Quality and Specification Technologist, Lincolnshire

Job Description

Job Title: Quality & Specification Technician
Location: Lincolnshire

Overall Role
As a Quality & Specification Technician, your primary responsibility is to oversee and manage the quality assurance and technical aspects of our site. You will ensure that the company complies with all legal and customer requirements pertaining to food safety, quality, and legality. Your role is hands-on, and you are expected to actively support the company's objectives outlined in the Quality Policy and other relevant intergroup policies.

In addition to your core responsibilities, you will also handle specification writing for national and retail products. You'll be responsible for maintaining storage and distribution standards, conducting site audits following BRCGS and Orkla OFSS standards, and managing customer visits and third-party audits. Additionally, you'll play a crucial role in supporting site-level health and safety initiatives and meeting other requirements set by the company and its customers.

Key Duties

Collaborate with national account teams to complete customer specifications and address technical inquiries.
Maintain and oversee the site quality manual and related policies and procedures, ensuring proper communication, training, and control. Conduct internal audits to ensure compliance with BRCGS, OFSS, ISO, and customer requirements.
Assist the quality manager in specific projects and quality-related matters, including staying updated on food safety, legislative, and quality issues.
Advise on hygiene standards within warehousing by liaising with intercompany representatives, addressing non-conformance issues promptly, and working on solutions.
Prepare and update product and packaging specifications, including labeling.
Assist in maintaining the OFSS supplier approval system and related documentation as per group procedures.
Ensure incoming materials conform to specifications and customer requirements through quality assurance processes. Promote compliance and continuous improvement throughout the site, emphasizing quality and safety standards.
Assist site customer technical representatives and auditors during audits and ensure timely resolution of non-conformance issues and necessary training.
Address customers' technical queries and update relevant specifications and databases as needed.
Maintain a self-audit schedule to identify and rectify non-conformance within the Quality System.
Manage a system for analyzing customer complaints and respond appropriately.
Assist with shelf-life testing, micro-sampling, and environmental analysis.
Ensure that all manufacturing activities comply with current food safety and legislative requirements.
Oversee site hygiene standards.
Conduct staff induction and training on quality-related duties.
Support the sales team and traded customers with technical requirements.
Assist site teams in implementing group health and safety protocols, including training and sustainability initiatives.
Perform additional administrative tasks to support the distribution of business documents.
Candidate Requirements

Minimum of 5 years of experience in the food industry.
Strong interpersonal skills with a commercial mindset.
Valid driver's license.
Qualifications
Essential:

Degree-level education, preferably in a food or science-related discipline or equivalent.
Extensive experience in writing retail and national specifications.
Proficiency in approving packaging copy and final artwork.
Experience managing BRC standards, particularly in storage and distribution.
Minimum HACCP and food safety level 3 certification.
Desirable:

Health and safety qualification (NEBOSH).
Previous experience working with storage and distribution and handling traded materials.