Excellent opportunity to join a leading food manufacturer, who are seeking to appoint a Specification Technologist on an 18 month maternity cover.

The ideal candidate would be ensuring all specifications and artwork are compliant with relevant legislation and retailer codes.

Job Description: Specification Technologist (18-Month FTC Maternity Cover)

Reports to: Technical Manager
Direct reports: Raw Material Section Leader
Coordinates with: NPD Manager, QA Manager, Sales, Procurement, Production
 

Job Purpose

The Specification Technologist is responsible for overseeing supplier approvals and managing the creation, maintenance, and updating of detailed product specifications for own-label and branded finished products. This includes utilising web-based retailer systems, managing artwork sign-off processes, and ensuring allergen and nutritional information is accurately reflected to comply with all relevant industry standards and regulatory requirements.

Key Accountabilities

• Oversee the development, review, and approval of comprehensive product specifications, covering raw materials, ingredients, and finished goods.

• Ensure all specifications comply with current food safety, quality, nutritional, and labeling regulations across UK, EU, and US markets.

• Proactively manage critical path items during the specification-to-launch process to support timely and successful product introductions.

• Act as a primary liaison with suppliers, customers, and internal technical teams to resolve specification issues and manage compliance audits.

• Maintain accurate documentation and manage the specification system to ensure effective document control and up-to-date product information.

Functional and Operational Excellence

• Review and approve artwork against product specifications ensuring legal and customer compliance.

• Manage the raw material and service supplier approval database, including risk assessments and food defense protocols.

• Respond promptly to retailer technical requests, including specification questionnaires and audits.

• Ensure all new products and label revisions provide accurate nutritional, allergen, and ingredient information.

• Co-approve packaging artwork verifying compliance with market regulations on safety, quality, and labeling.

• Support product launches through shelf-life testing and Quality Assurance Systems (QAS).

• Provide comprehensive documentation and liaison support for customer and third-party audits such as BRC.

• Own and manage the Hamilton Grand recipes and specification system.

Knowledge and Skills

• Strong food science knowledge combined with technical expertise in food manufacturing and packaging.

• Acute attention to detail with the ability to manage complex and critical information accurately.

• Excellent analytical and project management skills to oversee specification timelines and deliverables.

• Proven IT proficiency, including Microsoft Office and retailer specification management systems.

• Food hygiene qualification Level 3 or above.

• Relevant industry experience with strong communication, literacy, and numeracy skills.

Desirable

• Background knowledge in bakery products.

• Experience with BRC standards and internal auditing.

• Hamilton Grand recipes and specification system experience.

• Internal auditor course qualifications.

Please get in touch to find out more about this exciting opportunity, or apply with your CV today.