Helping Everyone Eat Better – It’s what the adverts say, and we’re taking that seriously at Sainsbury’s. Our Food Technical Team are the people who make sure that Sainsbury’s, products are safe, distinctive and legally compliant for our customers, the people that act as our conscience when we’re out looking for all the amazing produce that you can buy in our stores.

The Fresh Produce Compliance Team are dedicated to working with our Category Technologists, Buyers and our international suppliers and growers to deliver safe, legal produce. We approach challenges with a can-do attitude, constantly striving to make things simpler and better to deliver to our customers. We ensure the quality and safety of the strawberries for your morning smoothie, the carrot sticks for your humous dipping, and the sugarsnaps for your stir-fry.

As Compliance Technologist for Fresh Produce, you’ll have full responsibility for proactively managing due diligence and data collation of a global supply-base. You’ll drive the compliance agenda for your category, including specification completion, accurate artwork and ensuring that suppliers are compliant to Sainsbury’s sourcing standards before the season starts. Your role will also support the Produce Technologists and Produce Technical Managers with sustainability targets and ensure we are compliant with the targets we have set as a business.

Fresh Produce couldn’t be more aligned to our Win in Food Strategy, so we’re looking for someone with ideally a couple of years’ experience in the industry, who is familiar with what it takes to remain legally- and brand-compliant. This role may also require Travel to UK packing sites to support and ensure compliance when needed.

More about the role:

• Ensure a robust system of compliance management is implemented throughout the category to collate and maintain accurate product information for all Sainsbury’s brand products ensuring the compliance standards are clearly defined and adhered to
• Ensure all due diligence information is on file prior to the start of the supply/ each season (ethical requirements, policy compliance, pesticide information (spray records and residue analysis), Global GAP certificates, BRC certificates and any other relevant information), visit reports/ audits conducted
• Work closely with the Produce Technologists and Produce Technical Managers to ensure compliance is maintained to ensure brand reputation and due diligence is maintained
• Proactively manages and engages with the grower/ supply base to drive compliance
• Create and manage auditing schedules of all growers and packers
• Ensure all suppliers are aware of Sainsbury’s requirements
• Ability to implement standards competently and challenge the unacceptable in the right way
• Sets targets for growers / suppliers and conducts regular reviews
• Complete detailed investigations on compliance issues to identify the root cause of the issue and implement clear action plans
• Management and delivery of KPI’s in category, such as BRC and Sedex codes
• Pesticide Management; manage grower pesticide lists ensuring they are kept up to date, create robust pesticide residue testing schedules and on receipt of the results review & highlight any detections and file and send results to the growers. Conduct seasonal trend analysis on residues found by product to feed into the Crop Action Groups
• Accurate and active Specifications on Evolve (pre-season)

More about you:

• Degree or equivalent in relevant food, agriculture, product related or relevant scientific subject and/or equivalent experience
• Understanding of technical and manufacturing experience including HACCP and BRC, GLOBAL GAP
• Languages (Spanish, Arabic, French, Italian or Greek) would be advantageous
• Computer literate (Microsoft Excel and Due Diligence IT systems)
• Commercial awareness
• Minimum of 2 years’ experience in a compliance role or technical role either in the supply base or at a retailer
• Be a role model for accuracy and right first time in all aspects of product compliance
• Effective due diligence management

Work-life balance is important to us, so we offer our colleagues as much flexibility as possible in line with the needs of their role. We trust them to decide how, where and when they work, combining remote and collaborative working with a flexible approach to hours, giving them plenty of time and space for life outside of work whilst delivering against our business goals.