Raw Materials Technologist

Location: Craigavon or Grantham
Contract: Permanent, Full-Time (5 days on-site)

About the Role
We are seeking a Raw Materials Technologist to join our team. In this role, you will provide skilled technical support by requesting, approving, and maintaining ingredient specifications and supplier certifications. You will ensure all information is complete, accurate, and compliant with customer requirements, relevant legislation, and group policy.

You will also risk-assess raw materials prior to final approval, implement controls, and maintain verification processes. A key part of the role is accurately populating and maintaining our internal specification system with all relevant raw material data and certifications, ensuring specifications are approved in line with critical path requirements.

Key Responsibilities

• Request, review, approve, and maintain raw material specifications and certifications for all materials supplied to the business, ensuring compliance with customer requirements and legislation.
• Evaluate and action specification amendments, communicating effectively with stakeholders.
• Validate on-pack claims by obtaining and checking supporting evidence (e.g., vegan risk assessments, animal welfare certificates, organic certifications, RSPO, PDO).
• Complete risk assessments for all raw materials and packaging items as per procedure.
• Archive unused materials and obsolete specifications.
• Support suppliers in understanding Pilgrim’s Europe raw material policies and customer requirements.
• Assist suppliers with the Smile system and act as the main point of contact for raw material queries.
• Keep up to date with current customer requirements.
• Manage SAP codes for raw materials (new requests, extensions, status changes).

Note: During the transition to Pilgrim’s Europe processes, some responsibilities may apply to one or two of the original businesses.

Measurable Outputs

• All raw materials have current, completed, and approved specifications on the central system.
• All supplier certifications are valid and in date.
• All raw materials and packaging items have up-to-date risk assessments.
• All on-pack claims are supported by appropriate evidence.

Knowledge, Skills & Experience

Essential:

• Food-related qualification or experience in a similar role.
• Computer literate (Excel, Word) and comfortable using systems.
• Strong communication skills (written and verbal).
• Excellent attention to detail and ability to prioritise workload.
• Ability to work to strict deadlines, self-motivated, and proactive.

Desirable:

• Experience writing product specifications or working in a regulatory/factory technical team.
• Working knowledge of food legislation and customer requirements.
• Familiarity with customer specification systems.
• Experience building and maintaining customer relationships.
• Interest in food ingredients, safety, and integrity.