Specification Manager - Food

MaxAd Fixed Fee Recruitment; Leeds; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Private healthcare

25 days' holiday plus bank holidays

Free city centre parking

Hybrid working

Job summary

A leading food business in Leeds is seeking a proactive Specification Manager to join their team. This role involves managing customer accounts and ensuring product specifications meet safety and quality standards. Candidates should have experience in food manufacturing, knowledge of food safety principles, and the ability to communicate effectively with suppliers and retailers. Benefits include private healthcare and hybrid working options, providing a dynamic opportunity for skilled professionals in the industry.

Qualifications

• Experience writing specifications in a food manufacturing environment.
• Strong knowledge of HACCP and quality management frameworks.
• Completed legal labelling and allergen training.
• Completed legal labelling and allergen training (or willing to refresh).
• Understands retailer specification systems and customer approval processes.
• Analytical with attention to detail when handling data sets.
• Knowledge of ingredients, recipes, nutrition and food composition.
• Confident communication with suppliers, retailers and internal stakeholders.
• Degree in Food Science or related discipline preferred; relevant experience may be considered.

Responsibilities

• Manage customer accounts for specification activity.
• Develop and submit product specifications.
• Gather and manage detailed technical data.
• Translate supplier information into retailer formats.
• Gather, verify and manage technical data: recipes, allergens, nutrition, storage and shelf-life.
• Translate supplier information into retailer-specific formats and meet deadlines.
• Create pack copy and support artwork, liaising with printers and photographers.
• Collaborate with NPD, Technical, Commercial and Supply Chain teams.
• Maintain specifications in line with UK/EU legislation and schedules.

Skills

Writing customer specifications

Food safety principles

Analytical skills

Communication with suppliers and retailers

Education

Degree in Food Science, Nutrition, or related discipline

Tools

Retailer specification systems

Job description

MaxAd Fixed Fee Recruitment provides recruitment solutions. Your actual pay will be based on your skills and experience — talk with your recruiter to learn more.

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.
• Develop, complete and submit accurate, compliant product specifications in line with customer critical paths and internal quality processes.
• Gather, verify and manage detailed technical data including recipes, allergen information, nutritional values, cooking instructions, micro results, storage requirements and shelf‑life analysis.
• Translate complex supplier information into retailer‑specific formats and ensure all deadlines are met.
• Create pack copy and support artwork processes, including liaison with printers, photography approvals and ensuring packaging meets all technical and legal standards.
• Work closely with NPD, Technical, Commercial and Supply Chain teams, and participate in weekly cross‑functional retailer account meetings.
• Maintain specifications in line with UK and EU food legislation and update them in accordance with customer schedules.

About You

• Experience 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 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!

Seniority Level

Mid‑Senior level

Employment Type

Full‑time

Job Function

Product Management, Production, and Quality Assurance

Industries

Wholesale Food and Beverage