Quality Technologist

Description:

About us

We are Pilgrim’s Food Masters, part of the Pilgrim’s family since September 2021, (previously part of Kerry Foods) and we have a proud history of developing brilliant food for our customers and consumers that is enjoyed in millions of UK and Irish homes every year.

The wider Pilgrim’s company employs around 60,000 people across the globe and we’re one of the world’s biggest food companies. We aim to become the best and most respected company in our industry creating the opportunity of a better future for all our team members.

Our Pilgrim’s Food Masters portfolio includes famous brands that are some of the UK and Ireland’s favourites, such as Denny, Galtee, Richmond and Fridge Raiders. We are the UK’s biggest producer of prepared meals, making delicious chilled and frozen ready meals for every major supermarket in the UK. And our Accelerator business includes newer brands like Rollover Hot Dogs and Oakhouse Meals that target different consumer groups in unique ways.

We strive every day to make Pilgrim’s Food Masters a safe, healthy, and happy place to work for all our 4,500 employees.  We will give full and equal consideration to all applicants regardless of age, gender, disability, race, religion, and sexual orientation. Continuing to build a diverse workforce is fundamental to our business and we value the critical role it plays in creating a truly inclusive workplace.

Role Description

Purpose
Provide technical support and advise to the operational team to ensure current technical standards, customer requirements are maintained and enhanced where appropriate. To support all audits on site to ensure the auditor receives information in a timely and effective manner.

Shift Pattern: 40 hours per week

Key Accountabilities

Safety is a condition

Contribute to building a culture of food safety and quality across the site.
Reduce hazards, risks, and incidents by promoting the Technical Excellence agenda.
Embrace “Go for Zero” by promoting positive behaviours, root causing near misses and coaching team to manage safety in their areas.
Track, report and help to improve safety & food safety performance metrics. Technical Excellence Strategy

Drive compliance in all production areas against Food Safety & Quality Standards (OPEX MS)
Promote Food Safety & Quality Culture model across site and involved in role out of site plan
Key contact for production issues such as supplier NCs, positive release etc
Lead out customer & 3rd party standards and confirm adherence through factory line walks, inspections and observations
Manage supplier complaints & Non – conformances. Complete quarterly reviews with key suppliers, ensuring foods connected is maintained
Lead key technical projects such as hygiene & allergen validations, site claims validations
Manage key supplier relationships at site: e.g. pest control, chemical supplier
Support internal & external audits and ensure corrective action close out is completed to schedule. Responsible for the completion of internal mock recalls and traceability exercises.
Conduct investigations : eg microbial complaints etc ensuring root cause analysis and shared learning across site/ business where applicable.
Support site during production trials to ensure product meets food safety and quality criteria
Train out core technical skills such as allergen awareness/ Food Hygiene/ HACCP etc Build a high performing team

Embrace & be involved with team goals which have been set by Manager. Participate in training plan to ensure site goals achieved
Promote and display ideal behaviours to ensure company values are demonstrated. OPEX Improvement

Set standards, raise standards, and confirm standard work across safety, quality, environmental and manufacture.
Use data analysis to make problems visible, quantifiable and to guide decisions.
Use OPEX tools to support operations in getting to root cause. Deliver value for the business and for the customer

Drive compliance to company and 3rd party standards across site.
To lead out technical projects such as validations
Key contact for production issues, including supplier NCs to ensure root cause identified
Support & assist in projects in accordance with the site goals
Carry out investigations such as micro complaints to ensure root cause identified and shared learning provided
Skills and Knowledge

Strong working knowledge of BRC and industry regulations
Experience in Technical/ Quality within Food Manufacturing Environment
Excellent written & verbal communication
Ability to organise & prioritise workload
Strong problem-solving skills.
IT Skills – proficient use of Microsoft Office
Ability to write reports & risk assessments
Good attention to detail
8 Step Problem solving experience
Experience in leading 3rd party audits
Qualifications

Foundational knowledge Food Safety / Technology or another appropriate discipline
HACCP & Food Safety Level 3
Ideal Behaviours

Listens to others and builds effective relationships with team members and other functions.
Focused and decisive, do not get distracted away from the main business priorities.
Be courageous, able to speak up even if it feels uncomfortable to do so and ask for help when required
Be open to change and supportive to the manufacturing teams.
Live our values to an exemplary level. Why Join Pilgrim’s Food Masters 
Our values are at the heart of our business and drive everything we do. Availability is key as we are receptive and open and prepared to take on new challenges. Humility is important to us as we listen and respect each other and value opinions of others. Discipline is vital to fulfil commitment internally and externally. We need to be truthful to each other and respectful of other opinions, so Sincerity drives us. At Pilgrim’s we focus on what’s practical and important so through Simplicity, Ownership and Determination brings success. All these core values culminate into our vision which is:  To be the best and most respected company in our industry, creating the opportunity of a better future for our team members. 

We want you to have every opportunity to shine and show us your talents – please let us know if there is anything we can do to make sure the assessment process works for you