this is itsu

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

Lead itsu’s technical strategy to always provide the highest quality and safest ingredients across the itsu estate, today and in the future. The Senior Technical Manager is responsible for safety, quality and legality from the field to fridge.

The Technical Team sits within the Food Safety Department

skill and responsibility overview 

• Lead the itsu technical strategy
• Own the reporting for technical
• Product and supplier management
• Supplier management
• Specification control
• Finished product administration
• Projects, NPD and Innovation

core responsibilities

Technical Strategy

• Lead the development and implementation of itsu’s Technical Strategy, to deliver high quality, safe and responsibly sourced ingredients
• Lead the development and implementation of all Supply Chain aspects of itsu’s Allergen Strategy, while supporting the Head of Safety in the wider Allergen Strategy.
• Work with partnership team and Head of Supply Chain to ensure the itsu supply chain can operate with franchise partners within the UK and across international borders
• Support itsu’s Sustainability Strategy, including the responsibility for sourcing and nutritional commitments
• Own all technical aspects and support the Head of Supply with itsu code of conduct.

Reporting

• Lead the development and implementation of itsu's Technical reporting
• Ensure key stakeholders are kept up to date on the current brand/ legal compliance and progress with projects
• Own the risk register for all aspects of Technical, reporting to the governance committee on current risk and progress on a regular basis

Product Management

• Manage the technical & quality aspects of all ingredients from concept throughout the product life cycle.
• Be the go-to expert for ingredient queries and issues.
• Manage quality issues and end-to-end incident management, ensuring learnings and action plans are put in place for optimal recovery in future.
• Support unexpected changes within the supply chain (e.g. capacity crunches, factory relocations and crisis management) and develop solutions
• Ensure that a thorough and current ingredient risk assessment is in place with the appropriate HACCP
• Manage ingredients on a risk assessed basis visiting stores to review ingredients, resolve issues, and pro-actively seek feedback from store managers.
• Maintain quality attribute sheets for all ingredients
• Support stores quality focus programme providing insights into upcoming and ongoing product challenges
• Manage the nutritional data of all raw materials and finished products
• Manage the itsu surveillance programme, ensuring it set up to cover emerging issues.

Supplier Management

• Maintain and manage the technical relationship with our food suppliers/ franchise partners, to ensure the safety quality and legality of all itsu ingredients.
• Manage the supplier audit & visit compliance process, including closing off all non-conformances and issues raised, plus summary reports to itsu stakeholders
• Ensure appropriate technical processes are in place across the supply chain (manufacturers, third party suppliers, and logistics).
• Maintain supplier tiering matrix with risk assessed action plans as required.
• Manage all itsu ingredient due diligence, including traceability, security and safety of the supply chain

Specifications

• Maintain central management system of all up to date supplier specifications for ingredients and packaging for UK and international
• Lead with the development and implementation of its specifications used for the sourcing of all ingredients and packaging

Finished Product Administration

• Ensure every Made-to-Sell (MTS) and Bought-to-Sell (BTS) ingredient/product have an up to date specification set including all proprietary products.
• Responsible for the legality and the updating of all itsu MTS ingredient labels and the published food information, including online platforms, packaging artwork and in store communications to be compliant with Natasha's Law.
• Responsible for the legality of all its BTS labels and the published food information, including online platforms, packaging artwork and in store
• communications.
• Responsible for the legality and accuracy of the itsu allergy matrix, ingredients cards and the publishing of allergen information, including online platforms and in store communications
• Ensure appropriate life for its ingredients factoring in safety and quality - recommend appropriate life extensions.

Projects, NPD and Innovation

• Work closely with the Buying Department and wider business (including
• Food/How To, Operations and Safety Departments) to optimise itsu's ingredient range driving quality, sustainability and commercial improvements.
• Take responsibility for proactively seeking improvements / finding solutions with suppliers.
• Manage with the Buying and Supply Departments the sign off, set up and roll out process of the new ingredient / ingredient change into itsu stores.

this is you

• Minimum 5 years' experience within a Technical Function within the food (restaurant/retail) industry and preferably Food-To-Go
• Expertise of working with a range of different food categories with strong knowledge of UK food regulations
• Desired experience of working with business and Technical teams outside the UK
• Technical strategy development and implementation experience
• Preferably qualified to a relevant Food Science, Food Technology or Microbiological degree standard or equivalent
• Level 4 HACCP certified
• Knowledge and deep understanding of BRC certification and/or equivalent certification standards
• Internal and external audit experience and knowledge of food safety system (HACCP) – Lead Auditor trained preferable

you put people at the heart of everything you do by displaying the 4 itsu qualities:

• I take pride [in what I do]
• I genuinely care [for people]
• I want to grow [myself & others]
• I build trust [around me]

This job description is not an exhausted list of your duties, you will be expected to perform different tasks as and when needed by the business, and you role will change and evolve as the business does.