Compliance Technologist - Food

Group Retailer Specification Technologist Location: Market Harborough Sector: Food Manufacturing / Ingredients Job Type: Full-Time, Permanent Salary: Up to £40,000 Working Arrangement: Hybrid - 4 days office based/1 Day Remote working A leading food manufacturing business is seeking an experienced Group Retailer Specification Technologist to join its Technical & Quality team. This is an excellent opportunity for a specification professional with strong experience working with major UK retailers, product specifications, food labelling, and regulatory compliance within a fast-paced food manufacturing environment. The successful candidate will play a key role in ensuring the accurate creation, maintenance and approval of finished product specifications and labels, while supporting compliance with food safety, legal, quality and authenticity requirements across a diverse product portfolio. Key Responsibilities Coordinate information from multiple manufacturing sites and supply partners to create new product specifications and product labels. Develop and maintain accurate product specifications using a right-first-time approach, ensuring compliance with customer, legal and internal standards. Support new product development activities, including the creation of sample specifications and participation in artwork, labelling and approval processes. Manage specification amendments through established change control procedures, ensuring appropriate stakeholder approval and effective communication. Respond to customer enquiries by gathering technical and product information from internal teams and providing professional, informative documentation. Support certification activities relating to products requiring Halal, Kosher, Organic and other relevant accreditations. Monitor changes to customer requirements and UK/EU legislation, communicating updates and assessing potential impacts on products and processes. Continuously review and improve specification systems and processes to ensure compliance, efficiency and effectiveness. Maintain specification records and development systems. Support wider specification teams with the creation and maintenance of specifications and labels across the product portfolio. Person Specification The ideal candidate will possess: Degree-level qualification in Food Science or a related discipline. Minimum of 5 years' experience in food product specification creation and maintenance. Proven experience working directly with major UK retailers and retailer specification portals. Strong understanding of food safety, HACCP principles and quality systems. Knowledge of UK and/or EU food labelling legislation. Good understanding of food manufacturing processes, raw materials, allergens and finished products. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills. Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities with a logical approach. The ability to influence stakeholders and drive actions to completion. Advanced Microsoft Office skills. Excellent organisational skills with the ability to prioritise workload in a fast-paced environment. Exceptional attention to detail and strong numerical skills. A proactive, solution-focused mindset with a positive, can-do attitude and willingness to embrace new challenges. What's on Offer Opportunity to join a well-established and growing food manufacturing organisation. Exposure to a diverse and innovative product portfolio. Collaborative working environment focused on quality, food safety and continuous improvement. Career development opportunities within a respected technical function. If you are an experienced Specification Technologist with strong retailer-facing experience and a passion for food quality, safety and compliance, we would welcome your application.