Specification Technologist – Hospitality - 12 Months FTC

Fortnum & Mason; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 35,000 - 52,000; Full time

Job summary

Fortnum & Mason plc is seeking a detail-focused Specifications & Data Specialist to manage ingredient and recipe specifications across hospitality operations. You will ensure allergen data accuracy, legal compliance, and robust supplier documentation while collaborating with chefs and procurement.

You will support menu changes, conduct data reviews, and assist audits by maintaining precise records and risk assessments.

Qualifications

• Experience in food technical environment, quality, or specification roles within hospitality or foodservice.
• Strong knowledge of food safety, allergens, and hospitality legislation.
• High attention to detail and strong data management skills.
• Ability to work cross-functionally with chefs, procurement, and operations.

Responsibilities

• Review and approve final recipes to ensure food safety compliance and allergen data accuracy.
• Create, review, and maintain ingredient, recipe, and finished dish specifications.
• Create and manage allergen matrices, ingredient breakdowns, and nutritional data.
• Maintain data within specification or menu management systems.
• Liaise with suppliers to obtain ingredient and product specifications.
• Review supplier documentation for compliance and traceability.
• Support procurement with technical approval of new suppliers and products.
• Assist with menu launches, seasonal changes, and recipe reformulations.
• Support HACCP and audit-related data needs.

Skills

Food tech experience

Food safety knowledge

Data management

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Degree in Food Science or Nutrition

Tools

Allergen software

Job description

Our Head Office department is in the heart of Piccadilly and occupies the 5th & 6th floor of our beautiful flagship store. This central London location offers so much to explore including restaurants, bars, cultural sites, shopping and more, and only a short walk from the Green Park Tube Station and plenty of bus stops.

Job Purpose:

To manage and maintain accurate food and ingredient specifications for hospitality and foodservice operations, ensuring legal compliance, allergen control, food safety, and consistency across menus and suppliers.

Key Responsibilities

Specifications & Data Management

• Review and approve final recipes to ensure food safety compliance, verifying alignment with approved raw material specifications to produce accurate allergen data sheets, ingredient breakdowns and nutritional data.

• Create, review, and maintain ingredient, recipe, and finished dish specifications

• Create and manage allergen matrices, ingredient breakdowns, and nutritional data

Work closely with suppliers to ensure all specifications are accurate, up to date, and accessible to operational teams

• Maintain data within specification or menu management systems

Allergen & Legal Compliance

• Ensure compliance with food safety and allergen legislation (e.g. UK Food Information Regulations, Natasha's Law where applicable)

• Maintain accurate allergen declarations for menus, recipes, and customer information

• Support allergen risk assessments and change controls when ingredients or suppliers change

• Monitor legislative updates affecting hospitality operations

Supplier & Procurement Support

• Liaise with suppliers to obtain ingredient and product specifications

• Review supplier documentation for compliance, traceability, and allergen accuracy

• Support procurement teams with technical approval of new suppliers and products

Menu Development & Change Control

• Support menu launches, seasonal changes, and recipe reformulations

• Manage specification updates for menu changes, substitutions, and supplier switches

• Work closely with chefs, development teams, and operations to ensure accurate technical data

Quality, Safety & Audit Support

• Support food safety management systems (HACCP) and due diligence requirements

• Provide specification support for internal audits, EHO visits, and third-party assessments

• Support Hospitality with implementing new online systems for Audit and menu calibration.

• Assist with customer complaints, allergen incidents, and investigations where required

Skills & Experience

Essential

• Experience in food technical environment, quality, or specification roles within hospitality or foodservice

• Strong knowledge of food safety, allergens, and hospitality legislation

• High attention to detail and strong data management skills

• Ability to work cross-functionally with chefs, procurement, and operations

Desirable

• Degree or qualification in Food Science, Nutrition, or equivalent

• Experience with menu management or allergen software systems

• Knowledge of HACCP and food safety standards

• Experience working with multi-site hospitality operations

Personal Attributes

• Highly organised and methodical

• Confident communicator with both technical and non-technical teams

• Able to manage multiple menu changes and tight deadlines

• Proactive and calm under pressure

• Ability to work under pressure

Working Environment

• Office or hybrid role with interaction across kitchens, sites, and suppliers

• Fast-paced, change-driven hospitality environment

We are committed to developing your career and nurturing your talent, regardless of age; disability; gender reassignment; marriage and civil partnership; pregnancy and maternity; race; religion or belief; sex; sexual orientation. We respect and embrace each other's differences, to create a truly inclusive environment.

In the last year alone, our people have been recognised and celebrated, winning awards for their outstanding contributions to Retail, Technology, Global Hospitality & Tourism, Visual Merchandising & Display, Customer Service and Local Community Awards