<div><h3>About The Role</h3><p>We currently have an exciting opportunity for a <b>Food Technologist – Produce</b> to join our Technical Team at <b>IPL</b> as part of the retail technical function. If you are passionate and eager to contribute to driving produce quality standards for our customers, we would love to hear from you.</p><h3>Position Details</h3><ul><li>Schedule: Monday – Friday 08:30am – 5:00pm</li><li>Location: Flexible to 3 options as your base – IPL, Normanton, Asda House, Sittingbourne Kent</li><li>Contract type: Permanent</li><li>Travel: applicants must hold a full driving licence, passport, and have access to their own vehicle due to regular travel across the supply base and stores.</li></ul><h3>Key Responsibilities</h3><ul><li>Risk assess, maintain and implement a UK residue testing schedule.</li><li>Regularly review label confirmations, ensuring all Retail requirements are met.</li><li>Ensure all company due diligence requirements are in place.</li><li>Maintain supplier approvals and implement regular due diligence for suppliers, sites and specifications using internal and external platforms.</li><li>Act as the category technical representative for site audits and support any traceability challenges, ensuring full closure of non‑conformities and corrective actions.</li><li>Manage specification amendments, publishing to all stakeholders and compiling required data reports.</li><li>Manage benchmarking sessions including competitor shopping, report results back to key stakeholders.</li><li>Provide a weekly CPMU business update.</li><li>Give feedback to suppliers on technical/quality performance.</li><li>Compile weekly crop reports and data, publish to key stakeholders.</li><li>Monitor and record supplier responses to inbound reds, ensuring all rejections are recorded in line with company policies.</li><li>Provide updated category information for supplier reviews.</li><li>Maintain strong working relationships with internal colleagues, Asda and third‑party suppliers.</li><li>Raise purchase orders and receive invoices as required.</li><li>Manage and communicate government (HSE, APHA etc.) correspondence to key stakeholders.</li></ul><h3>Qualifications & Skills</h3><ul><li>Relevant qualifications in agriculture, food science or related fields.</li><li>Experience in fresh produce, preferably in retail technical roles.</li><li>Experience or qualifications in sensory evaluation.</li><li>Logical, evidence‑led thinking and data analysis ability.</li><li>Excellent working knowledge of Microsoft Office – Excel, PowerPoint & Word.</li><li>Strong problem‑solving skills and confidence in decision making.</li><li>Effective analysis, judgement and concise report‑writing skills.</li><li>Spanish language proficiency is an advantage.</li></ul><h3>Benefits</h3><ul><li>Competitive salary.</li><li>Comprehensive benefits package.</li><li>15% Asda in‑store discount.</li><li>Paid annual leave allowance varying by shift pattern.</li><li>Enhanced pension scheme.</li><li>Life assurance equal to 4× annual base salary.</li><li>Help@hand health and wellbeing service, including video consultations, physiotherapy and mental health support.</li><li>Access to Grocery Aid support services.</li><li>Electric Vehicle scheme.</li><li>30% discount on Asda Mobile bundles for one family member.</li><li>Discounts on health assessments and pet insurance.</li><li>Mortgage advice bureau service.</li><li>Exchange rates via Asda Money.</li><li>Ride‑to‑work scheme with Evans.</li><li>Care Concierge care support.</li><li>Potential private healthcare, car allowances and long‑term incentive schemes based on band.</li></ul><h3>Equal Employment Opportunity</h3><p>We recognise the value in diversity and welcome applications from all candidates regardless of sex, age, race, religion, gender or sexual identity and socio‑economic background.</p></div>