Part time 30 hours per week, over 4 or 5 days per week.

As Ingredients Manager you will lead and support a team the New Product Development (NPD) team to deliver across two key areas;

1. The introduction of new and improved ingredients and finished goods that deliver product excellence, improve value, and drive innovation.

2. The delivery of an outstanding Food Technologist support service providing accurate and timely raw material and product specifications, artwork and product information.

This role is ideal for someone with experience in product development, quality or technical role within food manufacturing.

As a results-driven individual you will  be responsible for the overall execution of a dynamic programme of raw material projects to deliver measurable gains in cost reduction, product quality, and operational performance.

You will manage a change control process that enables the successful implementation of raw material, product, and process changes in a timely manner and aligned with all relevant policies and procedures.

You will support your team to deliver  product information and specifications with agility, accuracy and in compliance with legislation, policies and standards.

apetito is the UK's leading food supplier to the health and social care sectors serving more than 1,300 care homes, health care and education settings.

Our meals are expertly crafted by our dieticians and chefs, and then frozen to lock in the goodness.

Wiltshire Farm Foods, our sister company, is the UK's largest ready meal supplier cooking and delivering over 330 different delicious frozen ready meals across the UK.

• Provide hands-on leadership support for NPD team
• Lead a programme assessing and introducing new and improved raw materials and finished goods
• Deliver an impactful programme of cost savings
• Identify and deliver raw material opportunities to improve finished product quality
• Ensure the change control process delivers results  with agility and diligence
• Identify new ingredients, packaging and products that strengthen our range propositions and create competitive advantage
• Implement a right-first-time approach to raw material introductions
• Manage team resources, priorities, and project alignment
• Champion continuous process and service improvements
• Support projects assigned by the Head of Product & Process Development

Essential:

• Degree level qualification
• Experience in food production
• Good communication and influencing skills.
• Tenacious with the ability to drive projects forward to successful completion
• Can demonstrate commercial awareness
• Confidence to interact with suppliers and stakeholders at all levels.
• Good sensory skills
• Sound understanding of food legislation
• Confident team leader with the ability to motivate a high-performing team
• Flexible and resilient - able to adapt priorities to meet business needs

Desirable:

• Experience in product development, quality or technical role within food manufacturing

• Competitive salary – accredited Living Wage employer
• 25 days holiday per year, plus bank holidays
• Option to purchase up to 5 additional days holiday per year
• Discretionary annual bonus scheme
• Pension scheme - employer matched contributions up to 4%
• Life assurance scheme worth at least 1x annual salary
• Subsidised canteen
• Free parking
• Free turkey or voucher at Christmas
• apetito perks scheme including salary sacrifice options and retail discounts

As a family-owned business, we take great pride in being a company that makes a real difference and is dedicated to creating outstanding meals to be proud of.

We develop a range of products designed to enhance health and well-being for all our customers.

We are driven by a passion for service and dedicated to feeding some of the UK’s most vulnerable people.

We proudly support British food and farming, focusing on using the best ethical and sustainable produce in alignment with our goal to reach Net Zero by 2040.

Our ethical standards are recognised by the ETI and we are an accredited Living Wage employer.
Learn more about apetito’s commitment to a more sustainable future.

We embrace inclusion, empowering individuals from diverse backgrounds.

Our commitment to making a real difference extends to customers, communities, and staff and we're on a mission to build an inclusive workplace where everyone reaches their full potential.