Senior Manager Food Technology

Whitbread PLC; Dunstable; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Matched Contributory Pension up to 10%

Up to 60% off Premier Inn and Hub stays

Job summary

Whitbread PLC is seeking a Senior Manager - Food Technology to lead the food technical strategy across Whitbread and Premier Inn. The role involves managing food safety, integrity, legality, and quality standards, while driving cross-functional collaboration.

Candidates should have significant experience in a senior technical role and strong knowledge of food safety legislation. The position offers hybrid working with a generous benefits package including a contributory pension and discounts on stays.

Qualifications

• Strong working knowledge of food safety legislation and regulatory frameworks.
• Significant experience in a senior technical role within food manufacturing or hospitality.
• Proven track record of Supply Base Governance.

Responsibilities

• Lead the annual Food Risk Review and update critical risk tools.
• Own the governance framework and technical policy reviews.
• Manage NSF and ensure compliance with audit/testing plans.
• Drive supplier governance and quality consistency.
• Represent Whitbread externally to shape industry standards.

Skills

Food safety legislation

Crisis Management

Supplier Governance

Regulatory frameworks

Education

Degree in Food Science or related discipline

Job description

Job Description

Posted Wednesday 1 July 2026 at 00:00 | Expires Friday 17 July 2026 at 23:59

Location: Dunstable LU5

Hybrid working 3 days a week in the office

As Whitbread’s Senior Manager - Food Technology, you will shape and deliver the end‑to‑end food technical strategy across Whitbread and Premier Inn—setting the standards for food safety, integrity, legality and quality. You’ll oversee all technical service provision through NSF and other partners, ensuring robust due diligence, consistent compliance and continuous improvement in efficiency and effectiveness.

Bringing a practical, evidence‑led and commercially balanced mindset, you will manage food‑related risks, strengthen senior‑level supplier relationships and build joint strategies that enhance brand performance while protecting guest trust. You’ll represent Whitbread externally, using industry insight and networks to influence the wider agenda and anticipate regulatory or market change.

As the organisation’s voice of food technical expertise, you will lead governance frameworks, KPIs and reporting, drive cross‑functional collaboration, and build high‑performing teams. You will also own the annual food risk review, ensuring risk frameworks remain current and that strong mitigation plans are in place across the supply base.

What you'll do

• Risk & Compliance Leadership — Lead the annual Food Risk Review, update critical risk tools, and ensure operational controls reflect internal and external changes.
• Governance & Crisis Management — Own the governance framework and technical policy reviews, and lead crisis management for food safety, integrity and legality incidents.
• Service Provider & Audit Oversight — Manage NSF and other service partners, ensuring effective audit/testing plans, continuous improvement, and full compliance with agreed scopes.
• Supply Base Quality & Performance — Drive supplier governance, quality and consistency programmes, raw material strategy, and delivery of brand and ESG goals across the supply base.
• Quality Culture & External Representation — Build a strong internal quality culture, lead regulatory horizon scanning and action planning, and represent Whitbread externally to shape industry standards.

Why you'll love it here

• Matched Contributory Pension up to 10%
• Up to 60% off Premier Inn and Hub stays

What you'll need

• A degree (or equivalent experience) in Food Science, Food Technology, Food Safety or a related discipline.
• Strong working knowledge of food safety legislation, industry standards and regulatory frameworks.
• Significant experience in a senior technical or technologist role within food manufacturing, hospitality or retail sectors.
• Experience applying technical judgement in complex or fast‑paced operational settings.
• Experience of ensuring effective food governance and reporting (Food Safety, Integrity, Legality and Quality) and contributing to technical policies and review including allergens, quality and nutrition.
• Experience of leading Crisis Management of food safety, integrity, legality related incidents as a Food Technology SME.
• Proven track record of Supply Base Governance (Safety & Quality).
• Member of IFST or other relevant associations.