Food Technical Manager in Windsor

Location: Windsor, UK

Salary: Up to £55,000

Job Type: Fulltime, Permanent

Benefits include:

• Up to 15% bonus
• Private Medical Cover
• Life Cover
• Income Protection
• Critical Illness Cover
• Pension
• Social Events
• Holiday- 25 days per year plus your Birthday and Bank Holidays
• Gym Membership – 50% off at Snap Fitness, Windsor
• Hybrid working (2 days WFH

Company overview

En Route International operates globally as part of dnata, one of the world’s largest combined airline service providers. With offices in the UK, USA, Australia and UAE, En Route supplies premium baked goods, meals, snacks and cheese to the travel industry. We focus on partnering with world class manufacturers customising products and packaging to suit individual customer needs while managing a complex supply chain with the highest levels of precision.

Job purpose

As Technical Manager you will be supporting the technical team in approval and management of our supplier base, ensuring specifications are up to date and accurate, non-conformances are investigated, and working as a key member of the food safety team to drive and improve the quality management system across all regions. You will report into the Head of Technical and be working closely with procurement, NPD and operations/sales co-ordinators across all global offices.

Key responsibilities

• To supervise the Technical Team and support them with daily activities, supporting all global offices.

• To support the team in developing the Quality Management System (QMS) across all areas of the business, with the aim of achieving GFSI recognised status.

• To manage technical aspects of the supplier approval andrisk assessment programme working closely with both internal and external stakeholders to ensure all gate posts are met.

• Monitoring the supplier risk assessment and approval programme, auditing suppliers to ensure supplier processes meet En Route’s quality and food safety requirements, ensuring valid documentation and certification is available and reviewed for each approved supplier.

• Lead the compilation and timely publishing of product technical specifications for all global projects whilst ensuring verification and sign-off. Ensure that the technical specification portal is kept up to date for customers to access.

• Support the investigation and reporting of non-conformances, ensuring a responsive,timely and pro-active investigation, with detailed reports, and adequate corrective and preventative actions.

• Co-ordinate the surveillance programme to ensure routine checks based on product, supplier, and customer risk ratings.

• Generation of quality attribute sheets for all ER branded product and high profile/high volume lines in collaboration with suppliers.

• Provide trend analysis on complaints and supplier performance to the wider team.

• Managing small team of Food Technologists in day to day activities and project management

• Travel within the UK and internationally, visiting sites and auditing where necessary.

• Labelling requirements: keep up to date with labelling legislation and ensure all inner and outer packaging bears the correct label complying with all necessary legislation (focus on all regions EU/UK, US & AUS). Complete artwork reference documentation in line with local legislation. Approve and sign-off final artworks.

• To undertake any other duties, which may from time to time be assigned. This job description is not intended to be either prescriptive or exhaustive, but it is issued as a general framework at the time of writing.

Person Specification

Qualifications and training

• A degree in food science/technology or a related science.
• Audit lead qualification desirable.

Experience

• Previous experience of working in the travel sector in a management quality/technical role of a food manufacturer or flight caterer.

Knowledge and skills

• Good understanding of GFSI standards, HACCP/TACCP/VACCP and labelling legislation.

Proficient IT and report writing skills

Personal Qualities

• Self-starter with ability to use own initiative. The experience and maturity to work within a fast-paced team and ability to prioritise effectively
• An empathetic and motivating leader