Technologist- 12m FTC

Come and join the leading #avoexperts 🥑

Westfalia Fruit is a leading multinational supplier of fresh fruit and related value-added products to global markets. Through our vertically-integrated supply chain we grow, source, ripen, pack, process and market quality avocadoes & fresh produce – 365 days a year & across the globe.

With the largest avocado-growing footprint in the world, we are recognised as the leading #avoexperts and considered as the supplier of choice to both retail & wholesale customers whom we serve from sales offices in the UK, Europe, North America, Latin America & Southern Africa.

We’re looking for a Technologist (12m maternity cover FTC) to join our team in, Spalding, UK.

Role Summary

The Technologist role is responsible for ensuring Westfalia Fruit UK suppliers demonstrate proactive compliance with customer requirements for product safety, quality, authenticity, and legality. The role will focus on maintaining supplier compliance, food safety testing programmes, and supporting proactive supplier development.

Travel Requirements

• Occasional domestic and international travel to supplier sites, laboratories, or to conduct 2nd party audits as required.

Responsibilities include:

• Maintain and update supplier and grower risk assessments, incorporating results from pesticide, microbiology, contaminant, and authenticity testing.
• Manage the supplier sampling and analysis programme to ensure regulatory and customer compliance.
• Ensure all customer due diligence requirements are delivered accurately and on time.
• Maintain up-to-date records of supplier certifications and documentation, including GlobalG.A.P, LEAF, Organic, BRC, Sedex, and food contact packaging.
• Communicate changes in legislation, MRLs, and customer requirements to suppliers and monitor compliance.
• Review grower spray programmes to ensure alignment with legal and retailer standards, escalating issues as needed.
• Support supplier compliance on human rights and environmental platforms, including SEDEX and LEAF.
• Participate in internal and external audits, including traceability and mass balance exercises.
• Assist with end-of-season supplier summaries and contribute to the development of supplier improvement plans.

Requirements

Essential

• Experience in food supply chain compliance.
• Exposure to supplier assurance systems, retailer technical protocols, and food safety testing.
• Experience in risk assessments, audits, and due diligence management.
• Strong knowledge of food safety regulations and certification systems (GlobalG.A.P, BRC, Sedex, Organic).
• Competent in managing sampling programmes and interpreting lab results.
• Strong IT skills, including database management and Excel.
• Strong communicator, able to manage supplier and customer interactions effectively.

Desirable

• Fluent in Spanish.
• Internal Auditor trained.
• Experience with retailer and industry technical compliance systems.
• Knowledge of product testing methodologies (pesticide, microbiology, contaminants and authenticity).

Benefits

What can Westfalia Fruit offer you?

• 23 days holiday.
• Free on-site parking.
• Company pension plan.
• Medicash plan.
• Life Insurance.

Please note that this position does not have a specific closing date. We encourage you to apply as soon as possible as we will be reviewing applications on a rolling basis and the advert may be removed at any time.

We’re an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to age, ethnicity, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, family or parental status, national origin, or veteran, neurodiversity or disability status.