Job Description: Raw Materials Supply Technologist

Contract: 2 years

Location: Slough (SLO), UK, full-time on-site

What are we looking for?

• Degree graduate in Food Science or related discipline, which covers elements of Quality Management & NPD.
• Experience in a food manufacturing environment & knowledge of how factories are run and their processes and standards to produce quality product.
• Good technical scientific understanding of raw materials & conversion technical processes, particularly chocolate or sugar based.
• Proven record of problem-solving ability using scientific knowledge & principles, including risk management.
• High learning agility (e.g. To understand and adopt new systems)
• Good communication & assertiveness skills
• Entrepreneurial spirit
• High drive for results.
• Ability to influence external parties to do what’s needed whilst maintaining good relationships.
• Can translate business process into systems requirements
• Can perform under pressure, organise a programme of activities and is good at planning and prioritising
• Courage of convictions – good command skills.
• Can travel EU wide to visit suppliers- est. 25-30% travel

What will be your key responsibilities?

• Takes responsibility for all the technical aspects of raw materials and their suppliers, applying your technical expertise and assisting with the launch of exciting product categories in a fast-paced environment.
• Work with suppliers as well as internal teams to deliver products that are consistently high quality with a competitive edge.
• Play a key part in the management of product quality and performance through approving and auditing suppliers, maintaining accurate supplier information, plus ensuring clearly defined specifications and quality requirements are adhered to throughout the innovation process.
• Support the strategy across a number of categories to retain the company’s position as the market leader within this fast moving sector.
• Keep abreast of industry, consumer and technology trends as well as the activity of competitors, while ensuring that these insights are incorporated in to the development of a great product offering. Tap into the supplier’s knowledge, visit exhibitions, read trade magazines etc.
• Deliver competitive advantage to MCDT supply chain from effective management of quality, technical and food safety risks associated with the raw material suppliers, co-manufacturers and category, their production & transport to co-manufacturers.
• Deliver & maintain MQM and other Mars Quality initiatives into the category which means delivering a technical risk assessment, appropriate technical specifications and then monitoring the suppliers on a monthly basis through quality complaints & technical measurement.
• Ensure technical factory audits take place on time and in full for our raw material suppliers, ensuring the expertise & capability exists to manage & produce Mars products with the support of the quality systems manager. Own the action plans from the audits and ensure actions are completed, escalating to other team members (i.e. commercial or operations) if struggling.
• Own all technical documentation (technical schedules/work instructions/labels) for existing products and ensure these are agreed, updated as necessary and communicated to suppliers, using negotiation skills if necessary. Look for efficiencies and continuous improvement where possible.
• Actively ensure that our standards & technical team measures are being consistently met incl.QMS.
• On non-conformance & issues resolution, act as the technical point of contact between Mars Chocolate Drinks and Treats and the factories. Promptly deal with the factories to solve any technical issues, raising PRIMP if necessary. See the problem through to resolution, keeping people updated as necessary.
• Search for and be responsible for the technical approval of new suppliers in the category with the support of the technical lead.
• Keep abreast of legal issues in relation to products and ingredients and ensure that these are fed into our packaging and recipes.
• Build a good network with the core business in quality & R&D, who can be called on if needed.