Dairy Industry Careers Information

The information below advises the range of roles that are possible within the dairy processing industry. The list is not exhaustive but will provide a good overview of typical roles. Common tasks are noted as well as likely required qualifications and the positions have been divided into categories to provide a wider picture to support with ideas for career development

PRODUCTION

• Operations

These are factory based routine roles which involve ensuring that the production runs smoothly and be at the heart of producing the product. This job role may require working in ‘shift’ patterns.

Role Titles:

• Hygiene Manager /Operative
• Hygiene Supervisor
• Packaging Designer
• Senior Packaging Technologist
• Packaging Operative
• Packaging Manager
• Maintenance Technician
• Maintenance Engineer
• Maintenance Co-ordinator
• Food Production Engineer
• Engineering Manager
• Engineer Supervisor or Section Leader
• Engineer Controller
• Engineer – Food and Packaging
• Technical Manager
• Tech Administrator
• Packaging Technologist
• Assistant Technologist
• Production operative
• Skilled Operative
• Planner (logistics or production)
• Dairy Shift Manager

• Dependent on level and role
• Ensuring production runs smoothly
• May involve planning which lines are required to run for producing certain products to hit demand.
• Working on the production line, either inputting ingredients, packaging, or removing the final product.
• In smaller businesses where the production is more hands on then this may include more physical work and using hands to produce the product e.g., Artisan Cheese Production.

Requirements

Requirements are dependent on role and level but generally the following is required:

• A passion for food production
• Minimum of English and Maths GCSE
• Food Safety understanding
• Enter via an apprenticeship or Graduate Scheme

TECHNICAL AND QUALITY

• Regulatory and compliance

The role is mainly desk based unlike that of the auditor. The role may involve working with new or existing material for food law, safety, quality, authenticity, or consumer protection. Within this area, you could be employed in a government advisory/compliance body, accreditation/technical service company, retailer, or larger food manufacturing company.

Role Titles:

• Head of Risk and Compliance
• Regulatory Technologist
• Regulatory Affairs Officer
• Scientific Affairs Assistant/Officer
• Technical and Food Safety Lead
• Regulatory Assistant/ Advisor
• Food Law Advisor
• Head of Technical (Production and Supply Chain)

• Demonstrate the consistent delivery of technical and legal advisory services for UK and European businesses
• Driving technical innovation, identifying, and bringing new suppliers in, managing supplier audit program and complaint reduction, and delivering the highest quality standards and food safety.
• Combing knowledge of scientific, legal, and business issues to ensure products are developed, manufactured or distributed meet the required legislation.

Requirements:

 These roles require

• A degree ideally in Food Science or Science
• Attention to detail
• Enter via an apprenticeship or Graduate Scheme

• Auditors

Auditors make sure that all the products comply with legislation, are made properly to specification, and are manufactured in cost-effective manner.

Role Titles:

• Compliance Auditor
• Supplier Auditor
• Company QA Auditor
• Factor Hygiene Auditor
• Food Service Auditor
• Quality and Compliance Officer
• Food Manufacturing Inspector
• Food Safety Auditor
• Quality Auditor
• Technical Auditor

Main tasks:

• Perform food safety audits, either in house if working within a food company or for other organisations and ensuring that food safety standards are upheld.
• Utilise food safety knowledge and training to objectively analyse and assess food safety, sanitation, and security measures at client locations, primarily restaurants and grocery stores.
• Educate and train employees on food safety practices
• Verify and document evidence of compliance and non-compliance and write comprehensive reports on audit findings.

Requirement:

These roles require:

• A degree
• Attention to detail
• Enter via an apprenticeship or Graduate Scheme

• Enforcement and Policy

The role is mainly desk based, linking to UK, EU or Government policy or law. It may be working with new or existing material for food law, safety, quality, authenticity, or consumer protection. This could involve employment in a government advisory/compliance body, accreditation/technical service company, retailer, or a larger food manufacturing company.

Role Titles:

• Dairy/Milk inspector
• Policy Officer
• Trading standards officer
• Health inspector/Officer
• Environmental Health Officer (EHO)

Main Tasks:

• Involved in preventing, detecting, and prosecuting offences and will need to liaise with agencies including the police, HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC), Citizens Advice, trade organisations and legal professionals.
• Researching and analysis data. Advising on various issues, carrying out developmental work and liaise with internal and external contacts.
• Document, identify and make physical checks on consignments including products of animal origin and high-risk food not of animal origin.

