Supplier Technologist

The role involves supporting the Supplier Technical Manager at apetito, ensuring that food products meet high standards through monitoring deliveries from approved suppliers. Responsibilities include reviewing raw material specifications, maintaining compliance databases, and conducting supplier audits. The position requires a UK driving licence and valid passport due to potential travel. Candidates should have a working knowledge of food safety, excellent communication skills, and attention to detail. apetito, a leading food supplier, values ethical practices and sustainability, offering competitive benefits, including a pension scheme and employee discounts, while promoting an inclusive workplace.

Overview:
Reporting to and supporting the Supplier Technical Manager, you will help to ensure that foods, consumables and items for use in the factory meet our high standards.
You will monitor goods delivered from approved suppliers and against agreed specifications to meet the requirements of legislation, 3rd party standards, customers and the business.
Support will be provided to maintain, deliver and develop related procedures, systems and supplier audits to ensure compliance with business and standards such as those required by the British Retail Consortium Group.
This role is based in our Trowbridge Head Office and will require some travel to UK and European suppliers, potentially with travel further afield.
Therefore, a UK driving licence and valid passport are required to facilitate this.
This role is working 37.5 hours per week, Monday – Friday.
Competitive Salary + Bonus + Benefits
Who we are:
apetito is the UK’s leading food supplier to the health and social care sectors serving more than 1,300 care homes, health care and education settings.
Our meals are expertly crafted by our dieticians and chefs, and then frozen to lock in the goodness.
Wiltshire Farm Foods, our sister company, is the UK’s largest ready meal supplier cooking and delivering over 330 different delicious frozen ready meals across the UK.
Responsibilities:
Gathering supplier information to support risk assessment findings
Review and final stakeholder approval of raw material specifications against supplier approval documentation
Liaising with suppliers to ensure technical requirements such as CoA’s and positive release are agreed and in place
Maintenance and update of databases, compliance declarations and risk assessments concerning the technical management of approx. 400 suppliers
Supporting the Supplier Technical Manager in completing desk top and on site supplier approval and monitoring audits
Provide support to resolve supplier related non-conformances and complaints
Support the continuous improvement and development of all processes and procedures in relation to the technical approval of suppliers and materials to deliver a benchmark supplier assurance quality management system
Behaving in a manner that prevents risk of injury or illness to self or others
About you:
Essential:
Working knowledge of food safety and quality requirements
Competent use of Microsoft Office applications (including Word and Excel)
Numerate with good written English
Ability to form good working relationships with external suppliers
Excellent communication skills.
Excellent attention to detail
Able to work on own initiative
Excellent time management skills.
Driving licence
Adaptable
Methodical approach
Valid passport and wiling to travel
Desirable:
Experience in approving food product specifications, supplier approval questionnaires
Food Technology/Safety Degree or similar
Quality Assurance or Food Technology background
Lead Auditor qualification
Experience using supplier management software
Company Benefits:
• Competitive salary – accredited Living Wage employer
• 25 days holiday per year, plus bank holidays
• Option to purchase up to 5 additional days holiday per year
• Discretionary annual bonus scheme
• Pension scheme – employer matched contributions up to 4%
• Life assurance scheme worth at least 1x annual salary
• Subsidised canteen
• Free parking
• Free turkey or voucher at Christmas
• apetito perks scheme including salary sacrifice options and retail discounts
Our Values:
As a family-owned business, we take great pride in being a company that makes a real difference and is dedicated to creating outstanding meals to be proud of.
We develop a range of products designed to enhance health and well-being for all our customers.
We are driven by a passion for service and dedicated to feeding some of the UK’s most vulnerable people.
We proudly support British food and farming, focusing on using the best ethical and sustainable produce in alignment with our goal to reach Net Zero by 2040.
Our ethical standards are recognised by the ETI and we are an accredited Living Wage employer.
Learn more about apetito’s commitment to a more sustainable future.
We embrace inclusion, empowering individuals from diverse backgrounds.
Our commitment to making a real difference extends to customers, communities, and staff and we’re on a mission to build an inclusive workplace where everyone reaches their full potential.