Senior Product Specification Technologist

Salary Competitive

Location Carrickmacross/Grantham/Craigavon

This is a {Contract Type}, Full Time vacancy that will close in {x} days at {xx:xx} BST.

My job

To lead specification work for at least one customer / product category, ensuring the timely creation and approval of accurate, right first time product pack copies and artwork in accordance with customer requirements, relevant legislation and group policy.

Write, approve and maintain specifications ensuring information contained is consistent with the source data (e.g. raw material data, factory recipes/specs, etc). Approve artwork.

Provide knowledgeable support, in relation to specifications, customer requirements and regulations for others; junior colleagues, other departments (NPD/ Commercial) and customers in relation to specifications.

Responsibilities:

Attend Product Development meetings to understand new projects and ensure critical paths are established and achievable.
Liaise with team members to ensure workloads are planned in and delivered, escalating issues as necessary.
Liaise with customers on specification / artwork issues as per customer expectation.
Approve and maintain finished product specifications for all finished products supplied. This will include:
- Completing specifications in accordance with customer protocols ensuring data provided is accurate, valid, and compliant with customer requirements, relevant legislation and group policy
  - Calculating and generating ingredient declarations in required customer format
  - Estimating meat content by both theoretical methods (QUID) and using laboratory analyses.
- Ensure that all data and/or claims that are linked with product specifications can be supported and are validated against customer requirements, legislation, group policy or third-party protocols (e.g. RSPO logo approval, Vegan Society etc.).
- Receive, evaluate and action as appropriate requests to amend/update specifications ensuring effective communication with all relevant stakeholders.
Legal pack copy generation of technical information required for product packaging (Primary and Secondary) ensuring compliance with customer requirements and relevant legislation.
Upload approved cutter profiles onto customer portals.
Artwork Approval (covering primary and secondary packaging) Working with all relevant stakeholders (e.g. design houses, customers, internal and external commercial teams, printers etc.) to ensure packaging artwork designs are compliant with legal / customer technical requirements.
To ensure all relevant supporting documentation has been completed and is linked to the appropriate specification. This may include, but is not limited to cooking or reheat validations, nutrition results, QAS/QCCP documents, salt exceptions and certificates.
To keep up to date with customer and legal requirements and ensure all customer portals are maintained.
Consider and respond to customer / customer representative queries regarding specifications as and when they arise.
Present product specifications to customers as required during visits/audits and implement corrective actions where required.
Provide guidance and support to other departments, as required, to support understanding and awareness of specific customer requirements.
Work closely with other functions, particularly product development and raw materials supply chain teams, to ensure collaboration on timescales.
Support with training and alignment of Specification Technologists to a standard way of working.
Keep up to date with process changes in factories where they could impact specifications.
Constantly challenge existing processes to propose and implement more efficient / effective ways of working

Essential Criteria:

Competent in creating product specifications for variety of retail customers
Competent communication direct with customers regarding specifications and regulatory requirements
Competent in creating product specifications for variety of product types – good understanding of more complex multi level recipes etc.
Confident to challenge internally to ensure critical paths are appropriately planned and executed.
Computer literate – familiar with Excel & Word, comfortable using computer systems.

Desirable Criteria:

Breadth of experience across retail and food service customers
Breadth of experience across scope of product range in Pilgrims Europe
Project management

The company

Pilgrim’s Europe produces some of the best-known and most iconic brands in the UK and Ireland, including Fridge Raiders, Rollover, Denny, Richmond, Oakhouse and Moy Park, alongside a diverse range of industry leading own-label products in categories including fresh pork, lamb and chicken, working with all the major retailers and food service outlets.

Our portfolio extends to authentic chilled and frozen ready meals, snacking ranges, added value and food service products.

Across Pilgrim’s Europe we combine 20,000 of the best people in the industry, united by a shared set of core values and a passion for producing the highest quality, most delicious and innovative food, which is enjoyed by millions of people in the UK, Ireland and Europe every day. Our Pilgrim’s Europe team are based in our Pilgrim’s UK, Moy Park, Pilgrim’s Food Masters and Pilgrim’s Shared Services businesses.

What we'll bring to the table

Competitive Salary

Competitive Holiday Entitlement

Pension Contribution

Family Friendly Policies

Learning and Development Opportunities

Life Assurance

People matter