FMCG Food Safety & Manufacturing Systems Consultant

RSSL; Reading; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

RSSL (Reading Scientific Services Ltd) is seeking an experienced consultant to provide expert consultancy and training on applied microbiology in FMCG manufacturing environments, with a focus on HACCP system design and BRC Global Standard compliance. The role includes contributing technical content to bids and helping scope consultancy projects.

The ideal candidate will have extensive food safety experience in FMCG, hands-on HACCP leadership, and a strong background in training and cross-site

Qualifications

• Degree in food science, microbiology, or a closely related discipline (essential)
• HACCP Level 4 / Advanced HACCP qualification (essential)
• Lead Auditor qualification - BRCGS, FSSC 22000, or equivalent (highly desirable)
• Recognised training qualification (e.g., PTLLS/Award in Education & Training, or equivalent) (desirable)
• Chartered Scientist (CSci) or RSci status (desirable)
• MSc or PhD in food microbiology or food safety (desirable)

Responsibilities

• Provide expert consultancy and training on applied microbiology in FMCG manufacturing
• Design and verify HACCP systems and lead HACCP team activities
• Contribute technical content to bids, tenders and quotations
• Assist with scoping, estimating effort, and writing training/consultancy specifications
• Deliver HACCP training (Levels 2–4) and BRC interpretation workshops
• Support multi-site projects across ambient, chilled, frozen, high-risk environments

Skills

FMCG manufacturing

Applied microbiology

HACCP management

BRCGS knowledge

Training delivery

Bid writing

Cross-site coordination

Education

Degree in food science or microbiology

HACCP Level 4 / Advanced HACCP

Lead Auditor qualification (desirable)

Education/Training qualification (desirable)

CSci/RSci status (desirable)

Job description

Job Description

Are You Ready to Make an Impact at RSSL?

Join Our Mission to Transform Lives Through Science, Innovation and Collaboration
RSSL (Reading Scientific Services Ltd) is a leading scientific services company providing analytical testing, consultancy, and training to the food, drink, pharmaceutical, and consumer goods industries. A wholly owned subsidiary of Mondelēz International, we combine deep scientific expertise with practical industry knowledge.

Job Description
Are You Ready to Make an Impact at RSSL?
Join Our Mission to Transform Lives Through Science, Innovation and Collaboration
RSSL (Reading Scientific Services Ltd) is a leading scientific services company providing analytical testing, consultancy, and training to the food, drink, pharmaceutical, and consumer goods industries. A wholly owned subsidiary of Mondelēz International, we combine deep scientific expertise with practical industry knowledge.
Our Training & Consultancy division delivers specialist food safety, allergen management, microbiology, regulatory, and FMCG manufacturing compliance services - both as tailored consultancy for individual client challenges and as structured training programmes for teams at every level. We work with businesses of all sizes, from start-ups navigating regulation for the first time to established manufacturers strengthening their systems. RSSL manages all client relationships and administration, so our consultants focus on what they do best: delivering expert advice and training.
Purpose of the Role
To provide expert consultancy and training to RSSL's food industry clients on applied microbiology in FMCG manufacturing environments, HACCP system design and verification, and BRC Global Standard for Food Safety compliance. This consultant will also support the commercial function by contributing technical content to bids, helping scope quotations, and writing specifications for training and consultancy projects.
Essential Experience

• Extensive experience in food safety / technical roles within FMCG food manufacturing environments (not solely laboratory, retail, or regulatory)
• Hands-on ownership or management of HACCP systems in a manufacturing setting, including leading HACCP team meetings, conducting hazard analyses, and validating critical control points
• Practical applied microbiology experience: environmental monitoring programme design, shelf-life determination, challenge testing, microbiological specification setting, and root-cause investigation of micro failures
• Direct experience with BRCGS Global Standard for Food Safety at a practitioner level - system design, implementation, gap analysis, and supporting sites through certification audits (not just audit awareness)
• Demonstrated experience of working across multiple product categories or manufacturing environments (e.g., ambient, chilled, frozen, high-care/high-risk)
• Training delivery experience: proven ability to design and deliver HACCP training (Levels 2–4), BRC interpretation workshops, food safety culture sessions, or internal auditor training to audiences ranging from factory-floor operatives to senior management
• Commercial and bid-writing capability: experience contributing technical content to proposals, tenders, or consultancy quotations. Able to scope a piece of work, estimate effort, and write a clear specification
  

Desirable Experience

• Experience in a consultancy or advisory capacity (not solely in-house roles) - evidence of working across multiple client sites or business units
• BRC Lead Auditor status or significant experience conducting BRC-related audits
• Familiarity with retailer Codes of Practice (major UK and European retailers)
• Experience with food safety culture assessments and improvement programmes
• Incident management and crisis response experience (product recalls, contamination events)
• Experience developing training course materials and curricula for food safety programmes
• Understanding of GFSI-benchmarked schemes beyond BRC (FSSC 22000, SQF, IFS) to broaden the consultancy offering
  

Qualifications

• Degree in food science, microbiology, or a closely related discipline (essential)
• HACCP Level 4 / Advanced HACCP qualification (essential)
• Lead Auditor qualification - BRCGS, FSSC 22000, or equivalent (highly desirable)
• Recognised training qualification (e.g., PTLLS/Award in Education & Training, or equivalent) (desirable)
• Chartered Scientist (CSci) or Registered Scientist (RSci) status (desirable)
• MSc or PhD in food microbiology or food safety (desirable)
  

More About This Role
What RSSL Offers the Consultant

• Zero admin, pure delivery: RSSL manages the entire commercial and administrative cycle - client acquisition, all client communications and relationship management, invoicing, billing, credit control, and debt collection. The consultant simply delivers the work and takes their day rate. No chasing clients, no unpaid invoices, no business development overhead, no paperwork
• Access to a pipeline of food industry clients through RSSL's established brand and active sales function - the consultant does not need to find their own leads
• Full support from RSSL's internal team for bid coordination, project logistics, and scheduling
• Opportunity to build a portfolio of work across diverse food manufacturing sectors
• Association with the RSSL brand - a respected name in analytical and consultancy services
• Flexibility of zero-hours engagement - fits alongside other consultancy commitments
  

Business Unit Summary
Reading Scientific Services Ltd (RSSL) is a cutting-edge contract research organisation (CRO), providing research, analysis and consultancy to the food, consumer goods and life science sectors. Whether we are creating new products, validating medicines or solving investigations, we take pride in being a leader in our field, serving clients from across 70 countries. Enriched by our parent company, Mondelēz International, our team are committed to transforming lives through science, innovation and collaboration.
Curious about us and want to learn more?
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RSSL is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, colour, religion, gender, sexual orientation or preference, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.
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Job Type
Casual (No Fixed Hours)
Food safety
Product Quality, Safety and Compliance