Specification Technologist

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Date: 5 Feb 2025

Location: Dublin, IE, D02 H638

Company: Ornua Co-operative Limited

 

 

Ornua is an Irish dairy co-operative that markets and sells dairy products on behalf of its Members, Ireland’s dairy processors and, in turn, Irish dairy farmers. Ornua is Ireland’s largest exporter of Irish dairy products and has annualised sales of €3.4 billion. Headquartered in Dublin, Ornua has a strong global team of 2,900 employees, operating from 10 business units worldwide, including 13 production facilities. Ornua’s core purpose is to build profitable routes to market for Irish dairy products.

 

The Group is structured across two divisions: Ornua Foods and Ornua Ingredients. Ornua Foods is responsible for the marketing and sales of Ornua’s consumer brands, including Ireland’s most successful food export, Kerrygold, as well as Kerrygold Dubliner, Pilgrims Choice, Forto and BEO milk powders.

 

Ornua Ingredients is responsible for the procurement of Irish and non-Irish dairy products, for the sale of dairy ingredients to food manufacturing and foodservice customers across the world, and for managing volatility through de-risking and trading strategies.

 

 

Ornua’s Values

 

At Ornua, our Values lie at the core of everything that we do and how we behave both individually and as a business. Our five values, and their underlying behaviours, encourage us to Seek and Embrace New Ideas, Make It Happen, Be Our True Selves, Show You Care and Achieve Great Things Together.

 

Ornua’s Growth

 

At Ornua, our co-operative ethos lies at the heart of how we do business. We care passionately about driving sustainable, profitable growth, underpinned by our ambitious ‘Path to Prosper’ strategy. We have delivered significant growth in our core business, and we have ambitious plans for continued growth over the next five years.

 

WHY THIS ROLE IS VALUABLE

 

The Specification Technologist will work with Quality Managers, relevant stakeholders, and suppliers to ensure all products have associated current and accurate specifications on Ornua’s specifications system. The Specification Technologist is responsible for the management of the specification system including maintaining Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), user guides, training and supporting users and monitoring KPIs related to process performance.

 

The role is predominantly office based, however certain aspects of both supplier and customer interactions may involve some travel within Ireland.

 

KEY AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY:

 

  1. Initiation of all specifications across Foods/ Ingredients / Internal for cheese, butter, powder, and diversified products in conjunction with key stakeholders in Ornua’s internal specification system.
  2. Management of and coordination of approval, reviews and re-approval of specifications with key stakeholders in Ornua and product suppliers and ensuring timely resolution of queries. Manage priority lists for specification review to ensure specifications do not expire. 
  3. Review and approval of product unit and case artwork in conjunction with relevant
    Quality Managers using in-house packaging system, ESKO.
  4. In conjunction with our regulatory & innovation departments ensure that all specifications and artwork content & design comply with legislation, project brief, customer requirements & relevant codes of practice.
  5. Timely management of all steps to move an approved specification from Specification system to ERP system & lead the completion of Sales specification.
  6. Management of product set-up on ERP system M3, including key attributes and shelf-life set-up and periodic review to ensure accuracy of same.
  7. Completion of any administration activities for the specification management system such as maintaining up-to-date Standard Operating Procedures, work instructions related to specifications, access management for both Foods Connected and QUBE, answering queries, assisting users.
  8. Working with key stakeholders to resolve any specification management system IT issues.
  9. Continually looking at ways to streamline & improve processes and ways of working.
  10. Lead implementing any updates to specification systems and procedures, ensuring all users are appropriately trained. Ensure regular refresher training sessions are in place for the core Quality Team and other stakeholders as required
  11. Participation in projects involving innovation, new product development & product launches in conjunction with Quality Managers. Support Quality Managers in sharing project activities around NPD projects.
  12. Take the lead in customer / regulatory audits on Specification Management.
  13. Support the Technical Support team as required in queries management.
  14. To always represent Ornua to the highest level in all interactions with our members, suppliers, and customers.
  15. To perform any other appropriate duties from time to time.

 

KEY REQUIREMENTS:

 

  • A third level qualification in a technical food / food science discipline.
  • At least 2 years’ relevant experience within the dairy / food industry is desirable.
  • Experience & understanding of using specification systems such as Tesco Technical Library, M&S FIND, Foods Connected, SpecSafe is an advantage.
  • Experience with interpreting & applying labelling legislation & major retailers’ labelling requirements & codes of practices.
  • Working knowledge of food regulations and how to apply, and applied knowledge of UK / EU food labelling legislation
  • Strong communication, interpersonal, organisational and administrative skills.
  • Meticulous attention to detail.
  • Methodical and highly organised with ability to multi-task.
  • Flexible and committed attitude with the ability to display initiative.
  • The ability to work on own initiative as well as part of a team and drive continuous improvement.
  • Strong Word, Excel, and database skills.
  • Willingness to travel in Ireland and abroad as required.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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