Specifications Technologist – Acton, London

Taiko

Specifications Technologist – Acton, London

Job Type: Full Time

• Reporting to: Technical Manager
• Place of Work: Taiko Foods, Acton

Who are we:

We are part of the Snowfox Group which includes the YO!, Taiko and Bento brands – we operate more than 1500 kiosks, 60 wholly owned restaurants, our grab and go sushi is available in over 3,700 locations and we have 50 major retail partners.

Our key markets are the USA, Canada and the UK with additional geographic presence in Europe and Australia. Our brands are:

• Snowfox – the franchisor of over 1,000 full-service sushi kiosks in 25 states throughout the continental U.S., Hawaii and Alaska
• Bento – founded in 1996 in Canada and provides quality grab & go sushi and hot Asian food in over 900 locations, including supermarkets
• YO! – the first to bring the ‘kaiten’ conveyor belt to the UK in 1997. Today, YO! is the UK’s Sushi brand with over 50 restaurants, over 170 sushi kiosks and a popular YO! To Go range
• Taiko – founded in 1997, Taiko was the first sushi manufacturer for UK supermarkets and has evolved into a highly innovative manufacturer of sushi, bentos and snacks in the UK

Our Purpose:

We Believe in Better Food For Everyone, The Japanese Way

We continue to capitalise on consumer trends, spearheading category growth by bringing our proposition to more people around the world across more channels, in more locations, on more occasions and in more innovative ways. We are committed to purposeful progress and profit for the benefit of our people, our communities and our planet and we have a clear ESG strategy that delivers progress against nine UN sustainability development goals.

Our Values:

Own it

• We are accountable and make no excuses.
• We always look to improve
• We take the initiative and are courageous and confident

Care about it

• We do the right thing, avoiding unnecessary shortcuts
• We act with integrity and respect our communities, people and our plant

Make it Exceptional

• We build relationships and make people smile
• We say thank you
• We’re positive and kind

Win Together

• We’re open minded an inclusive
• We communicate with clarity
• We take time to look out for others and to celebrate the good stuff

Overview of the role:

• To create, manage and maintain the specifications for each and every product produced by Taiko Foods.
• To source, manage and maintain the specifications for each and every ingredient, raw material, and item of packaging used by Taiko Foods. Ensure the accuracy and legality of all documents.
• To manage customer specific websites and database; advise the business of policy document updates and summarise for distribution within the business, customer questionnaires as required.
• To facilitate the creation and project management of packaging artwork and label copy for new products and changes to existing products. Ensure the legality and accuracy of information as part of the sign off procedure.
• To manage the approved label database and upload data as required that supports the finished product labelling operation.
• To liaise with the NPD technologist in order to ensure all NPD projects are completed successfully.
• To conduct the supplier risk assessment and approval process and maintain approved supplier registers. Ensuring that all information is accurate, up to date and appropriate to enable management of the risk posed by each supplier.
• To conduct ingredients and packaging risk assessments and approval process and maintain the approved ingredient and packaging registers.
• Actively support the allergen management system and contribute to the HACCP management system as required To ensure processes, procedures and risk assessments are managed and maintained in compliance with BRC requirements.
• To ensure suppliers’ traceability is carried out annually for existing sea food, meat and packaging suppliers.

Administrative Responsibilities:

• As required to achieve the Principal Responsibilities
• As required to support the objectives and the operational requirements of the Technical team and the needs of the wider business

3 Best Things about the job

• You’ll be joining a business with exciting growth plans
• You’ll work in a fast-paced environment, with a fantastic team culture
• We believe in developing our employees – there’s no ceiling when it comes to your career with us!

Key Accountabilities:

The role of the Specification Technologist is to ensure legal compliance and safety of products and packaging through the preparation, maintenance and management of specifications for raw materials, finished products and packaging materials, product labels and other printed packaging, artwork, and all related documents. The Role of Specifications Technologist reports to the Technical Manager.

What you’ll need:

• You’ll have a strong customer focus with the ability to communicate with customers on a routine basis
• You’ll have the ability to work within a team and with other departments, demonstrate a flexible approach to work and manage time-critical assignments that involve varying degrees of complexity
• You’ll need good English comprehension, good written and spoken English and be able to understand and interpret regulations and produce work that is accurate and concise.
• Attention to detail and accuracy of documents is a crucial pre-requisite to be successful in the role
• The role requires good computer skills and working knowledge of customer website management. In particular Waitrose Principal Responsibilities

What’s in it for you?

• We’re committed to building inclusive Teams and giving our People the opportunity to grow their careers alongside us.
• We strive to be a friendly and inclusive workplace and have a diverse team of people who share a passion for providing the best quality service and products.
• 50% off your food every time you dine with us for you and 3 friends.

The Snowfox Group is an equal opportunity employer. We encourage people from all backgrounds to apply. We are committed to ensuring that our technology is made available and accessible to everyone. All employment decisions are made without regard to race, colour, national origin, ancestry, sex, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, genetic information, religion, disability, medical condition, pregnancy, marital status, family status, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.