Technical Officer - Maternity Cover, Technical Officer - Maternity Cover

Location: Craigavon

Reports to: Quality Manager-Supply Chain

Are you passionate about food safety, supplier compliance and making sure the supply chain stands up to the highest standards?

The Role

You’ll be part of a small but highly important team responsible for ensuring our supply chain is compliant, safe and audit‑ready. Working with systems such as SMILE and Foods Connected, you’ll manage supplier documentation, support approval processes, and help ensure the right information is accurate, complete and accessible across the business. You’ll act as a key link between suppliers, Quality Assurance Managers, Specification teams and manufacturing sites.

Key Responsibilities

• Ensure suppliers are correctly set up and maintained in SMILE and Foods Connected
• Request, review and manage compliance documentation and Supplier Assessment Questionnaires (SAQs)
• Analyse supplier information to confirm adequacy and completeness
• Challenge and verify new supplier requests before approval
• Update retailer‑approved supplier lists where required
• Gather documentation for concessions and ensure smooth sign‑off processes
• Build professional relationships with suppliers
• Ensure suppliers understand and comply with Pilgrim’s Europe ingredient and meat requirements
• Support suppliers in maintaining accurate system information
• Monitor and report on supplier performance KPIs
• Support Supplier Assurance Managers to achieve compliance objectives
• Work closely with the Specification team on raw material specifications and priority management
• Support manufacturing sites during audits by retrieving documentation and liaising with suppliers
• Educate site teams on ingredient and meat‑related compliance matters
• Maintain and report KPIs across supplier approval and compliance
• Produce reporting from internal systems for cross‑functional review
• Continuously review and challenge existing processes to improve efficiency
• Support ad‑hoc projects and respond to welfare or disease‑related supply chain alerts
• Occasional travel may be required

Essential (What We’re Looking For)

• Food‑related qualification or significant experience in a similar technical role
• Experience maintaining and approving ingredient specifications
• Strong knowledge of food legislation and retailer requirements
• Excellent attention to detail and organisational skills
• Confident communicator with the ability to influence positively
• Ability to challenge constructively and professionally
• Self‑motivated and able to work independently
• Strong IT skills including Office 365 and experience with systems such as SMILE and Foods Connected

Desirable

• Degree in Food Science or related discipline
• HACCP Level 4
• VACCP knowledge
• Experience working with auditors, customers or external bodies
• Broad experience across food industry categories

Why Join Us?

• Be part of a business where food safety and compliance are top priorities
• Play a key role in protecting supply chain integrity
• Work cross‑functionally with technical, procurement and site teams
• Opportunity to influence supplier standards and drive improvement
• Supportive team environment with opportunities to grow your technical expertise

We value people who take ownership, work collaboratively and focus on practical, effective solutions. This role offers the chance to make a real impact in maintaining high supply chain standards across the business. If you’re a technically minded professional with a passion for supplier compliance and food safety, we’d love to hear from you. Apply now and help us maintain the highest standards across our supply chain.