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Group Specifications & Regulatory Manager
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Group Specifications & Regulatory Manager
Group Specification & Regulatory Manager
Food Manufacturing | Market Harborough
An established and growing food manufacturing business is seeking an experienced Group Specification & Regulatory Manager to lead its UK and international specification teams. This is a strategic leadership role responsible for ensuring the delivery of accurate product specifications, compliant labelling, and regulatory excellence across a complex multi-site operation.
The role involves supporting business growth, maintaining customer confidence, and ensuring all products meet the highest standards of food safety, quality, legality, and authenticity.
The Role
Reporting to the Development & Technical Director, you will be responsible for leading specification and regulatory activities across multiple manufacturing sites, ensuring that product specifications, artwork, and supporting documentation remain fully compliant with customer, legal, and internal requirements.
You will manage both UK and international specification teams, driving performance, developing capability, and ensuring resources align with business priorities and customer expectations.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead, develop, and manage the Group Specification Team, including recruitment, training, performance management, and team structure
- Ensure departmental workloads, priorities, KPIs, and customer requirements are delivered effectively
- Oversee the creation, maintenance, and review of finished product specifications and product labelling
- Ensure compliance with UK and international food legislation, retailer requirements, and internal quality standards
- Support product launches through the timely provision of:
- Accurate sample specifications
- Artwork verification
- Product integration processes
- Build and maintain strong technical relationships with key customers and major UK retailers
- Participate in technical reviews, driving continuous improvement and customer satisfaction
- Ensure customer enquiries, retailer portals, and technical notifications are managed effectively
- Monitor legislative and customer requirement changes and implement robust action plans to maintain compliance
- Drive continuous improvement of specification systems, processes, and change control procedures
- Support wider technical and quality functions with:
- Certification documentation (e.g., Halal, Kosher, and Organic approvals as required)
- Maintain accurate technical records and development systems
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About You
The ideal candidate will bring significant food manufacturing technical and specification experience, combined with strong leadership capabilities and a customer-focused mindset.
Essential Requirements
- Degree-level qualification in:
- Food Labelling
- Food Science
- Regulatory Affairs, or a related discipline
- Minimum of 10 years’ experience within a food manufacturing technical or quality environment
- At least 5 years’ experience in:
- Specification writing
- Maintenance
- Regulatory compliance
- Strong knowledge of:
- UK and EU food labelling legislation
- Retailer specification systems/portals
- Proven experience managing and developing teams across multiple locations
- Customer-facing experience with strong account management capabilities
- Excellent:
- Written and verbal communication skills
- Influencing and stakeholder management abilities
- Highly organised with exceptional attention to detail
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications
- Solution-focused, proactive, and motivated, with a strong "can-do" attitude
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Desirable
- Additional language skills (particularly German or Italian)
- Experience supporting:
- Product certification requirements (e.g., Halal, Kosher, and Organic standards)
What’s on Offer?
- Opportunity to lead a high-performing specification and regulatory function within a growing food manufacturing business
- Strategic role with significant influence across technical, quality, commercial, and operational teams
- Exposure to:
- Major UK retail customers
- International markets
- Excellent opportunities for:
- Professional development
- Long-term career progression
If you are an experienced specifications and regulatory professional looking for a senior leadership opportunity within food manufacturing, we would be delighted to hear from you.
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