Denholm Associates
Senior Food Technologist
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The opportunity you've been waiting for
Every ingredient that arrives at our site has been assessed, challenged where necessary and approved by someone. This role makes you that someone, with the seniority to shape how it's done.
As Senior Food Technologist, you'll sit at the centre of supplier approval, working side by side with the Supplier Quality Manager and Technical Director. You won't have formal line management responsibility from day one, but as the department grows, that's exactly where this role is heading.
How you'll make your mark
Key deliverables
- Recommend, approve and monitor ingredient suppliers and materials using a risk-based approach.
- Review certification, audit reports and specifications, challenging incomplete or inadequate technical information.
- Keep ingredient specifications, declarations and approval records accurate and current.
- Coordinate ingredient analysis with internal and external labs.
- Run traceability and mass balance exercises, and investigate any gaps they reveal.
- Respond promptly to food safety alerts, supplier notifications, non-conformances and emerging supply chain risks.
- Support supplier investigations, root cause analysis and corrective and preventive actions.
- Approve ingredients and suppliers for alternative sourcing and business continuity projects.
- Prepare evidence for internal, customer and certification audits, and complete follow-up actions.
- Keep up to date with food and labelling legislation, retailer codes of practice and certification standards.
- Improve supplier approval processes, documentation standards and ways of working.
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As the role develops
Responsibilities
As you build experience in the role and the supplier approval function develops, you'll have the opportunity to take on broader senior and leadership responsibilities, including:
- Becoming the senior point of contact for supplier approval, specifications, compliance queries and technical issues.
- Providing technical guidance and coaching to colleagues involved in supplier approval activities.
- Supporting the Supplier Quality Manager with workload planning, prioritisation and departmental improvement.
- Representing supplier approval in cross-functional meetings and supplier discussions.
- Broadening your technical knowledge and involvement across packaging and ESG approval activities within the department.
- Taking greater ownership of the day-to-day operation of the function, helping to shape priorities, ways of working and the development of the team as it grows.
What you bring
- A degree, diploma or equivalent in Food Science, Food Technology or a related discipline.
- Experience in a food, packaging, supplier quality or similar technical role.
- Practical experience of supplier approval, specifications, legislation, certification requirements or retailer and customer standards.
- Strong technical knowledge of food ingredients or food-contact packaging, and the willingness to develop across both.
- Knowledge of HACCP and BRCGS, FSSC 22000 or another GFSI-recognised programme.
- Sound technical judgement, with the ability to assess complex information using an evidence-based, risk-based approach.
- The confidence to challenge incomplete or inadequate technical information.
- Experience working across Technical, Procurement, Operations and the external supply base.
- Accuracy, organisation and the ability to prioritise within demanding timescales.
- Competence with Microsoft Office and electronic specification or document management systems.
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Useful extras
- Approval experience across both ingredients and food-contact packaging.
- Knowledge of food-contact compliance documentation and packaging or labelling legislation.
- Experience of branded product and retailer codes of practice.
- Experience of supplier auditing, traceability, mass balance or corrective action management.
- Experience of coaching, supervising or managing colleagues.
- A track record of improving supplier approval systems, documentation or team processes.
What's in it for you
- 38 hours per week, Monday to Thursday 08:00–16:30 and Friday 08:00–14:30.
- Based at Aberlour. Five days on site is preferred, and hybrid working will be considered.
- A clear route into team leadership as the department's structure evolves.
Denholm's take
Progression is built into this role from the start. You'll step in as a senior technical voice, build strong relationships across the supply base and wider business, and have the opportunity to progress into team leadership as the department evolves.
Curious how the department is set to evolve? Get in touch for a confidential conversation.
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