Food Technical Manager

Food Technical Manager
Up to £60,700 plus great benefits (Work Level 5)
Home-based, with regular travel to visit our suppliers internationally and across the UK

We’re looking for a Food Technical Manager to lead the safety, legality, and quality of our Co-op products, while helping to develop technical talent across our team. In this role, you’ll provide food technical leadership and expertise across a diverse range of products, making sure products meet the highest food safety, quality, and compliance standards. Working closely with suppliers and colleagues across our Buying, Product Development, and Quality teams, you’ll support our ambition to become the most trusted brand in the convenience market.

As well as managing key supplier relationships and driving technical quality, you’ll play an important part in coaching and developing one of our talented Food Technologists. If this is something you’re passionate about, and you’ve got the skills and experience we’re looking for, this could be the perfect opportunity for you.

Why this role matters

The trust our customers place in Co-op is built on the quality and safety of the products they buy. In this role, you’ll help protect that trust by making sure our products consistently meet the highest standards, from concept through to launch and beyond.

You’ll influence how we develop safer, more sustainable and resilient food systems, while supporting the development of new and improved products. Just as importantly, you’ll help shape the future of our team by coaching and developing colleagues, making sure we have the expertise and skills needed to deliver great products for our customers.

What you’ll do

• Lead and champion food safety, legality, and quality across your product categories
• Line manage one of our Food Technologists and support them to deliver across their assigned categories
• Make sure all Co-op products and processes meet food safety requirements, legislations, and technical standards
• Manage the development of safe, sustainable, and resilient food systems across our supply chain
• Build and maintain strong supplier and partner relationships, providing support, guidance, challenge, and escalation where needed
• Work collaboratively with teams across Co-op to support the development and launch of new products
• Identify, assess, and manage food technical and product-related risks
• Make informed decisions on product approval, rejecting products and/or sites that don’t meet agreed standards
• Make sure suppliers are audited and operating in line with Co-op technical policies and expectations
• Stay up-to-date with legislative and food policy developments, making sure changes are implemented successfully

What you’ll bring

We’re committed to making our roles as accessible as possible, so we only ask for the minimum criteria. To thrive here, you’ll need to bring:

• A food safety qualification (e.g., HACCP) and/or a degree in Food Science or related subject
• Significant experience within food manufacturing, retail food technical, or a similar technical food environment
• A strong understanding of food safety, quality assurance, risk management, and regulatory compliance
• Knowledge of microbiology and nutrition
• Experience influencing and challenging suppliers to maintain high food standards
• Good communication and relationship-building skills
• Experience coaching, mentoring, or managing colleagues
• A full UK driver’s licence

Why Co-op?

At Co-op, we’re owned by our members. And because we’re owned by you, we can do right by you. So when you join us, you’re not just taking a job, you’re joining a movement. We’re an organisation that puts people and communities first, and we’re powered by purpose. We want this to be a place where you can thrive, so you’ll also receive:

• A company car
• Private healthcare
• An annual bonus scheme (based on personal and business performance)
• 28 days holiday (rising to 32 with service) plus bank holidays
• A pension with up to 10% employer contributions
• 30% discount on Co-op products and 10% off other brands
• Stream – early access to a percentage of your pay as you earn it
• Virtual healthcare including GP appointments, mental health support, nutrition and fitness advice
• 24/7 colleague support service
• Training and support for your development and career progression
• Cycle-to-work scheme

A place you’ll belong

We’re building diverse teams that reflect the communities we serve. We welcome applications from everyone, and our support centre is an inclusive environment where all our colleagues can thrive.

If you have a disability, we’ll make reasonable adjustments to support you through the recruitment process. We’re also proud to be part of the Disability Confident scheme - if you’re disabled and you meet the minimum criteria for this job, we’ll guarantee you an interview.

Learn more about our recruitment process at https://jobs.coop.co.uk/apply-process

Explore our commitments to diversity, inclusion and wellbeing at https://jobs.coop.co.uk/diversity-inclusion-wellbeing

As part of your application, you'll need to complete an online assessment. This assessment typically takes 15-20 minutes. If you're a current Co-op colleague, this does not need to be completed.