The role
* Protect the itsu grocery brand by ensuring product safety, quality, legality and authenticity is maintained across the range and supply base. Driving an improvement in product quality and safety (and reduction in customer complaints) and ensuring artwork designs are compliant with regulations.
* Lead the Technical team embedding the new structure. Coach & develop direct reports to ensure strong succession plan.
* Lead the effective and timely management of food safety and quality incidents, driving fast and thorough investigations that result in objective advice for the CEO and MDs on the correct course of action, protecting our consumers and the brand.
* Review and evolve the "itsu grocery food safety & quality management system" to drive a continuous improvement in food safety standards & culture across the supply base and within the business. Maintain BRC Agents & Brokers certification (AA grade).
* Review our Technical strategy in light of our team, processes, industry issues, legislative change and risks within our supply chain, ensuring it complements the overall business strategy.
* Play an active role in our management team, keeping the business abreast of emerging issues and ensuring that decisions are made with product quality and consumer safety in mind.
you
* Extensive experience working in food safety and technical roles with both manufacturing and retail/brand experience, and expertise across a range of different food categories
* Strong knowledge of food safety, microbiology and food regulations.
* Experienced leader, ideally with experience of leading a full technical function
* Internal & external audit experience and a deep understanding of requirements for GFSI accreditations (E.g. BRC, IFS, SQF).
* Experience working with international suppliers (Asian suppliers preferred) and willing to travel to Asia a number of times in the year.
* Excellent attention to detail whilst never losing sight of the bigger picture.
* Strong stakeholder management and communication skills, capable of leading a company response to a food safety or quality issue, utilizing experience for clear, logical and confident decision making.
what we offer
* The chance to work directly with the Co-Founder of itsu & Pret
* Competitive bonus scheme
* 25 days holiday
* Health insurance
* Company Pension scheme
* Free itsu lunch and 50% off at other times