Consumer scientist jobs

Food technologists are responsible for ensuring that food items are manufactured in a legal and safe manner and to the quality standards advertised.

Your major duty as a food scientist is to verify that finished food items do not pose any health risks and are up to the required quality levels. There is a good chance that you will also be engaged in the process of designing production procedures and recipes for food and drink goods. This could require developing new recipes and ideas based on both previously known and recently unearthed components, such as novel ingredients.

You may alter foods in order to make goods such as fat-free items and ready meals, and you will often work closely with the product development teams in order to assist in the delivery of factory-ready recipes that are based on development kitchen samples. It will be a vital element of your profession to remain current with the ever-evolving rules that govern the manufacturing of food.

Responsibilities

You are going to need to in order to be a food technologist:

Modify the processes and products that are already in existence, and create new ones.

From the raw material stage all the way through to the completed product, examine and enhance the safety and quality control methods at your own factory as well as the factories of your suppliers.

do research on both the existing consumer markets and the most recent technological developments in order to build new product ideas.

Choose your suppliers for the various raw materials and additional components.

To guarantee that your goods are profitable, you should establish product costings based on the costs of raw materials and production.

inspect suppliers or handle internal audits

conduct tests of novel products, either in addition to or concurrently with the creation of the product.

coordination of the introduction of new items

take care of any inquiries into complaints from customers or product problems.

labeling and product specifications need to be compiled, checked, and approved.

carry out long-term initiatives in collaboration with other departments, such as cutting down on waste through increasing productivity

focus on improving both the technology and the ingenuity of packaging

perform research and develop sample items

Develop the procedures and equipment needed to produce vast numbers of items that have a flavor, color, and texture that are consistent with one another.

Develop ties with both your consumers and your vendors.

ensuring items are lucrative.

You could also be responsible for the following extra responsibilities, depending on the industry in which you work.

In the manufacture of food:

cultivate the capacity to repeat procedures in order to guarantee both consistency and safety.

maintain communication with commercial and technical colleagues in areas such as purchasing, sales, technical services, marketing, and distribution, as well as with government organizations responsible for food inspection and hygiene (this takes up a considerable proportion of time on the manufacturing side)

collaborate with the engineering and production departments to come up with solutions to production problems that don't compromise food safety.

In retailing:

collaborate with one's suppliers on matters of quality and innovative product ideas.

oversight of the quality, legality, and safety of the food that is produced.

When it comes to the public sector:

perform administrative duties and participate in the formulation of policies for government agencies.

Implement enforcement responsibilities within the departments of environmental health that are within the jurisdiction of municipal authorities.

Salary

Food technologists often begin their careers with starting wages in the range of £20,000 to £26,000.

After gaining experience, one may be able to earn incomes ranging from £25,000 to £45,000.

You have the potential to earn more than 50,000 pounds if you work in senior management.

In most cases, those with higher pay are given more supervisory responsibilities.

Depending on the type of the job that you do, you may be eligible for extra benefits, such as a bonus that is directly connected to your performance, a private health plan, a pension, a corporate vehicle, and continued possibilities for professional growth.

The monetary amounts listed are just meant to serve as a reference point.

Time spent working

Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. till 5:30 p.m., the standard workday schedule in the retail and public sectors, with the possibility of some overtime. However, until management level, shift work is typical in the private sector (for example, in factories).

When production trials are being done, it is possible that shift work may be necessary on occasion. This is because auditing hours will be scheduled in accordance with the site's production timings. You will need to be flexible, but in the majority of instances, any time that is taken away from your scheduled hours will be returned to you.

There is a possibility of obtaining employment on a part-time basis with adaptable hours.

What may be anticipated

The majority of the time, work is performed in factories; but, it might also take place in an office, a laboratory, or a kitchen.

Since there are food factories located all across the UK, employment opportunities are accessible in the majority of the country's regions. The head office for retail positions is most often located in London. When you first begin your career, it is not uncommon for larger firms to require that you work in a number of various places. Jobs in the public sector may be found in a variety of government agencies, such the Food Standards Agency, as well as in local administrations.

When working in a laboratory, kitchen, or factory, you are required to wear protective clothes and a head covering. The dress code for the office is often business casual, but when working in a laboratory, kitchen, or factory, you are required to wear protective gear.

It's possible that you'll feel restricted in the places you may work if you're a vegetarian or have strong beliefs about the kinds of meals that are acceptable. Nevertheless, this is well accepted by the sector, and work can be handled in the vast majority of instances.

If you work in retail or for a local government, you could be compelled to do a significant amount of traveling throughout the course of a typical workday. Travel might be local, national, or worldwide, and could entail going to the factories of various suppliers in order to conduct audits or take samples, in addition to visiting warehouses and distribution centers. It's possible that certain positions need frequent overnight absences from home.

Qualifications

When applying for a job in this industry, having a degree in a field linked to food will be to your advantage. In particular, the following topics are pertinent to this discussion:

what we eat, how we eat, and our health

handling of food safety and quality concerns

the science and technology of food.

The fields of physical science, mathematical science, biological science, and medical science are all important in this context. Particularly beneficial are fields of study such as nutrition, microbiology, and applied chemistry.

A suitable HND will allow you to begin this field; but, if you just have an HND and no other training or work experience, your career growth may be limited by this qualification.

There is a possibility of entry without a degree or HND in some cases; nevertheless, the position held will be at the technician level. If you get further credentials and obtain more work experience, you could be able to advance your career and become a food scientist.

