Food Technologist

Office Base: London or Redditch, with a hybrid working pattern and regular collaboration with suppliers and production partners.
Working Hours: Monday to Friday (9am–6pm), Permanent/Full-time,
Salary: £40,000–£45,000pa

Please note: We're not able offer visa sponsorship at this time.

About Oddbox

As much as 2.5 billion tonnes of food are wasted globally every year – which plays a big part in the climate crisis. We’re on a mission to change that, with rescued fruit and veg from hard-working growers as well as plastic-free ingredients and brands that do good for the planet.

With fruit, veg and more delivered right to your door, we’re working towards a fairer food system - one where growers are supported and paid fairly, where produce doesn’t have to look ‘perfect’ and, most importantly, a food system where we never waste taste. No more unnecessary air miles or plastic - just delicious food that fights waste with every box.

The Role

We’re looking for a proactive and commercially minded Food Technologist to join the Oddbox team.

This role sits at the intersection of product quality, food safety, sustainability and innovation — helping ensure that every product we offer is safe, compliant, high quality and aligned with our mission to reduce food waste.

You’ll play a key role in setting and maintaining technical standards across products and suppliers, while also supporting the development of new, mission-led products and categories as Oddbox continues to grow.

Key Responsibilities

🍓 Create and manage “Gold Standard” finished product and raw material specifications, including sensory, shelf-life and safety benchmarks
🍓 Ensure products remain compliant with UK food legislation and labelling requirements, including allergen regulations and Natasha’s Law
🍓 Develop and maintain robust supplier approval and auditing processes, ensuring high standards across third-party suppliers and packers
🍓 Support traceability and recall processes through effective documentation and quality systems
🍓 Monitor customer complaints, quality trends and sensory performance to identify opportunities for continuous improvement
🍓 Work closely with suppliers and operational teams to improve product quality, shelf life and reduce spoilage
🍓 Ensure intake and factory quality checks are fit for purpose and aligned to agreed specifications
🍓 Conduct benchmarking and sensory evaluations to maintain product quality and consistency
🍓 Partner with Buying and Marketing teams to support mission-led product development and sustainable sourcing decisions
🍓 Build strong supplier relationships and proactively identify opportunities for new products and categories

Required Skills

🍋 Strong understanding of food production and food safety standards (Food Safety Level 3 and HACCP Level 3 minimum)
🍋 Ability to assess products objectively through sensory evaluation
🍋 Experience conducting shelf-life validation trials and interpreting microbiological standards
🍋 Knowledge of UK food regulations and supplier auditing requirements
🍋 Strong organisational and documentation skills
🍋 Comfortable using data and insights to drive quality improvements and decision-making

Required Experience

🍏 1–3+ years’ experience in a Food Technologist or similar technical role within the UK food industry
🍏 Experience auditing and approving suppliers
🍏 Experience working with short shelf-life or fresh food products
🍏 Experience managing product specifications and quality standards
🍏 Experience working cross-functionally with suppliers, operations or commercial teams

Mindset & Behaviours

🍇 Strong problem-solving skills and ability to think quickly while maintaining food safety and quality standards
🍇 Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills across different teams and external partners
🍇 Curious and creative mindset, always looking for new ways to bring Oddbox’s mission into products and categories
🍇 Commercially aware and able to balance innovation, quality and long-term viability
🍇 Proactive, detail-focused and comfortable working in a fast-moving environment
🍇 Collaborative approach with a continuous improvement mindset

Nice to Have

🍉 Degree in Food Science, Food Technology or Nutrition
🍉 Project management experience
🍉 Knowledge of dairy, protein or bakery categories

Why Join Us

🍉 Be part of a purpose-driven business tackling food waste and building a more sustainable food system
🍉 Play a key role in shaping the quality, safety and sustainability of the products our customers receive every week
🍉 Work across a wide range of products, suppliers and categories in a fast-growing food business
🍉 Join a collaborative and down-to-earth team that values ideas, ownership and continuous improvement
🍉 Help bring innovative, mission-led products to life while protecting the quality and integrity of the Oddbox brand

Our benefits include:
🍉 25 days’ holiday + bank holidays + 4 “not-sick” days + 2 volunteering days
🍉 £300 personal development budget + access to wider learning opportunities
🍉 Wellbeing support, including EAP and online GP 🍉 Company bonus scheme
🍉 Discounts on Oddbox products
🍉 Additional perks and savings through Perkbox

How to Apply

If you’re passionate about food quality, sustainability and building products that make a real impact, we’d love to hear from you.

Please send your CV now for immediate consideration. Apply now and help us make every box count.