Supplier Management: Manage all technical aspects with suppliers, including due diligence, quality, specifications, QAS, factory trials, and launches, establish relevant performance KPI’s to drive improved standards YoY.
Relationship Building: Develop strong relationships and lines of communication with suppliers base's technical team and management to ensure focus on the Mindful Chef business is prioritised and rapid responsiveness to issues delivered.
Quality, Safety, and Legality: Oversee quality, safety, and legality from source to final customer, ensuring compliance with Mindful Chef and industry standards.
Expertise: Serve as the go-to expert for technical and industry matters related to Meat, Fish, Poultry, and other proteins.
Performance Management: Record and report on supplier performance, focusing on quality and technical aspects.
Team Management: Support and develop the technical Team, to ensure that strategic goals and objectives are shared, understood and achieved.
Collaborative Working: work closely with key stakeholders within the commercial and supply chain teams to ensure a joined up approach, with consistent messaging is applied to supplier management.
Compliance: Ensure suppliers meet or exceed Mindful Chef brand standards and relevant industry standards.
Supplier Audits: Completion of announced and unannounced supplier audits
Systems Management: Manage and maintain supplier approval, start-up, and data systems, including specification and supplier management systems.
Factory Standards: Monitor and ensure factory standards align with Mindful Chef standards.
Brand Enhancement: Identify and uphold production standards that enhance the Mindful Chef brand, including provenance and environmental standards.
Complaint Management: Analyse complaints data to drive quality improvement and follow up on serious customer issues.
Packaging Review: Ensure packaging is innovative, fit for purpose, widely recycled, and showcases the product effectively.
Quality Review: Implement a quality review and benchmarking process throughout the year.
New Product Launches: Collaborate with commercial managers and development teams to launch new products, ensuring all technical deadlines are met.
Qualifications:
Minimum of 5 years’ experience as a Technical Manager, including relevant product areas (Meat, Fish, Poultry, Produce, Ambient, Chilled Manufactured Products, Packaged Dry Goods, Herbs, Spices, and Canned Goods).
Lead Auditor qualification
Advanced (Level 4) HACCP
Advanced food safety
Extensive knowledge of BRC Food & Storage and distribution standards, ISO, GFSI SEDEX and LEAF Standards.
Extensive experience in retail product and supplier management.
Strong food science background with knowledge of microbiological and chemical aspects of food safety and product quality.
Fully conversant with food legal and safety legislation.
Familiarity with a wide range of food packaging formats and materials in the industry.
Deep industry knowledge, strong networks, and awareness of industry issues.
Proven ability to work collaboratively and as part of a team.
Exceptional problem-solving, analytical, and strategic thinking skills
Full driving licence
Key Competencies:
Leadership: Ability to inspire and lead the technical team to achieve high performance and meet organisational goals.
Technical Expertise: Comprehensive understanding of technical concepts, trends, and best practices, with hands-on experience in relevant technologies.
Strategic Thinking: Capability to develop and implement technical strategies aligned with business objectives.
Communication: Excellent verbal and written communication skills, able to convey complex technical information to non-technical stakeholders.
Project Management: Proven ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously, ensuring successful delivery on time and within budget.
At Mindful Chef, we embrace diversity and inclusion as a foundation that enriches our culture and fuels the success of our business. We are mindful of everyone’s differences and we take pride in the unique perspectives, experiences, and talents that each individual brings to our team.
We are unafraid to tackle biases and challenge stereotypes, fostering an inclusive environment where everyone feels valued and empowered to contribute their personal strengths. Our commitment to diversity is not just a policy; it's a personal and collective responsibility that we take to heart.
We believe that by being mindful of our differences, unafraid to confront barriers, and embracing the personal stories and journeys of our team members, we can achieve greater innovation, creativity, and harmony in the workplace. Together we celebrate diversity, and together, we are better.