Specifications Writer

The Cake Crew are seeking an experienced Specification Writer to join their team at their Bala Site.

The role involves the completion of retail, customer and own brand specifications including: Sainsburys, Tesco, Co-op, Aldi, Morrisons, ASDA, Lidl, Premior (Hamilton Grant), Cake Crew and any others as required.  Management and administration of the retailer systems.

Main aspects of the role are

• The writing and completion of all finished products specifications for retailers, customers and own brand products
• Primary account responsibility to be agreed with Technical Services Manager/Technical Manager to share fair share of work load and projects. Accounts may change during employment
• Fully knowledgeable in primary accounts requirements including retailer/customer codes of practise/standards
• Have basic understanding of other accounts and support specification completions where required e.g. holiday cover/higher volume work load in that account
• Management of critical path task completion for primary accounts
• Specification completion to a gold (high) standards, right first time and to meet KPIs
• Management and administration of the retailer systems, including specification and artwork systems. Communication of any notifications from these systems internally to correct personnel
• Generation of pack copies for own brand specifications, including sub and legal name generation
• Artwork - review and approval including design, content, cutter guides, CAD references etc. Liaison with 3rd parties and retailers/customers during artwork process and communication with both artwork and print houses
• Support the NPD team with theoretical nutritional calculations and submission form completion as part of the NPD gate process and product submissions
• Complete “cross checks” in conjunction with NPD team on factory paperwork, recipes, specifications and any other information to ensure all are matching and correct
• Responsible for Brandbank reviews, including checking and approving product photos/information before product is launched live on a retailer systems  
• Partake in pre and post launch reviews as required
• Basic understanding of Brexit requirements and ability to calculate codes relating to this
• Attend NPD meetings and any others relevant to role
• Support in additional projects relevant to role e.g. packaging matrix, recipe/Product Information Guide guide review etc
• Awareness of supplier approval and raw material specification knowledge
• Basic knowledge of BRC and retailer audit requirements
• Awareness and understanding of any legislation/regulation relating to role

Any other reasonable requirements of the business e.g. internal audit completion

Essential skills and experience are

• Previous experience working in a similar role, preferably within bakery/complex products
• Knowledge of at least 3 of the following retailer systems: Tesco, Sainsburys, Co-op, Morrisons, Aldi, Lidl, Premier/Mondelez (Hamilton Grant)
• Up to date knowledge of 3 of the above retailer requirements/COP
• Ability to use own initiative to achieve deadlines
• Ability to work under pressure and to tight turnaround times
• Time management
• Team player
• Problem solving capability, either on own or as part of team as required
• Flexible and adabtable approach to work
• Excellent, clear communicator both in writing and verbal to internal personnel and external customers including 3rd parties
• Basic Brexit coding requirements knowledge
• Packaging and legal labelling training
• HACCP/Food Safety Level 2 training
• Excellent computer skills in the full Microsoft package

Desireable

• Knowledge of all the following retailer systems: Tesco, Sainsburys, Co-op, ASDA, Morrisons, Aldi, Lidl, Premier/Mondelez (Hamilton Grant), Iceland
• Up to date knowledge of all of the above retailer requirements/COP
• Food based degree or similar
• Brexit exporting requirements knowledge
• Awareness and understanding of sustainability requirements e.g. FSC, RSPO, UTZ
• Training in retailer specification systems
• Internal audit training
• HACCP/Food Safety Level 3 training

To apply please forward your CV to