Specifications Manager

Working Hours: 40 hours, Monday-Friday (office based).

Benefits: 

• 25 days holiday + bank holidays
• Internal training opportunities
• Regular company social events
• Staff shop allowance
• Employee discounts portal

Valeo Foods UK is the trading name of Rowse Honey Ltd. Many of the Valeo Foods brands are category leaders and include household names. Wallingford is the headquarters for the UK business; here we pack our entire Rowse brand products, and also sell and distribute Balconi, Bolands and other Irish brands. Our successful portfolios of products are always expanding as we continue to grow throughout the UK and across Europe.

Key Responsibilities

• Manages and develops 2 direct reports (job share) and supports them in managing their workload by ensuring that all work is logged, managed, tracked and reviewed through effective team meetings, 121’s and appraisals.
• Develops and maintains customer facing relationships across all accounts and sectors, supporting the Technical Manager in the management of customer specific projects and day to day specification and artwork related issues.
• Accountable for ensuring that accurate specifications generate accurate and legally compliant artwork includes consultation with 3^rd party legal teams for advice on compliance issues.
• Maintain and implement Packing Specifications which are used in the factory to ensure legal and food safety labelling is correct.
• Ensures all communication and decision-making is recorded and centrally filed to enable business visibility and audit trails.
• Supports the NPD process through the calculation of nutritional information and ingredient declarations in the submission phase of the concept development process.
• Conducts checks of artwork and new packaging to ensure accuracy and compliance against Pack Copy, Codes of Practice and Labelling Legislation.
• Strives to continually improve business efficiency through the implementation of new processes and procedures that improve efficiency and close potential loopholes.
• Through liaison with regulatory bodies such as Campden continually scans the horizon for Spec/Regulation issues that may affect the business, communicates risks and plans to reduce impact.
• Maintenance of Customer SAQ pack and develop new documents as required.
• Assist with internal and external audits as required.
• Management of nutrition surveillance results and verification of tolerances.
• Support department with other projects such as Allergen Risk Assessments, Micro requirements, HACCP.
• Assists with Export requests from existing customers and exploration of new market requirements.
• Participate in new projects that require technical input (Eg alcohol duty claims).

Key skills/competencies

• Computer literate and an excellent telephone manner.
• Experience/knowledge of specifications, food industry, HACCP and BRC.
• Experience of online retailer portals (advantageous but not essential).
• Attention to detail.
• Collaborative, proactive approach to work along with patience and pragmatism.
• Flexible and organised management of time with the ability to prioritise and manage multiple tasks and a large, varied workload.
• Be prepared to take on long term projects as well as day-to-day tasks and see them through to completion.
• Maintain a confident, calm attitude when faced with frustration and challenges.
• Minimum three years’ experience of creating and managing web-based product specifications - Oracle, FIND, Hamilton Grant, Qadex etc.
• Food Science Degree (preferred, not essential)
• Significant experience in food manufacturing environment
• Team management/supervisory experience
• Working knowledge of EU/UK regulatory affairs
• Understanding of retailer codes of practice and QMS
• BRC Compliance and audit process aware
• Commercial awareness
• Project management skills
• Understanding of raw material legal requirements and underlying issues/ramifications to reduce food safety and business risks
• This includes developing an in-depth understanding of the customer requirements and individual retailer web-based specification systems.
• Able to work as both part of cross departmental team and independently.

Valeo Foods UK are an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status.