Specification Manager

Join Our NPD Team at The Compleat Food Group!

We have a fantastic opportunity for a Specification Manager to join our brilliant NPD team in Crewe on a fixed term contract for 12 months.

In this role, you will play a pivotal part in bringing innovative food products to market. Working at the heart of our New Product Development (NPD) and Existing Product Development (EPD) programmes, you’ll help transform great ideas into customer‑ready products by creating accurate, compliant specifications that meet both customer expectations and legal requirements.

As a key link between Development, customers, and internal teams, you’ll build strong relationships, provide expert specification support, and ensure the smooth delivery of product information that underpins our continued success and growth.

Hours

Monday to Thursday 08:30 – 17:00 and Fridays 08:30‑16:00 (some flexibility required). This is a Hybrid role, but there will also be some travel requirements. Access to your own transport is essential.

Your Duties Will Include:

• Effective completion and maintenance of customer specifications and portal systems in line with customer category plans and company agenda including raw materials, packaging and legality.
• Work alongside Procurement, Technical and Packaging to ensure that teams have acquired and maintained accurate raw material and packaging supplier information.
• Management of the specification administration process from concept, through to delist.
• Adhere to latest labelling guidelines and customer codes of practice whilst understanding customer policies and procedures.
• Complete documentation in support of the product development team and wider business when required.
• Support artwork process and lead at site level to produce legal packaging in line with company, retailer and industry standards.
• Support in customer/audit visits to site from a customer specification perspective.
• Promote and follow safe working across site and advise immediately on unsafe work practices.

Experience:

• Customer specification system experience (food related)
• HACCP / Food Safety Training
• Meat analysis experience
• Critical path management
• Food manufacturing experience within an FMCG environment

Key

Skills:

• Planning, organisation, and project management
• Communication at different levels of seniority across various teams
• Identifying solutions
• Microsoft Office including Excel and Word

Qualities:

• A passion for food - product tasting is required across multiple categories
• Problem solving
• Enthusiasm to learn and grow
• Self‑Motivated
• A team player with well‑developed interpersonal skills
• 33 days holiday (including bank holidays)
• 2 Employee Volunteering Days per year
• Employee well‑being and community support groups
• Informal and Formal training opportunities with personalised online LMS platform
• Charity Initiatives and Team events
• 24/7 Access to Grocery Aid (Free Financial, Emotional and Practical Support)
• Physical Wellbeing Benefits – Free on demand exercise hub and various gym discounts.
• Free Financial wellbeing – mortgage calculators, budget tools, financial aid tools
• Holiday Discounts via Online Retail Discount

The Compleat Food Group fosters an inclusive, respectful culture where everyone feels safe, supported, and valued. We welcome diverse talent, knowing it drives exceptional results and a better workplace.

We are committed to Fairness, Equity, Inclusivity, and Respect, we ensure all colleagues can thrive by bringing their whole selves to work. As an equal opportunity’s employer, we provide all the support you need to succeed.