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- Tasks: Create and manage product specifications for major UK retailers in a dynamic team.
- Company: Join a leading food manufacturer with a focus on quality and compliance.
- Benefits: Enjoy hybrid working, competitive salary, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on product launches while ensuring compliance with food legislation.
- Qualifications: Experience in food manufacturing and knowledge of food labelling regulations required.
- Other info: Fast-paced environment with a chance to collaborate across various teams.
The predicted salary is between 30000 - 42000 £ per year.
Location: Manchester, UK
Department: Technical / Quality
Reports to: Technical Manager / Head of Technical
Employment Type: Full-time - Hybrid
Role Purpose
The Retail Specifications Technologist is responsible for the accurate creation, maintenance, and submission of customer-facing product specifications for major UK retailers. Working closely with NPD, Technical, Quality, and Commercial teams, the role ensures all product data is compliant with legal, customer, and internal requirements, supporting successful product launches and ongoing supply.
Key Responsibilities
Specifications Management
- Create, maintain, and update end-to-end product specifications for retailer own-label and branded products.
- Manage specifications through retailer portals.
- Ensure all data is accurate, complete, and submitted within agreed timelines.
- Maintain version control and audit-ready records for all specifications.
Compliance & Legislation
- Ensure all specifications comply with current UK and EU food legislation, including:
- Food Information Regulations (FIR)
- Allergen labelling
- Nutrition, ingredient declarations
Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Liaise with NPD to support new product development, launches, and artwork sign-off.
- Work with Quality and Technical teams to ensure alignment with HACCP, risk assessments, and factory capabilities.
- Communicate with suppliers to obtain accurate raw material and packaging information.
Key Accountabilities
- Right-first-time specification submissions.
- On-time completion of customer and internal deadlines.
- Accuracy of allergen, ingredient, and nutritional information.
- Maintenance of compliant, audit-ready specification systems.
Skills & Competencies
Technical Skills
- Strong understanding of UK food legislation and retailer technical standards.
- Experience using retailer specification systems and internal specification software.
- High attention to detail with the ability to manage large volumes of data accurately.
- Confident interpreting ingredient specifications, allergen matrices, and nutritional data.
Personal Skills
- Well organised with strong time management skills.
- Able to work under pressure and manage multiple priorities.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills.
- Proactive, methodical, and solutions-focused.
- Confident working independently and as part of a team.
Knowledge & Experience
Essential:
- Experience in a food manufacturing environment in a specifications, technical, or quality role.
- Experience managing retailer specifications for UK multiples.
- Working knowledge of food labelling and allergen legislation.
Working Conditions
- Office-based with some flexibility for hybrid working.
- May require flexibility to meet customer deadlines.
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
- Specification accuracy and right-first-time submissions.
- Compliance with customer and legislative requirements.
- Timeliness of submissions and updates.
- Audit and customer feedback.
This job description is not exhaustive and may be reviewed or amended in line with business needs.
Retail Specifications Technologist in Salford employer: Northern Soul Recruitment
Contact Detail:
Northern Soul Recruitment Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Retail Specifications Technologist in Salford
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the industry, attend events, and connect with professionals on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its products. Understand their values and how your skills as a Retail Specifications Technologist can help them succeed. Tailor your answers to show you're the perfect fit!
✨Tip Number 3
Practice makes perfect! Conduct mock interviews with friends or family to get comfortable with common questions. This will help you articulate your experience and skills confidently when it counts.
✨Tip Number 4
Don't forget to apply through our website! We love seeing applications directly from candidates who are passionate about joining us. Plus, it gives you a better chance of standing out in the crowd!
We think you need these skills to ace Retail Specifications Technologist in Salford
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Retail Specifications Technologist role. Highlight your experience with food legislation and specifications management, as this will show us you understand what we're looking for.
Show Off Your Attention to Detail: Since accuracy is key in this role, give examples of how you've managed large volumes of data or ensured compliance in previous positions. We want to see that you can handle the nitty-gritty details!
Be Clear and Concise: When writing your application, keep it straightforward and to the point. Use clear language to describe your skills and experiences, so we can easily see how you fit into our team.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to submit your application through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it’s super easy!
How to prepare for a job interview at Northern Soul Recruitment
✨Know Your Legislation
Make sure you brush up on UK and EU food legislation, especially the Food Information Regulations. Being able to discuss allergen labelling and nutritional data confidently will show that you’re serious about compliance and understand the role's requirements.
✨Showcase Your Attention to Detail
Prepare examples from your past experience where your attention to detail made a difference. Whether it was managing specifications or ensuring accuracy in product data, having specific instances ready will demonstrate your capability for this role.
✨Familiarise Yourself with Retailer Portals
If you’ve used retailer specification systems before, be ready to talk about them. If not, do a bit of research on common platforms used in the industry. Showing that you’re proactive about learning these systems can set you apart.
✨Emphasise Cross-Functional Collaboration
Think of times when you worked with different teams, like NPD or Quality, to achieve a common goal. Highlighting your collaborative skills will show that you can effectively liaise with various departments, which is crucial for this position.
