Senior Food Technologist

Marks and Spencer; London; On-site; GBP 100,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

A major UK retailer is seeking a Senior Food Technologist to lead quality, innovation, and food safety initiatives. The role involves managing supplier partnerships and driving product quality performance in a fast-paced environment. The ideal candidate will have a technical degree and significant experience in the food sector, demonstrating strong leadership skills and the ability to influence quality strategy.

Benefits

20% colleague discount

Competitive holiday allowance

Discretionary bonus schemes

Strong pension and life assurance

Tailored induction and training

Market-leading family policies

24/7 wellbeing support

One paid volunteer day

Qualifications

• Proven experience within the food sector, operating at a senior level.
• Confidence and credibility to lead technical decisions.
• Externally recognized professional competence where appropriate.

Responsibilities

• Lead supplier partnerships to ensure products are made safely and consistently.
• Partner with category team for innovative product development.
• Own product quality performance using insight and collaboration.

Skills

Technical leadership

Problem-solving

Attention to detail

Collaboration

Education

Degree-level technical qualification

Job description

Overview

We're reshaping our Food business to broaden its appeal, protecting the magic our customers love while modernising everything else. That means exceptional quality, high sourcing standards, and market-leading innovation remain at our core, while we transform our supply chains, improve our stores, and deliver better value.

We're looking for motivated people ready to bring their whole self to work and thrive in a fast-paced, ambitious team. After all, this isn't just food this is M&S Food.

All the details

At M&S, we're working to be the UK's most trusted retailer, with exceptional quality products at the heart of everything we do. As a Senior Food Technologist, you'll help us deliver on that promise, bringing sharp thinking, creativity, and sound judgement to every challenge.

We're looking for someone accomplished and confident in their technical leadership. This isn't a step-up role, it's a step in, to a position with weight and visibility. Our Senior Technologists are trusted experts. You'll represent M&S in the supply base, steer quality strategy, and make calls that balance technical integrity with commercial goals.

This role is hugely varied, and no two days are the same! You will lead on the quality, innovation, food safety, integrity, ethical and sustainability credentials of our products and work with passionate colleagues to continuously learn and step change our product ranges.

You'll move confidently between solo work and collaboration, adapt when priorities shift, and balance technical decisions with commercial goals. Food retail moves fast, and priorities aren't always clear cut, you'll need to be resilient, comfortable with ambiguity, and ready to solve problems creatively. And if in doubt, engineer more quality in.

If you care about quality, thrive on variety, and want to make a real impact-this could be your next move.

Due to high interest, this role may close earlier than advertised. We recommend applying as soon as possible.

What you’ll do

• Lead supplier partnerships to ensure products are made safely and consistently to agreed standards
• Partner with the category team to shape innovative product development and define quality benchmarks
• Build and deliver research and innovation plans that drive strategic new product development
• Own product quality performance, using insight and supplier collaboration to deliver step changes where needed

Who you are

• Degree-level technical qualification in a relevant subject
• Proven experience within the food sector, operating at a senior level
• Confidence and credibility to lead technical decisions, represent the business externally, and influence quality strategy
• Externally recognised professional competence where appropriate (e.g., FIFST, MIFST)

What’s in it for you?

Working at M&S means being part of something bigger - helping to deliver quality, value and service to millions of customers every day. We\'re inclusive, fast-moving and always evolving, with a strong sense of purpose and a focus on doing the right thing.

Here are just a few of the benefits that make working here even more rewarding:

• 20% colleague discount on all M&S products and many third-party brands for you and someone in your household, available once you've completed your probation
• Competitive holiday allowance with the option to buy more
• Discretionary bonus schemes linked to your performance and ours
• Strong pension and life assurance to help plan for the future
• Tailored induction and training to support your development from day one
• Exclusive perks and savings through our M&S Choices portal
• Market-leading family policies, including parental, adoption and neonatal leave
• 24/7 wellbeing support, including virtual GP access and mental health services
• One paid volunteer day a year to support a cause that matters to you

Everyone’s welcome

We are ambitious about the future of retail. We're disrupting, innovating and leading the industry into a more conscientious, inspiring digital era. We're transforming how we work together and offering our most exciting opportunities yet. Marks & Spencer strives to be an inclusive organisation, trusted and admired by our colleagues, customers and suppliers. Join us and make change happen.

We are committed to building diverse and representative teams, where everyone can bring their whole selves to work and be at their best. We support each other and work together to win together.

If you feel you'd benefit from any support or reasonable adjustments during any stage of the recruitment process, please don't hesitate to let us know when completing your application. This information will be picked up by our team, so we can try and put steps in place to help you be at your best through this process.

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