Technical Assistant [6 months FTC]

itsu; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 25,000 - 45,000

Job description

this is us

We are the leading Asian-inspired quick-service retail and grocery brand with over 80 restaurants across the UK, Belgium, and France, and a growing wholesale business across Europe and beyond. Our renowned delicious food made fresh in every restaurant, every day, has made itsu a top choice for healthy eating.

In addition to our restaurants, itsu [grocery] offers a range of high-quality Asian-inspired foods available online and in supermarkets. We are excited to be one of the leading brands in this specific group and have ambitious plans for continued growth both domestically and globally.

With its best-in-class food, latest technology, innovation, and talented workforce, itsu is the future of fast food.

this is the job

You will play a critical role in ensuring our ingredients and products are maintained to the highest standards of safety, quality, legality, and authenticity by supporting the technical team with daily administration, maintenance, and improvement of relevant data and documentation.

You will be involved in various projects that cover NPD, EPD, and menu launches as well as other ad-hoc projects. The technical function sits within the Procurement, Supply Chain, and Technical division and reports to the Senior Technical Manager.

skill and responsibility overview

1. Supplier Management: Support the management of the supplier approval database and specifications and generate routine compliance reports. Work closely with suppliers and stay on top of technical documentation.
2. Product Development and Menu Launch: Provide technical administrative support to the Procurement team, responsible for completing and keeping up to date the reports and documentation for new product/menu launches. Provide accurate ingredient information on our Recipe Management System using up-to-date specifications. Review final packaging artworks ensuring compliance with relevant legislation.
3. Surveillance/Routine testing: Support the management of the routine testing schedule (covering microbiological, chemical, nutritional, and authenticity testing, etc.) and shelf-life testing. Co-ordinate testing, write up reports, and trend results. When required, monitor product quality through the co-ordination of product assessment panels and generate reports.
4. Complaints Management: Manage the customer complaints systems relevant to ingredients, keep accurate records of complaints, investigate the root cause, and provide timely feedback. Analyse and interpret trends in customer complaints, generate weekly, monthly, and quarterly customer complaint reports.
5. Administrative Support: Maintain all technical data entry, records, and appropriate documentation. Prepare reports and presentations, troubleshoot technical issues, and handle routine correspondence and inquiries.

this is you

1. Qualified to degree level in food science or science degree, or with relevant work experience within the food industry.
2. Relevant food, drink, and packaging product experience in a technical position of a likeminded business type is desirable.
3. Able to draw on previous relevant experience of successfully managing processes both with internal stakeholders and supply partners.
4. Ability to understand and appreciate technical issues associated to always ensure adherence.
5. Deliver timely and relevant communication with the ability to liaise with other departments, supply partners, and franchisees.
6. Ability to work in a team environment to achieve service and growth targets.
7. Always be pragmatic, thoughtful, and customer-driven.
8. Excellent analytical skills alongside strong verbal and written communication skills.

perks and benefits

1. A competitive salary.
2. Flexible working, which consists of 2 days a week working from home, flexible working hours, and up to 2 weeks a year working from abroad.
3. Generous time off allowances, which include up to 34 days holiday.
4. Free breakfast and snacks available every day.
5. A free itsu lunch whenever you are in the office and 50% off in all stores, for when you are not.
6. We cover a variety of different benefits such as physical, mental, financial, environmental, and social wellbeing.
7. An array of business events and socials throughout the year.