Specification Manager - Food

MaxAd; Leeds; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading food business in Leeds is looking for a Specification Manager to manage product specifications across various retailers. This role involves developing compliance documents and collaborating with multiple teams while ensuring adherence to food safety standards. The ideal candidate will have experience in food manufacturing and strong analytical skills. Benefits include private healthcare, 25 days holiday, free parking, and hybrid working arrangements.

Benefits

Private healthcare

25 days holiday

Free parking

Hybrid working

Qualifications

• Experience in food manufacturing writing specifications.
• Knowledge of HACCP and quality management frameworks.
• Must have completed legal labelling and allergen training.

Responsibilities

• Own and manage customer specification accounts.
• Develop and submit compliant product specifications.
• Gather and manage detailed technical data for products.
• Translate supplier information into retail-specific formats.

Skills

Food safety principles

Strong analytical skills

Customer specification writing

Communication with suppliers

Education

Degree in Food Science, Nutrition, or Food Technology

Job description

£40,000 DoE + Private Healthcare + 25 Days Holiday + Free Parking + Hybrid

Are you an experienced Specification Technologist or Specification Manager looking to broaden your exposure across multiple retailers, product categories and global supply partners? Would you thrive in a fast-paced, highly collaborative environment where accuracy, resilience and technical expertise genuinely shape the success of every product launch?

A leading, long-established food business is seeking a proactive Specification Manager to join its growing team in a state-of-the-art site in central Leeds. This is a fantastic opportunity for someone who loves food, enjoys solving complex data challenges and wants to work across a hugely varied portfolio spanning frozen chips and potatoes, fruit, vegetables, party foods and more.

Working as part of a supportive, experienced specification team, you'll play a key role in ensuring that every product meets the highest levels of safety, legality, quality and compliance, while contributing directly to the successful launch of products into all major UK retailers and food service customers.

Key Responsibilities

Own and manage your customer accounts, acting as the key point of contact for all specification activity. Responsibilities include :

Developing, completing and submitting accurate, compliant product specifications in line with customer critical paths and internal quality processes

Gathering, verifying and managing detailed technical data including recipes, allergen information, nutritional values, cooking instructions, micro results, storage requirements and shelf-life analysis

Translating complex supplier information into retailer-specific formats and ensuring all deadlines are met

Creating pack copy and supporting artwork processes, including liaison with printers, photography approvals and ensuring packaging meets all technical and legal standards

Working closely with NPD, Technical, Commercial and Supply Chain teams, and participating in weekly cross-functional retailer account meetings

Maintaining specifications in line with UK and EU food legislation and updating them in accordance with customer schedules

About You

Experience of writing customer specifications in a food manufacturing environment

Strong knowledge of food safety principles, HACCP, and quality management frameworks such as BRCGS or ISO

Completed legal labelling and allergen training (or is willing to refresh)

Understands retailer specification systems and customer approval processes

Brings strong analytical skills and enjoys working with detailed data sets

Understands ingredients, recipes, nutrition and food composition

Communicates confidently with suppliers, retailers and internal stakeholders

Ideally educated to degree level in Food Science, Nutrition, Food Technology or a related discipline; however, candidates with relevant industry experience and professional training will also be considered.

Benefits include private healthcare, 25 days' holiday plus bank holidays, free city centre parking, hybrid working with 1 day per week from home. This isn't a passive data-entry role. It requires ownership, assertiveness, and the confidence to liaise directly with suppliers and retailers when information is missing or clarification is required.

If you're an experienced specification professional who wants to work on a diverse, fast-moving product portfolio with a supportive, knowledgeable team, we'd love to hear from you. Apply today!