Supplier Approval Technologist

Dungannon, Northern Ireland

£30,000 – £35,000

Overall Purpose of the Role

We are currently partnering with a leading Food Manufacturing business in Dungannon who are actively hiring for a Supplier Approval Technologist to join their team. This is an excellent opportunity for recent graduates with a degree in Food Science, Food Technology, or a related discipline to start their career in the food manufacturing sector. As a Supplier Approval Technologist, you will play a key role in ensuring the safety, quality, and compliance of all raw materials, ingredients, and packaging used in production. You will join a supportive technical team and gain hands-on experience in supplier management, food safety systems, and regulatory compliance within a fast-paced manufacturing environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the end-to-end supplier approval process for ingredients, raw materials, packaging, and service providers.

• Carry out food safety and vulnerability risk assessments for all raw materials, ingredients, and packaging.

• Complete and maintain internal specifications for raw materials, ingredients, and packaging.

• Review and validate supplier documentation, including specifications, HACCP plans, third-party audit reports (e.g., BRC, ISO, GFSI), allergen management procedures, and certificates of analysis.

• Maintain and update the Approved Supplier List (ASL), ensuring all documentation is current, traceable, and audit-ready.

• Work closely with procurement and supply chain teams to ensure timely and compliant onboarding of new suppliers.

• Support external and internal audits, as well as customer visits, by providing accurate supplier-related documentation.

• Investigate supplier non-conformances and implement corrective and preventive actions (CAPAs).

• Monitor industry developments, emerging food safety risks, and regulatory changes relevant to sourcing.

• Collaborate with NPD and technical teams on supplier selection for new product development.

• Ensure compliance with customer codes of practice for supplier approval.

• Complete customer questionnaires and other supplier-related documentation.

Essential Criteria

• Degree in Food Science, Food Technology, or a closely related discipline.

• Strong understanding of food safety, HACCP, and VACCP/TACCP principles.

• Previous experience in a technical or QA role within food manufacturing.

• Excellent attention to detail with strong documentation management skills.

• Effective communication and interpersonal skills.

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and quality management systems.