The Role and Team Reporting to the Group Technical Manager and with one direct report, you will be the prime technical contact and approver for our suppliers of food ingredients, components or finished goods and related service providers. Your aim will be to ensure that all suppliers meet our high standards minimising and ideally preventing all possible food safety, quality, authenticity and ethical issues from impacting apetito and our customers. To deliver that aim you will work closely with colleagues in the technical, product development, procurement and CSR teams and ensure that supplier standards and systems are demonstrably maintained to levels defined by apetito, BRCGS Food Safety and customers. Relevant data will be kept up to date so that information and trends in relation to the listed requirements are readily available to all internal stakeholders and auditors. The emphasis of this role is one of tactical leadership. This role could suit someone who is looking to diversity their experience or take a next step in their career. Working in an experienced and friendly team, you will be suported and developed to maximise your potential. apetito is the UK’s leading food supplier to the health and social care sectors serving more than 1,300 care homes, health care and education settings. Our meals are expertly crafted by our dieticians and chefs, and then frozen to lock in the goodness. Wiltshire Farm Foods, our sister company, is the UK’s largest ready meal supplier cooking and delivering over 330 different delicious frozen ready meals across the UK. Key Accountabilities Behaving in a manner that prevents risk of injury, illness or offence to self or others Development and maintenance of all processes and procedures in relation to the technical approval of suppliers Management and delivery of supplier auditing and approval in relation to food safety, quality and authenticity for food stuffs, packaging and relevant service providers (e.g. laundry of factory PPE) Maintaining a full, technical risk assessment of each supply chain having taken into account known, emerging and potential issues. Ensuring that issues caused by supplier failure are fully investigated to identify the root cause, timely actions are agreed and completion is signed-off. Submission and presentation of monthly reports in relation to key accountabilities and KPI’s. Timely closure of requests made by internal or external customers Reduction of Customer Complaints. Final approval of ingredient and traded product specifications Essential: Food science or related degree; an equivalent level of industry experience may also be considered Experience managing food safety and quality as a technical manager or auditor Upholds high standards of compliance. Communication and relationship building skills Full driving licence and Ability to travel throughout the UK and Europe and occasionally long haul Confident using systems and technology Desirable: Advanced food hygiene qualification Experience of a broad range of food types and supply chains Lead auditor qualification HACCP trained Personal Qualities: Self-motivated Meticulous, accurate, analytical fact-based approach Relationship builder Flexible and adaptable Competitive salary – accredited Living Wage employer 25 days holiday per year, plus bank holidays Option to purchase up to 5 additional days annual leave per year Discretionary annual bonus scheme Pension scheme - employer matched contributions up to 4% Life assurance scheme worth at least 1x annual salary Subsidised canteen Free parking Free turkey or voucher at Christmas apetito perks scheme including salary sacrifice options and retail discounts As a family-owned business, we take great pride in being a company that makes a real difference and is dedicated to creating outstanding meals to be proud of. We develop a range of products designed to enhance health and well-being for all our customers. We are driven by a passion for service, and dedicated to feeding some of the UK’s most vulnerable people. We proudly support British food and farming, focusing on using the best ethical and sustainable produce in alignment with our goal to reach Net Zero by 2040. Our ethical standards are recognised by the ETI and we are an accredited Living Wage employer. Learn more about apetito’s commitment to a more sustainable future. We embrace inclusion, empowering individuals from diverse backgrounds. Our commitment to making a real difference extends to customers, communities, and staff and we're on a mission to build an inclusive workplace where everyone reaches their full potential.