Food Technologist - Restaurants (12 Month Maternity Cover)

Set up by our visionary founder, The Jamie Oliver Group is a global and integrated food brand with a mission to help build a healthier, happier world through the joy of food.

From media and restaurants to products, partnership and Ministry of Food, every part of our diverse business has a key role to play in making it easier for people to cook and enjoy better, healthier, more sustainable, and joyful meals. Whether that’s in our homes, in restaurants or workplaces.

As a proud B Corp, we are committed to educate and inspire people, workplaces, schools and communities all over the world, to help make better choices, one meal at a time.

We’re committed to building a diverse and inclusive team that reflects the world around us. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, especially those currently underrepresented in the creative industries. We believe in a fair and inclusive workplace where everyone’s differences are respected and celebrated, and where every individual has an equal opportunity to thrive and reach their full potential.

WHY YOU’RE HERE

The safety of our products is at the heart of everything we do, and something on which we never compromise. It is the responsibility of the Technical Team to manage the technical functions and implement Jamie’s ethos and brand standards across all areas.

The main purpose of this role is to manage the technical function across the Jamie Oliver restaurants and cookery schools primarily in the UK and also around the world. This involves working with the business functions within the Jamie Oliver Group to ensure compliance with technical requirements and food sourcing standards. The role involves working on a number of projects with multiple departments from product development to finished products in the restaurants.

Please note, this role is a 12 month maternity cover looking to start in or around early August 2025.

WHAT YOU’RE HERE TO DO

• Supplier approval; through certification review, HACCP reviews, approval of SAQ’s and remote auditing
• Product approval; ensure the safety of all our restaurant and cookery school products through the approval of raw materials against our brand standards
• Carrying out traceability reviews of products to guarantee ongoing compliance against specification
• Advising restaurants and internal teams on sourcing requirements, giving guidance through the product development process
• Training new restaurants and suppliers on our online approval platform and support restaurants and suppliers in ongoing compliance
• Ensuring our online approval platform is maintained by suppliers and updated as required. Review and approve recipes during the product development stage, working with the development chefs to ensuring food safety standards are met
• Create allergen matrices for our UK restaurants and cookery schools. Working with chefs and NPD teams to ensure this is correct and created in a timely manner.
• Providing allergen management and guidance to restaurants
• Training chefs, front of house staff and managers on allergen information and food safety systems
• Approving menus for welfare claims and ensuring products are in line with our approved specifications
• Feeding back issues internally to the Restaurant team
• Supporting Jamie Oliver Limited on Food Standards as required
• Support the Retail Food Technologist and Nutritionist in any ad hoc tasks as required
• Provide support and advice to our overseas restaurant to manage the local requirements in each country, enabling them to source local products whilst adhering to our sourcing standards and brand guidelines.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

• Hold a Food Science / Food degree and have a strong understanding of technical requirements
• Experience as a food technologist in a similar role
• Good knowledge of food and ingredients

HOW YOU’LL DO IT

• You should be an excellent communicator with the ability to communicate and solve problems with a flexible approach to working with our colleagues at all levels
• Confident in managing a range of different suppliers and food types, willing to operate in difficult environments with a positive ‘can-do’ approach
• Highly organised, great at using own initiative and happy to get on with things under their own steam
• The Technical Department is a close-knit team where the ability to work well together is vital.

Other information

What we offer in return:

• A friendly and supportive company culture in a creative office
• Competitive salary & bonus
• Hybrid working
• Private medical cover
• Life insurance & permanent health insurance
• Access to an Employee Assistance Programme at no cost
• Access to a corporate Classpass membership
• Lots of training and development opportunities
• 30 days holiday per annum, plus half a day for Christmas shopping
• Fabulous food perks including free breakfast at the office & affordable and delicious lunches prepared on-site by our very own staff chefs.
• Excellent company discounts such as 50% off food when you dine in Jamie Oliver Catherine St and access to a CODE Hospitality app which gives you exclusive discounts in your favourite restaurants, bars and hotels around the UK
• Social events, workshops, discounted gym membership, plus subsidised massage appointments on site