Ashton Recruitment is recruiting a Food Technical Coordinator on behalf of an established Belfast-based food manufacturing business.
Food Technical Coordinator
Location: Belfast – working across two production sites Salary: £28,000-£30,000, depending on experience Hours: 37.75 hours per week Contract: Permanent, full-time Closing date: Thursday 3 September 2026 Interviews: Week commencing 7 September 2026
Working closely with the Technical Manager, you will help ensure that food safety, quality, legality and customer requirements are consistently maintained across the company’s two production facilities.
This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced food technical professional to join a growing business offering a varied role, competitive benefits and ongoing development opportunities.
The Role
Your responsibilities will include:
- Supporting preparations for SALSA and Organic audits
- Ensuring compliance with company policies relating to food safety, quality and legality
- Conducting and recording organoleptic testing at goods-in and throughout product shelf life
- Collecting product samples for microbiological analysis and shelf-life assessment
- Compiling, reviewing and approving product specifications
- Completing customer specifications and technical questionnaires
- Investigating customer and consumer complaints, identifying potential root causes and ensuring appropriate close-out
- Conducting internal audits covering hygiene, fabrication, CCPs, cleaning and good manufacturing practices
- Monitoring and completing corrective actions arising from audits and non-conformances
- Ensuring production and quality records are accurate and properly maintained
- Liaising with suppliers to ensure raw materials, ingredients and packaging meet the required standards
- Maintaining full product traceability from intake through to the finished product
- Training production operatives on quality management system requirements
- Addressing technical and quality issues raised across the business
- Supporting continuous improvement across food safety and quality processes
Essential Criteria
Applicants should have:
- At least two years’ experience in a similar technical or quality role within a food manufacturing or factory environment
- A formal qualification or degree in Food Science, Food Hygiene, Food Regulation or a related discipline
- A good understanding of food safety, quality, traceability and compliance requirements
- Strong written and verbal communication skills
- Excellent organisation and time-management abilities
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
- Excellent attention to detail and accuracy
- Good IT skills, including Microsoft Excel
- A valid driving licence and access to their own vehicle
Desirable Criteria
- Level 3 Food Safety qualification
- Level 3 HACCP qualification
- Experience supporting SALSA or Organic audits
- Previous experience working with retailer standards and specifications
Working Across Two Sites
The position is divided between two production facilities within Belfast. The successful candidate will normally spend three days at one location and two days at the other.
Occasional travel between both sites during the working day will be required. Applicants must therefore hold a valid driving licence and have access to their own vehicle.
Working Hours
- Monday to Thursday: 8.30am-5.00pm
- Friday: 8.30am-4.00pm
- Summer working hours with no reduction in pay
Benefits
- Salary of £28,000-£30,000, depending on experience
- 34 days’ annual leave, including statutory and company closure days
- Opportunity to purchase additional annual leave after probation, subject to eligibility
- Employer pension contribution of 4%
- Health cash plan after three months
- Death-in-service benefit
- Enhanced maternity and paternity provisions
- Employee discount
- Free parking at both sites
- Learning and development opportunities
This is an urgent appointment following an internal promotion. Applications will close on Thursday 3 September 2026, with interviews taking place the following week.
Ashton Recruitment is acting as a Recruitment Agency
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