If you already have a degree in a subject that is unrelated to the field, continuing your education with postgraduate work in a field such as food quality management may considerably improve your chances of being accepted. In your last year of school, selecting a dissertation topic that is relevant to the position can assist to demonstrate your excitement and devotion to the job. Conduct research to find postgraduate programs in the field of food technology.

The Institute of Food Science and Technology (IFST) - Accredited Programmes/Course can provide you with a list of institutions that provide undergraduate and postgraduate degrees, as well as degree apprenticeships, in food technology.

Skills

You will need to demonstrate that:

genuine curiosity about the scientific method and how it might be used in the kitchen and culinary arts

superior levels of tidiness and the capacity to maintain adherence to stringent hygiene regulations

good attention to detail

talents in both verbal and written communication in plenty

Having attributes of leadership

individuals and the ability to operate as a group

a work style that is adaptable to changing conditions

numeracy and problem-solving skills

strong organizational abilities and the capacity to manage one's time effectively

a conscious understanding of the consumer market

Practice in the workplace

Having prior experience working in the food processing business is quite beneficial. Make it a goal to get as much hands-on experience as you can; submit your resume for a position as a laboratory technician or on the production line in food firms over the summer; while you are there, make it a point to network and build up your contact list.

The experience gained via volunteering for various causes is also very beneficial. The ability to demonstrate technical expertise in either retail or manufacturing is highly prized.

Find out more information on the many types of work experience and internships that are currently offered.

Employers

Food scientists may be found working for a wide variety of businesses and organizations within the food industry. These employers can be found in both the public and private sectors.

The functions and names of many jobs are quite diverse, and there is a high degree of overlap amongst industries. The following are examples of common kinds of organizations and the accompanying job functions found in the main industrial sectors:

policy, administration, and research are the responsibilities of central government entities.

education includes instructing in primary schools, secondary schools, colleges and universities, as well as being engaged in training and research.

Manufacturing enterprises specializing in food and beverages: production, quality control, and product development

organizations that manufacture food processing and equipment, focusing on the development of novel manufacturing processes and equipment

food inspection carried out by local authorities, most often under an environmental health department

research associations and technical consultancies are responsible for doing research on products and materials and offering specialized guidance to many industries.

retailers and supermarket chains are responsible for quality control, the creation of new products, as well as purchasing, marketing, and packaging.

Try looking for employment opportunities at:

Foodmanjobs

Work at the Grocery Stores

New Scientist Jobs

Yourfoodjob.com

It is normal practice for recruitment agencies to manage openings. Directories such as "The Grocer Directory of Manufacturers & Suppliers" are some examples of other helpful sources of connections that may be used for speculative purposes.

The level of competition is high, both for graduates with degrees in unrelated fields and for positions with well-known corporations. The fall and spring terms of your last year are often when major employers begin the recruiting process. Additionally, it is beneficial to submit speculative applications to other firms. When you are seeking for work, it will be to your advantage if you are not tied down to a certain area.

Improvement of one's profession

There are certain graduate training programs offered by prominent corporations. If you have a degree in another scientific field, like microbiology or biotechnology, for example, your company will most likely provide you with further training in that field. On-the-job training is often provided by smaller businesses, even if they do not have official training programs available.

There are many other short courses that may be taken during your career in areas such as food hygiene or meat safety, or in a specialized topic that is relevant to your work such as advanced baking. Some examples of these areas include: Other applicable disciplines include those in science and technology, in addition to those in business and marketing. Employers often cover the cost of training for their employees.

Some people who work in the food technology industry decide to get a master's degree or doctorate in one of the fields that are closely connected to their work. There are classes available in subjects such as:

the biotechnology and bioscience of food

food chain systems

administration of the food manufacturing process

handling of food safety and quality concerns

the science and technology of food

sciences related to nutrition and food.

The Institute of Food Science and Technology (IFST) offers a program called continual professional development (CPD), which assists food scientists in maintaining their current level of expertise and knowledge. It offers guidance on what kinds of activities might count as continuing professional development (CPD), as well as how to organize and document such activities. Please refer to the IFST - CPD learning activity page for more information.

There are a variety of courses that are certified via the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health that you may take if you are interested in moving into the food inspection industry (for example, working in the environmental health department of a local government) (CIEH).

You may discover information on courses via the Chartered Trading Standards Institute if you are interested in the food standards component of the job (CTSI).

Prospects for one's career

If you work for a bigger company, you have a better chance of being promoted to a more senior position as a technologist, which gives you more managerial responsibility for the team and the resources. This might ultimately lead to you being offered a management position with strategic responsibility for the areas that are relevant to this discussion. The following is an example of a typical progression during a career:

development technologist

a senior member of the development technology team

The head of the project (lead food technologist)

manager of the company's new product development.

You might also choose to specialize in a specific field, such as quality management or process management, or you could transition into a different business sector, such as sales or business development.

Smaller and medium-sized businesses generally offer greater responsibility earlier on in your career, as well as the opportunity to gain skills and experience in a wider variety of business areas in a shorter amount of time, in comparison to larger corporations, which offer more opportunities for cross-functional moves.

It's possible that switching jobs may be required of you in order to reach the next level of your career or get a higher pay. This can necessitate moving in some circumstances.

For members who meet the requirements, the Institute of Food Science and Technology (IFST) offers a path to professional recognition as a Chartered Scientist (CSci). Please go to the IFST - Chartered Scientist website for more information.