Zertus UK & Ireland (Humdinger, Kinnerton Confectionery, Lir Chocolates)

Raw Material Technologist

Location: Kinnerton Fakenham (Norfolk) site with hybrid working options 

Hours: Monday - Friday 37.5 hours per week

At Zertus UK & Ireland, we are passionate about creating delicious snacks and chocolates that people love. As we continue to innovate and expand, we are seeking a dedicated and detail-oriented Raw Material Technologist to join our Technical/ Supplier Assurance team and play a crucial role in maintaining the quality of our products.

As a Raw Material Technologist, you will be responsible for developing, maintaining, and approving material specifications for both existing and new suppliers. This role is critical in ensuring our products meet the highest standards of quality and safety, contributing directly to the company’s due diligence requirements. You’ll work closely with suppliers and internal teams, ensuring that the ingredients we use in our snacks and chocolates are top-notch.

• Work across the Zertus group of Businesses to manage the raw material specification portfolio.
• Responsibility to develop, risk assess, maintain and approve material specifications for existing and new suppliers as part of the company’s due diligence program.
• Working closely with NPD and technical teams ensure that materials specified are fit for purpose operationally and meet all legislation and Customer code of practice requirements.
• Maintain accurate information within all relevant material databases ensuring alignment with finished product specifications and managing any change with relevant teams.
• Direct responsibility for working with suppliers collating information, specifications, supplier queries and assisting the technical department with detailed customer supplier information requests and non-conformances.
• Working closely with the intake teamsto ensure agreed quality and testing parameters are accurate and achievable and are aligned to the approved suppliers and group material specifications.
• Maintenance of all raw material related data and information in a consistent way ensuring compliance with current legislation, customers codes of practice and accreditation schemes.
• Ensure supplier and material accreditation schemes such as SEDEX, RFA/UTZ, Fairtrade, Organic, Kosher & RSPO etc. are maintained throughout the material conformance process stages and ongoing compliance.
• Generating and reporting of supplier material and specification KPI’s on a monthly basis.
• Develop a working knowledge of the snacking and chocolate industry.

• Scientific background: degree educated in food science, food technology, chemistry or product quality-based subject or related disciplined.
• Manufacturing process experience in food or related sectors.
• Analytical and experimental skills.
• Inquisitive by nature and willingness to look for novel solutions.
• Good communication.
• Able to work independently and with initiative.
• Able to demonstrate an understanding of HACCP principles, nutrition information and legal compliance of materials.
• Ability to build strong relationships with suppliers and across teams within the business.
• Organisational skills - excellent attention to detail, good time management, highly self-motivated with outstanding diplomacy skills.
• Computer literate - Able to use Excel, Word, PowerPoint & Outlook, as well as other online software systems. • Experience in NPD or the development of functional materials.
• Understanding of UK/EU food legislation.
• Demonstrable project and workload management skills.
• Flexible approach to dynamic working environment.

• Pension (4% Employer Contributions). 
• Life Assurance Scheme at x4 basic salary.  
• Health Care Cash Plan via Paycare (Dental, Optical, Chiropody, Professional Therapy, Counselling cover), along with access to Paycare Perks for exclusive high street and retailer discounts.  
• 25 days of annual leave plus bank holidays.
• Holiday Purchase Salary Sacrifice Scheme – buy up to one extra week per year (subject to meeting minimum criteria). 
• Cycle to Work Salary Sacrifice Scheme  (subject to meeting minimum criteria). 
• Electric Car Salary Sacrifice Scheme  (subject to meeting minimum criteria). 
• Family friendly policies including hybrid working opportunities and Maternity and Paternity leave above statutory minimum.
• Annual engagement calendar covering an array of activities and educational events promoting diversity and inclusion. 
• Participate in supporting your local community with opportunities to spend one day per year volunteering or fundraising and gain company-matched sponsorship.
• Company Wellbeing agenda including annual Wellbeing Week, Menopause Support Group and Mental Health First Aid programme.
• Access to staff shops with exclusive discounts.
• Monthly employee recognition scheme via the ‘Zertus Values Awards’.
• Recruitment Refer a Friend rewards.
• Training and Development Opportunities (Leadership courses, External qualifications, Professional memberships).  
• Engagement with GroceryAid.