Specifications Technologist

Moorland Recruitment; Ashford; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A well-established food business in Ashford is seeking a Specification Technologist to manage product specifications, ensuring compliance with UK/EU legislation and customer requirements. You'll support supplier assurance and collaborate with internal teams. Ideal candidates have a minimum of 3 years' experience in the food industry and a solid understanding of food safety and labelling requirements. Strong attention to detail and communication skills are essential. This role offers a full-time schedule from Monday to Friday, 08:30 to 17:00.

Qualifications

• Minimum 3 years' experience in the food industry, ideally within specifications and supplier assurance.
• Strong understanding of food safety, legality, nutrition, and labelling requirements.
• Familiarity with commodity accreditations (e.g. Organic).

Responsibilities

• Produce and maintain accurate, compliant product specifications.
• Respond to customer technical queries related to product specifications.
• Ensure compliance with food legislation and third-party standards.

Skills

Food safety knowledge

Attention to detail

Data accuracy skills

Strong communication skills

Tools

Excel

Job description

Overview

Specification Technologist — Full-time | Monday-Friday | 08:30-17:00

A well-established and growing food business is looking to appoint a Specification Technologist to join its Technical team. This is a key role supporting food safety, legality, compliance, and customer requirements across a diverse product portfolio. Working closely with the Technical Manager, you'll take ownership of finished product specifications while supporting supplier assurance and raw material compliance across the supply chain.

The Role

As Specification Technologist, you will be responsible for producing and maintaining accurate, compliant, and customer-ready product specifications, ensuring alignment with UK and EU legislation, customer codes of practice, and third-party standards. You'll play a central role in maintaining technical integrity across finished products, raw materials, and suppliers, while working cross-functionally with internal teams.

Key Responsibilities

• Complete and review B2B customer finished product specifications using customer portals and internal templates
• Respond to customer technical queries related to product specifications
• Complete SAQs, supply chain mapping, and nutritional calculations within agreed timescales
• Ensure compliance with food legislation, labelling codes of practice, and third-party standards (e.g. BRCGS, Organic)
• Maintain the supplier approval and assurance database, including third-party certifications and SSAQs
• Manage raw material and packaging specifications, including allergens, origin, GMO status, IP status, migration and food contact compliance
• Support approval of new raw materials and suppliers in collaboration with Purchasing
• Assist with risk-based raw material testing, traceability exercises, and vendor performance monitoring
• Maintain QC data, production records, and temperature monitoring logs
• Track food industry risks and alerts relevant to raw materials and suppliers
• Support wider technical and compliance activities as required

About You / Qualifications

• Essential / Desirable Experience:
• Minimum 3 years' experience in the food industry, ideally within specifications and supplier assurance
• Strong understanding of food safety, legality, nutrition, and labelling requirements
• Experience using customer online specification portals
• Excellent attention to detail with strong data accuracy skills (including Excel)
• Knowledge of VACCP / TACCP principles
• Familiarity with commodity accreditations (e.g. Organic)
• Internal audit training (advantageous)
• Personal Attributes:
• Highly organised with the ability to manage tight deadlines
• Tenacious, proactive, and self-motivated
• Strong communicator and collaborative team player
• Methodical with a natural eye for detail and compliance