Job Description
Job Title: Specifications Technologist
Reporting To: Technical Manager
Location: Office Based (London)
Position: Full-time, 12 month Fixed-Term Contract
Who We Are
The Azzurri Group is one of the UK’s largest and most successful hospitality investment platforms. We operate two leading national Italian full-service brands, Zizzi and ASK Italian and the UK’s leading quick-service Italian, Coco di Mama. Beyond Italian cuisine, we boast renowned Irish fast casual Mexican restaurant brand Boojum, and the franchise rights to leading US Brand Dave’s Hot Chicken.
As a group, our purpose is to build better food businesses that sustain happy, healthy lives. We are in this together, and we’re committed to providing an engaging, honest, and inspiring working environment for you to grow and develop your career.
At Azzurri, we believe that a diverse and inclusive team is essential to building great relationships and connections, and ultimately a better business. If you’re passionate, want to make a positive impact and share our values, we would love to hear from you!
The Opportunity:
Working across the Azzurri Group you will be responsible for managing supplier approval and food product specification approval across our restaurant brands, ensuring all food and drink supplied to the business is safe, compliant and accurately documented.
The role supports the continued development of our internal technical capability, and plays a key part in supporting menu launches, supplier changes and ongoing food safety assurance. This is a great opportunity to take ownership of a critical technical function within a growing hospitality group. You will have exposure to multi-brand operations and fast-paced menu development.
We are looking for someone to join a collaborative team environment with opportunities to develop technical and audit capability.
What You’ll be Doing:
* Own day-to-day supplier approval and product/specification approval activity across Azzurri brands.
* Work closely with the Technical Manager, Procurement and Brand teams to support menu development, supplier onboarding and change.
* Manage high volumes of technical documentation within a fast-paced, multi-brand hospitality environment.
* Support peak activity periods, including menu launches and supplier transitions, to ensure business continuity.
* Provide technical support to the wider Quality & Safety team as required.
Supplier Approval & Assurance
* Manage the approval and re-approval of food and beverage suppliers in line with company standards and food safety legislation.
* Review supplier documentation including food safety certifications, questionnaires and supporting evidence.
* Monitor supplier approval status and risk ratings, escalating issues where required.
* Liaise directly with suppliers to resolve technical queries and outstanding actions.
Product & Specification Approval
* Review, approve and maintain food and drink product specifications for all menu items.
* Ensure specifications meet food safety, allergen and regulatory requirements and are suitable for hospitality operations.
* Manage specification workflows, version control and re-submissions.
* Identify and escalate material changes, including allergen or ingredient changes.
Technical Complaints & Food Safety Support
* Manage technical supplier complaints such as foreign objects, mould, spoilage or packaging defects.
* Work with suppliers to investigate issues and agree corrective actions.
* Provide technical input to food safety enquiries, including ingredients and allergens (no direct customer contact).
Technical Support & PPDS Validation
* Support the Technical Manager with validation of allergen guides, ingredient listings and PPDS labels.
* Assist with technical checks linked to menu changes, supplier transitions or product withdrawals.
Audit & Compliance Support
* Support desktop and document-based supplier audits and participate in on-site audits where appropriate.
* Coordinate enhanced audits delivered by external providers and track corrective actions.
* Maintain appropriate separation between audit activity and final approval decisions.
Reporting & Continuous Improvement
* Monitor approval volumes, turnaround times and outstanding actions.
* Maintain accurate records across internal systems.
* Contribute to process improvements and support team resilience during peak workload periods.
What will you bring?
Experience
* Previous experience in a food technical or specifications role within hospitality, foodservice or retail desirable.
* Practical experience managing supplier approvals, specification reviews and technical documentation preferred.
* Experience liaising directly with suppliers and technical service providers preferred.
Qualifications
* Degree or qualification in Food Science, Food Technology, Nutrition or a related discipline preferred.
* Level 3 Food Safety qualification desirable (or willingness to work towards).
* Internal auditor training desirable (or willingness to work towards).
Skills & Attributes
* A keen eye on the detail.
* Comfortable managing high volumes of approvals against tight deadlines.
* Confident communicator, both written and verbal.
* Pragmatic and solutions-focused, with strong understanding of hospitality operations.
* Forward thinking and proactive.
* Great team player!
What We Can Offer You:
• Competitive salary
• Annual bonus (up to 10% of your salary)
• The opportunity to work remotely on an ad hoc basis
• Employer pension contribution 3% each month
• 25 days holiday plus bank holidays
• Income Protection & Life Assurance
• Access to WeCare wellbeing services and online GP for you and your family
• Cycle to Work scheme
• Interest free travel loan
• Eye care & flu vaccination vouchers
• 50% discount at ASK Italian, Coco di Mama, Dave’s Hot Chicken and Zizzi
Where We Work Together:
We have a great office designed by our own in-house creative team, located in Central London, just opposite the Edgware Road Circle line tube stop. As you might expect from a restaurant company, we have great, free espresso and some top-class baristas among our teams. A free Coco di Mama breakfast is provided every Tuesday and Thursday and free fruit is available all day every day. We regularly order in pizza, pasta and salads for lunch.