Purpose:
To lead and manage a customer-facing, technically-focused Commodity team that provides Product Quality Assurance, Technical Audit and Authorisation for hundreds of food products required for the provision of Food to Armed Forces personnel.
Main Duties & Responsibilities:
Provide leadership and Subject Matter Expertise to Team Leidos Defence Food and develop their skills and talents.
Ensure that the Technical Manager and Food Technologist post holders are suitably experienced and qualified to carry out the activities required of the role.
Engage with the individual food supply contractors to ensure that procedures and process are implemented and operating effectively for the following:
o Ordering food.
o Delivery and receipt of food.
o Issue of account numbers and accounting procedures.
o UK and Overseas exercises.
o Ordering for Ships & Submarines.
o Quality Assurance.
o Operations, Periods of Crisis and War.
Deliver the Defence Food element of Commodity Support Services to ensure the customer receives quality products On Time In Full (OTIF).
To develop and improve/refine Food Commodity Process and Procedures.
Utilising the Technical Manager and Food Technologist post holdersto maintain a Food Safe Environment and Deliver an assured safety and environmental system for procured Food items.
Engaging with Defence Food Category ensure that all pre-tender Commodity documentation is completed to standard.
Lead development In-Contract of all ORP componentry.
Maintain constant liaison with both UK & Overseas Contractors to ensure that the contracts are operating effectively.
Ensure that all applications for Overseas Exercises have been checked, acknowledged receipt and passed to Defence Food Commercial for action by the Food Technologist allocated to that task. Ensure liaison between the Contractor and Unit has commenced. Deal with Unit enquiries that Overseas DFP Contractor is not able to answer and ensure all end of Ex procedures are correctly observed.
Prepare for and attend all quarterly Contract Review meetings to lead on feedback on food contract issues, Core Range reviews, supply chain issues and general feedback.
Lead on compliance of ration pack menus, components and quality compliance with the Defence Food Quality Standards.
Ensure that Defence Food Commodity Team verify appropriate certification provided by potential contractors including 3rd party certification, HACCP, QMS and any issues relating to safety, quality and legality.
Assist in the scrutiny and evaluation of documentary evidence of compliance with UK/EU legislation and ability to comply with requirements for food quality.
Ensure that procedures for the testing of food and non-food items are agreed. Oversight of field user trials in conjunction with the nominated military unit and the collation of the results of both the in-house testing and the field user trials for use in the contract award evaluation.
Arrange funding for 3rd Party testing of a range of non-food products supplied by bidders for packaging performance (minimum burst strength, water resistance, compression strength), Chlorine content of water purification tablets, Heating capability of ration heaters and fuel.
Knowledge, Skills, Qualifications and Experience:
Experience in leading and managing a specialist team.
Experience of military Food Services and Provision.
Experience of analytical, problem-solving, communication, time management and decision-making skills.
Key competencies in order of priority are Analytical Abilities/Commercial Awareness; Interpersonal and Influencing/Communication; Decision Making/Exercising Judgement; Self-Management; Planning & Organising
Proficient Computer Skills - experienced in using databases / spreadsheets and comfortable with producing Presentations where data is communicated to a variety of audiences.
Proficiency in best practice for defect management, auditing and customer management.
A working knowledge of a supply chain end-to-end process is desirable.
Tender and Contract management experience is desirable.
In return for your hard work, we offer excellent career progression opportunities and a professional environment where you can acquire, use, and continue developing your skills.
Your package will include:
Competitive Salary and pension scheme with life assurance
25 Days Holiday (plus 8 statutory Bank Holidays)
Holiday buy-back scheme (5 additional days available)
Employee Assistance Programme supporting wellness with immediate access to:
1. GP consultation and second opinions
2. Mental health support
3. Financial and Legal support
4. Wellbeing and healthy living support
Employee referral scheme with financial reward
Cycle to work scheme
Professional Membership and Study Sponsorship
Pass scheme (100 to undertake training of your choice)
At TVS SCS we encourage and support our employees to realise their potential. They are empowered to take initiative and achieve high impact results that really make a difference to our business and our customers.
If you require any adjustments to allow you take a full and active part in the selection process, please notify us as part of your application. Please note TVS Supply Chain Solutions is an Equal Opportunities Employer. TVS have signed the Armed Forces covenant and are a forces friendly employer.