Food Technology Lead

**Ocado Group is an equal opportunities employer and as such makes every effort to ensure that all potential employees are treated fairly and equally, regardless of their sex, sexual orientation, marital status, race, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin, religion or belief, age, or disability or union membership status.** **Why Ocado?** We've got you covered Embark on a journey of well-being and fulfilment at Ocado Logistics We place your well-being at the forefront and offer an array of perks to support your holistic development. Experience a healthy work-life balance and take comfort in our comprehensive healthcare coverage. Moreover, we understand the significance of financial security in fostering a sense of stability and peace of mind. Enjoy competitive salaries and exclusive employee discounts, all aimed at promoting your overall well-being. Join Ocado Logistics today and thrive in a culture that truly values and supports your well-being at every step of your journey. **About us**: Ocado Logistics is the beating heart of our UK business, comprising a network of cutting-edge warehouses, spokes, and offices across the country. Our customer-centric approach is fueled by a passionate team dedicated to delivering an exceptional shopping experience. With a focus on our people, we drive business results and maximise the value of our employees. At Ocado Logistics, we prioritise meeting the needs and fostering the spirit of our workforce. **About the role**: Are you passionate about ensuring food safety and compliance within a leading organisation? Do you thrive in a role where you can lead a team and set the strategic direction for technical policy and compliance? If so, we have the perfect opportunity for you with this exciting hybrid role based at our Hatfield Head Office We are seeking a skilled and experienced Food Technology Lead to join our team at Ocado Logistics. In this role, you will be responsible for managing and leading the Food Technical Policy and Compliance Team, ensuring that Ocado Logistics operates safely and legally while maintaining the highest standards of food safety. **You will be**: As the Food Technology Lead at Ocado Logistics, your responsibilities will include identifying business risks related to food safety and developing business blueprints for adherence to safety and legal requirements. You will measure business compliance and advise on standards for new sites, projects, or processes within our logistics network. Building strong relationships with retail client technical teams, you will support the delivery of their requirements within our group services. With a focus on a "safety first" approach, you will foster a strong food safety culture to ensure the continuous safety of our products. Staying updated on regulatory developments and industry best practices, you will develop and implement relevant technical policies and procedures to maintain our business's safety and legality. Conducting regular audits and managing Quality Management Systems will be essential to meet due diligence requirements. As a leader in HACCP plans across the business, you will enhance food safety measures and ensure compliance with legislative standards at all sites. Collaborating with project teams, you will ensure the safe and legal delivery of business and site development projects. Providing operational support for day-to-day compliance challenges and food safety incidents, you will be the point of contact for technical challenges and regulatory activities. Your guidance and coaching to key stakeholders will support their understanding of business requirements and achieve compliance. Additionally, you will contribute to the team's Objectives, Goals, Strategies, and Measures (OGSM) to drive success. **About you**: - Bachelor's degree in Food Science or a related field, or equivalent industry experience. - Experience in food manufacture and/or retail audits. - Demonstrated experience in establishing root cause analysis and evaluating the effectiveness of corrective actions. - HACCP and Food Hygiene qualifications/experience. - Proficiency in using technology for recording and reporting. - Internal auditor qualification (or to be attained within 12 months of role commencement). - Advanced Food Hygiene qualification (or to be attained within 12 months of role commencement). - Basic understanding of microbiology. - Familiarity with pest control and account management. **What we offer you**: An award winning recognition scheme: We celebrate our people and appreciate the incredible work they do each day. We genuinely care about your well-being, and that's why we have curated a comprehensive range of employee benefits just for you. We continuously review and update our offerings to ensure that we provide the right support to our valued employees. Here's a glimpse of the wealth of benefits we provide: - Flexible Working: Enjoy the freedom of our 30 days 'working from anywhere in the world' policy, allowing you to achieve a better work-life balance. - Wellbeing Support: Take advantage of our dedicated apps and Employee Assistance Programme, providing you with the necessary resources and support to enhance your overall well-being. - Generous Annual Leave: Start with 25 days of annual leave and watch it grow to 27 days after 5 years of service. Additionally, you have the option to purchase additional holiday time to suit your needs. - Pension Scheme: Plan for a secure future with our Ocado pension scheme, including an option with employer contribution matching of up to 7%. - Private Medical Insurance: Rest easy knowing that your health is safeguarded with our comprehensive private medical coverage. - Family-Friendly Policies: We understand the importance of family, which is why we offer 22 weeks of paid maternity leave, adoption leave, shared parental leave and 6 weeks of paid paternity leave once relevant service requirements are met. - Financial Support: Benefit from our interest-free Train Ticket Loan and participate in our Cycle to Work Scheme, making your commute easier and more affordable. - Convenient Shuttle Services: Enjoy the convenience of our free shuttle bus services, connecting Hatfield and Welwyn Garden City train stations to our respective offices. - Sharesave and Buy as You Earn Schemes: Take part in our exciting share schemes, allowing you to share in our success and contribute to your financial future. - Financial Protection: We offer Income Protection, providing coverage of up to 50% of your salary for 3 years, and Life Assurance, ensuring financial security with coverage of 3 times your annual salary. At Ocado Logistics, we prioritise your well-being and strive to create an environment where you can thrive both personally and professionally. Join us and unlock the full potential of our exceptional employee benefits. Find out about our employee funded benefit options, using Benefits+ to add bespoke benefits including Dental Insurance, Travel Insurance and much more. ***We're in it together, we are proud of what we do, we can be even better.