A vacancy has arisen for a Category Technologist based in our Slough Business Support Centre. This role is primarily responsible for all technical activities associated to the Bidfood own label and exclusive brands product portfolio and subsequent management of the suppliers.

An integral member of the group commercial category teams providing technical support and direction during development of own label and exclusive brand products from concept through to launch, ensuring new products are launched on time with the appropriate accurate technical information maintained for all products with ongoing supplier performance monitoring.

As a member of the wider technical services team you will be required to provide support, advice to maintain the Food Safety, Legality, Quality – (Due Diligence) of the Bidfood product portfolio through interdepartmental, external supplier, trade body and customer liaison..

Key accountabilities include:

• Visits to Bidfood own label product supplier sites to ensure compliance to Bidfood policies as positioned in the Bidfood supplier technical manual. Flexibility required for this.
• Customer and 3rd party (professional & trade bodies) liaison, interaction and support.
• Analyse microbiological and analytical results of own brand products, assess where action needs to be taken, follow through corrective action plans.
  Attend any ‘Product Evaluation’ sessions of own brand products.
• Analysis of results and investigation with relevant suppliers where appropriate when products do not meet the approved product specification or when fail when compared to a specific benchmark.
• Working within a category team, support product improvements and new product development – attend regular category team meetings.
• Review product specifications, artwork, marketing collateral and other technical or non-technical documents and where required to ensure legislative adherence.
• Support the wider technical services team, resolve customer complaint issues and trends.
• Act as ‘front line’ when dealing with, emerging industry issues, critical product issues, both in and out of hours if required.

To be successful in this role we would require the following:

• Food Science or Technology Degree
• Experience required in a manufacturing / foodservice environment.
• Good Communication and influencing skills – oral and written.
• Proven planning & organising skills with the ability to manage projects.
• Strong drive and adaptability ensuring deliverables are met efficiently and effectively.
• Full UK Driving License.

Benefits

Pension, 25 days holiday pa, personal accident scheme, employee discounts, free parking, health & wellbeing benefits.

Apply

To apply, please forward your CV with a covering letter, including the reference RW/1032 to: Amanda Lawes, Category Technical Manager via email to amandalawes@bidfood.co.uk