Specification Technologist

**Specification Technologist**

**Location Flexible - Liverpool OR Long Sutton**
- To be fully responsible for the accurate completion of finished product specifications to acceptable standards as agreed with customers (both internal and external) and within agreed timescales.
- To ensure compliance to customer policies own label products and internal policies
- To be involved in the liaison within the Technical / Project / Commercial / Buying / Vendor Assurance / NPD / Customers if required, and any other teams required to ensure product specifications are completed in full, on time, first time.
- To be engaged with traded suppliers, and customers (if required) re discussions related to specification completion, specification system, desired ways of working and any other process as requested that can influence / impact on the generation of the finished product specifications.
- To ensure good working relationships with all internal and external customers are developed and maintained.
- To ensure that any data linked to finished product specification that are required / requested of you is complied and submitted in a timely manner and to the agreed standards.

**Principal Responsibilities**:

- To work closely with your Manager, the Customer / Technical / Project / Commercial / Buying / Vendor assurance / NPD / Packaging and any other internal teams or external parties as required to ensure product specifications are completed in full, on time, first time
- To create finished product specification for traded (Branded / Own label / Industrial and any others as required) and to ensure that specifications are completed to the agreed standard within the agreed timeframe.
- Ensure the finished product specification traded reflect accurately the raw materials and factory processes etc. being used to make them and that any changes are effectively managed to ensure that each specification actively reflects the product being made and supplied.
- To ensure all necessary legislative and customer own brand code of practice information as required is incorporated into the finished product specification in line with expectations.
- To be the key point of contact and expert with respect to your customers specification systems and that you have a knowledge of other retailer systems so that you can provide support where needed and when requested.
- To ensure the specification systems linked to the customers you are allocated to work with are reviewed in line with customer expectations and that all specification and system housekeeping is effectively managed in line with agreed / defined customer expectations
- To ensure that all customer / colleague interaction (both internally and externally) are managed professionally and in line with business expectations.
- To ensure finished product specifications are reviewed in accordance with ours and customer policies / requirements / requests. It is the responsibility of the specification technologist to accurately manage these review processes and liaise with other interested parties as to this task / progress.
- To ensure any inaccuracies that are found during the writing of the specification are raised in an appropriate manner & time frame to your manger.
- Where required complete any specifications / reports / questionnaires or requests for additional information / specification clarification as requested of you linked to the role of Specification Technologist and its role remit.
- Where requested produce training in the use of specification systems
- To complete where required / requested artwork verification checks

These are the key job tasks and are not a comprehensive list of tasks to be undertaken by the job holder. Flexibility is required by the business & this will be agreed with the individual’s line manager.

**Knowledge, Skills & Experience**:

- Food related degree of an equivalent level of experience working within the food industry.
- Substantial and demonstrable experience of working with finished product specification systems with a focus on Hamilton Grant (HG) / QADEX.
- Desirable knowledge of working systems for M&S / JS / Asda / Waitrose / Tesco / Morrisons / Aldi / Co-Op/ Lidl etc.
- Knowledge of key customer codes of practice as required and related to specification completion / artwork review and approval specification management.
- Working knowledge of related food legislation's
- HACCP Level 2 Certificate
- Legal labelling training
- Allergen training
- Able to work on own initiative and as part of diverse and dynamic and remote team.
- Fully conversant with Microsoft Office and other relevant / required IT solutions.
- Excellent organisational and communication skills.

**Benefits**:

- 25 days annual leave plus birthday off
- 14.5% pension - 5% employee opt in / 9.5% employer
- Hybrid & flexible working - 4 days in office / 1 day WFH
- Flexible holiday option - buy 5 additional days
- Enhanced family friendly & carers policies
- Critical illness cover