Job DescriptionSysco are currently recruiting for a Technical Assistant to join the team on a full time, permanent basis. The role will be partly based at one of our Ashford, Bicester or Grantham offices and reports to the Senior Technical Manager. It will be your responsibility to provide support to the technical managers in delivering effective supplier management, product compliance, and due diligence.This role is offering a hybrid working contract, with 1 day per week in one of the above offices for Team Collaboration, so you must be in a commutable distance and open to travel.Key Accountabilities & Responsibilities:Supplier maintenance:Issue and review performance scorecardsMonitor GFSI status, responding to changes and maintaining dataMonitor supplier SEDEX membership status, review risk reports and audit outcomesEnsure supplier and site contacts are up to date in relevant systemsMonitor supplier and site (non-GFSI) certification status that may impact on chain of custody or product claimsMonitor and report on audit statusProduct maintenance:Ensure routine specification reviews are completedReview specifications to pack copy generation stageUndertake product quality assessmentsReview artwork proofsIssue and review product scorecards to verify policy complianceCertification maintenance:Ensure certified product lists are maintainedComplete mass balance exercises for certified rangesProvide certified product data for customer reportingComplete internal certified claim validationsOther activities:Support complaint and rejection investigation with suppliers, as necessaryFlexibility to support multiple categories on projects, as necessaryGather product or ingredient data from suppliers in support of customer requests, policy development etc.Support technical managers with specification and artwork progression, as necessaryProvide first line cover for technical managers in responding to category team and supplier queries.Using the Assure database to maintain product and supplier data, conduct spec audits and carry out database searches as appropriate.Attend product panels where required.Support TM in resolving issues as they arise.Support TM in delivering specific projects as they arise.About you:The ideal candidate must have a technical background, and have a full understanding within a food service / fast-paced technical team (QA/QC) with a relevant degree in Food Science/Technology. You will be able to demonstrate a good understanding of category and procurement strategies and be able to prioritise your workload and work well under pressure. This is a key role to ensure all customer complaints are investigated thoroughly so effective communication and interpersonal skills are essential. Ideally, you’ll have good analytical skills to review data and highlight any common trends or patterns to reduce any further complaints or incidents. If you enjoy working closely with suppliers and customers, this is a great role where you will take full accountability and control to ensure the best outcome is always achieved.What you’ll receive:A competitive salaryPension schemeGenerous holiday allowance, with option to purchase additional holidays + bank holidaysHuge discounts on all sorts of lovely food and award-winning products through our staff shopDiscounts on Cinema tickets, shopping and earn cashback on purchases through Sodexo.Recognition awards and IncentivesReal career opportunities - being part of Sysco, the world’s leading foodservice business, opens up a world of possibility
