Whitbread
Senior Manager Food Technology
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Senior Manager – Food Technology Location: Dunstable (LU5) – Hybrid (3 days in-office)
As Whitbread’s Senior Manager – Food Technology, you will own and shape the end-to-end food technical strategy for Whitbread and Premier Inn, setting benchmark standards for safety, integrity, legality, and quality. Responsible for overseeing partnerships with external providers like NSF, you will ensure robust due diligence, compliance, and operational efficiency while managing food-related risks and fostering key supplier relationships.
With a practical, evidence-led, and commercially balanced approach, you’ll drive strategic alignment to meet brand goals while safeguarding guest trust. Representing Whitbread externally, your industry expertise and networks will enable proactive influence on regulatory and market trends.
As the company’s voice on food technical vision, your leadership will anchored on governance frameworks, KPI alignment, and cross-functional collaboration, while leading high-performing teams and reinforcing the quality culture across operations.
At a glance
- Salary: Competitive market salary (potential 20% bonus).
- Benefits:
- 10% matched pension contribution
- Up to 60% off Premier Inn/Hub stays
- Hybrid flexibility with 3 office days per week
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership & Risk Management
- Lead the annual Food Risk Review, assessing and refining critical food safety risk tools.
- Oversee internal/external updates to reflect compliance frameworks and operational controls.
- Align risk mitigation strategies with regulatory and supply chain priorities.
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Governance & Crisis Management
- Own the governance framework, ensuring technical policies (including allergens, quality, nutrition) are up-to-date.
- Lead crisis response for food safety, integrity, and legality incidents, swiftly resolving incidents while minimizing reputational damage.
Partner & Supply Chain Oversight
- Manage relationships with NSF and other service providers, ensuring compliance and audit plans.
- Drive supplier governance, quality programs, and raw material strategy to align with brand and ESG goals.
- Champion cross-functional collaboration to improve supply chain resilience and operational efficiency.
Quality & External Impact
- Cultivate a data-driven, quality-focused culture internally.
- Spearhead regulatory horizon-scanning and strategy to proactively adapt to market trends.
- Represent Whitbread in industry forums, influencing standards and –
- Leading regulatory/hospitality business groups.
Requirements
Profiles Sought
- Degree (or equivalent) in Food Science, Food Technology, Food Safety, or a related discipline.
- Professional qualification (e.g., IFST membership) or membership of another relevant association is advantageous.
- Expertise in food safety legislation, industry standards, and regulatory frameworks.
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Experience
- Senior-level experience in a technical, quality, or operational role, either in:
- Food manufacturing (e.g.,ேசிய or 점을념 of stability and compliance)
- Hospitality/retail (e.g., multi-site operations where food tech risk/expertise is critical).
- Proven excellence in decision-making under pressure, balancing technical rigor with commercial needs.
- Experience:
- Umpleting technical policies, governance documentation, and reporting (focusing on food safety, integrity, legality, and nutrition).
- Crisis management in food industry incidents of safety/legality risk.
Essential Competencies
- Ability to navigate complex operational environments with integrity and commercially astute solutions.
- Demonstrated supply base governance expertise, ensuring safety/quality standards across suppliers.
- Collaborative mindset to build high-performing teams and foster cross-functional alignment.
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