Product Technologist

Brakes are currently recruiting for a Product Technologist to join the team on a full time, permanent basis. The role is based at our Ashford office and reports to the Head of Product Technology. 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 1-2 days per week in our Ashford, Kent office for Team Collaboration, so you must be in a commutable distance and open to travel.

Key Accountabilities & Responsibilities:

Supplier maintenance:

• Issue and review performance scorecards
• Monitor GFSI status, responding to changes and maintaining data
• Monitor supplier SEDEX membership status, review risk reports and audit outcomes
• Ensure supplier and site contacts are up to date in relevant systems
• Monitor supplier and site (non-GFSI) certification status that may impact on chain of custody or product claims
• Monitor and report on audit status

Product maintenance:

• Ensure routine specification reviews are completed
• Review specifications to pack copy generation stage
• Undertake product quality assessments
• Review artwork proofs
• Issue and review product scorecards to verify policy compliance

Certification maintenance:

• Ensure certified product lists are maintained
• Complete mass balance exercises for certified ranges
• Provide certified product data for customer reporting
• Complete internal certified claim validations

Other activities:

• Support complaint and rejection investigation with suppliers, as necessary
• Flexibility to support multiple categories on projects, as necessary
• Gather product or ingredient data from suppliers in support of customer requests, policy development etc.
• Support technical managers with specification and artwork progression, as necessary
• Provide 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.

Benefits:

• Early Access to Your Earnings: Use our dedicated Wage Stream app to access your earned salary whenever you need it, helping you manage your finances with ease and confidence.
• Flexible Time Off: Take advantage of the option to purchase additional annual leave.
• Comprehensive Wellbeing & Health Support: Benefit from our Employee Assistance Programme, offering confidential mental health support, 24/7 GP appointments, physiotherapy, flu vaccinations, eye tests and a wide range of health services for you and your family.
• Competitive Pension Scheme: Secure your future with our robust pension plan designed to help you plan long term.
• Life Assurance: Peace of mind with life assurance coverage designed to protect you and your loved ones.
• Exclusive Discounts: Enjoy access to Sysco Perks, where you’ll find discounts on everything from gym memberships to your weekly grocery shop.
• Special Sysco Product Discounts: Get the chance to purchase our food products at significantly reduced prices.
• Free Mortgage Advice: Navigate the property market with confidence thanks to complimentary expert mortgage guidance.
• Enhanced Family-Friendly Leave: Our policies support you through important life moments, offering greater flexibility and care for you and your family.

At Brakes everyone is welcome. We don’t want you to ‘fit our culture’ we want you to help define it and we actively celebrate the unique talents of each and every colleague. We don’t just look at your CV, we’re more focused on who you are and your potential. As part of our values, we are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive culture where everyone has a voice, is appreciated and has the same opportunities. We work hard to ensure that everyone feels part of our business, as we care for one another and connect the world through food and trusted partnerships. Our ultimate goal is to ensure that everyone belongs and thrives at Brakes and we recognise that Brakes can only thrive when everyone feels they belong. We'll do everything we can to support you during your application. If you need us to make any adjustments to our recruitment process, speak to our resourcing team who will be happy to support you. 

Brakes

Built on a passion for food and feeding the nation, we are the UK’s largest foodservice supplier. Every day Brakes deliver the highest quality fresh and frozen food and ingredients from our nationwide network of distribution centres to some of the nation’s most famous pubs and restaurants, as well as schools, caterers, care homes and hospitals. Our customers depend on us, and our 8,000-strong workforce is dedicated and proud to be part of this vital provision. And we’re growing!