Vendor Assurance Technologist

Compass Group; Chertsey; Hybrid; GBP 30,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading supply chain management firm is seeking a Vendor Assurance Technologist to oversee supplier compliance and quality standards. The role requires a degree in food science or technology and at least 2 years of relevant experience. You will manage ethical risk, conduct audits, and support compliance with consumer legislation. Join us to play a central role in maintaining supply chain integrity and transparency.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Benefits package

Opportunity for career development

Qualifications

• Minimum 2 years' experience in technical, quality, or audit roles in food industry.
• Excellent administrative and communication skills.
• Strong ability to work independently and manage multiple tasks.

Responsibilities

• Lead supplier visibility programmes and ensure compliance.
• Manage ethical and technical compliance of suppliers.
• Conduct audits and identify supply chain risks.

Skills

Communication skills

Organisational skills

IT proficiency

Attention to detail

Education

Degree in food science or food technology

Tools

Excel

MS Office

Job description

Vendor Assurance Technologist

Location: [Chertsey or Hybrid option]
Salary: Competitive + Benefits
Contract: Full-time, Permanent

Help safeguard and strengthen the integrity of our supply chain at Compass UK & Ireland.
We work with over 2,700 suppliers - from food producers to labour agencies - and onboard around 30 new suppliers every month. We're looking for a skilled and proactive Vendor Assurance Technologist to lead supplier visibility programmes, manage ethical and technical compliance, and ensure we meet our Group supply chain integrity standards.

This role is ideal for someone with a food science or food technology background who thrives in a fast-paced environment and has a passion for safeguarding quality, safety, and ethics in supply chains.

What You'll Do

Supply Chain Integrity & Ethical Risk Management

• Lead the supplier visibility programme to ensure robust product and ethical assurance.

• Manage SEDEX engagement, ensuring supplier data is complete, accurate, and risk-assessed.

• Identify and address safety, ethical, and corporate responsibility risks, working with internal teams and suppliers to mitigate issues.

• Support visibility of tier 2 suppliers to better understand and reduce supply chain risks.

• Arrange and/or conduct supplier audits where additional risk is identified.

Technical Product Compliance

• Support technical product specification reviews to ensure compliance with consumer legislation (e.g., allergen and nutrition labelling).

• Assist in commercial tender and sourcing processes with technical expertise.

• Maintain and improve processes for product recall, foreign body incidents, and vendor assurance.

Governance & Reporting

• Ensure third parties are screened through the TPIDD system and Dow Jones Risk & Compliance Database.

• Maintain up-to-date documentation for vendor assurance processes.

• Create and update dashboards for foreign body and quality complaint management.

• Facilitate SAFEContractor accreditation renewal.

Collaboration & Stakeholder Engagement

• Work closely with category managers, vendor assurance, quality, and auditing teams.

• Advise on ethical trading, modern slavery, and corporate responsibility queries.

• Lead or contribute to special projects and process improvement initiatives.

What You'll Bring

Essential

• Degree in food science, food technology, or a related subject.

• At least 2 years' food industry experience in technical, quality, or audit roles.

• Excellent administrative, communication, and organisational skills.

• Strong IT proficiency (Excel, MS Office, web-based platforms).

• Ability to work independently, prioritise effectively, and manage multiple tasks.

Desirable

• Experience with SEDEX or ethical trading audits.

• Knowledge of food specifications and labelling requirements.

• Food auditor qualifications and/or HSE knowledge.

• Professional, approachable phone manner.

• Exceptional attention to detail and accuracy.

Why Join Us?

At Compass, you'll play a central role in ensuring the transparency, safety, and ethics of a supply chain that impacts millions of customers every day. You'll collaborate with industry-leading teams, work on meaningful projects, and have the opportunity to shape best-in-class supply chain governance processes.

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