culture within the workplace; as a company, we are committed to providing ongoing support, comprehensive training, and the necessary tools to continuously upskill our knowledge about food safety, empowering all team members to engage in open communication with the NESI colleagues to share ideas, address challenges, and collaboratively uphold our commitment to Food Safety Excellence.