Requirements:

Requirements for a role in this area requires,

• Attention to detail
• A degree
• Minimum of 5 GCSE’s
• Enter via an apprenticeship or Graduate Scheme

• Quality

Quality roles are crucial in any food manufacturing business ensuring that the customer receives a good quality and safe food product.

Role Titles:  

• QA Lab Team leader
• Quality and Compliance Officer
• Hygiene Apprenticeship
• Quality Systems Technologist
• Trainee Quality Systems Manager
• QA or Quality Technician
• QA Assistant/ Technologist
• Raw Materials QA Supervisor
• Supplier Quality Manager
• QA Manager
• QA supervisor
• Quality Control Assistant
• Supply Chain QA

Main Tasks:  

• Ensure sampling and analytical testing of materials and environmental samples are conducted in accordance with the company, third party and customer standards, whilst achieving Quality objectives and KPI targets.
• Introduce and lead on external audits and inspections, managing and leading routine data collection activities to help analyse on quality of products as well as compliance from a nutritional and allergen point of view.
• Maintain and update quality management systems to capture all changes and improvements required by technical opportunities from continuous improvement initiatives.
• Finding and fixing faults at each stage of the production process, testing samples in a lab, making sure labelling is accurate, checking that production methods meet legislation guidelines, inspecting materials for defects and using methods.

Requirements:

Requirements for a role in this area requires,

• Attention to detail
• A degree, a food or science-based degree would be preferable
• Enter via an apprenticeship or Graduate Scheme
• Minimum of 5 GCSE’s

• Specifications or Systems Technologists

The role is largely desk based. This role could include specifications with specific customers or raw materials. It could be working on codes of practice or quality systems for the factory. The roles could be in food manufacturing sites, technical centres in food service or at a retailer.

Role Titles:

• Food Technologist
• Technical Officer
• Technical Administrator
• Ingredients Technologist
• Vendor/Supplier Assurance Technologist
• Specification, Allergy and Nutrition Manager
• Specifications Technologist
• Senior Specifications Technologist
• Specification Technologist
• Supply Specifications Manager

Main Tasks:  

• Develop food and drink products, making sure they are safe to consume.
• Blend new ingredients to invent and modify recipe, conduct experiments, and produce sample products, design production processes and machinery
• Provide administrative support to technical services team, with key responsibility for analysis (both microbiological and chemical), reporting and corrective action.
• Provide administrative support for the quality and technical department, ensuring the factory is compliant and meeting all legislative requirements both internally and externally.

Requirements:

Requirements are dependent on level and role, but generally the below will be required for a job in specifications:

• Innovative and creative
• A passion for food!
• A science or food science degree or equivalent
• Minimum of 5 GCSE’s (Including English and Maths)
• Enter via an apprenticeship or Graduate Scheme

LABORATORY

• Analytical

The role will be mainly lab based, either analytical or microbiological. The job could be in industry, technical services, contract labs or academia. 

Role Titles:  

• Laboratory Technician/Technologist
• Microbiology Technician
• Analytical Technologist
• Microbiologist (lab based)
• Microscopists
• Biochemist
• Analytical Biochemists
• Analytical Chemists

Main tasks:

• Supporting the technical side of the food industry.
• Involved in a variety of laboratory-based investigations within biological, chemical, physical and life science areas. This can include sampling, testing, measuring, recording, and analysing results as a part of scientific team.
• Provide all the required technical support to enable the laboratory to function effectively while following procedures and health and safety guidelines.

Requirements:

A degree in science, microbiological, chemistry, biology, physics, or Food Science, will be required for a role in a Laboratory.

NEW PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT

This area is focussed on the development of new products (NPD), this can include improving existing products by cost saving techniques or process improvements. Other NPD roles include producing ideas and potential new ideas relating to the recent trends or to hit the brief of a retailer. There is a large variety of role titles and salaries but generally requires a graduate entry point, although some businesses may offer apprenticeships.

Role Titles:

• Ingredients Technologist
• Packaging Technologist
• Research Scientist
• Research Assistant
• Senior R&D Technician
• Process Innovation Technologist
• Raw Materials Technologist
• R&D Process Plant technician
• Graduate Development Technologist
• NPD Technologist
• Assistant Technologist
• Development Technologist
• Senior NPD Technologist
• Development Assistant
• Development Chef
• Nutritionist
• NPD Manager
• NPD Controller
• Process Development Technologist
• Process Technologist
• Product Developer
• Concept Developer
• Packaging Innovation Manager
• Head of NPD
• Packaging Developer
• Senior Process Development Technician
• Process Development Technologist
• Process Technologist
• Product Development Scientist

 Main Tasks:

• Identifying and developing new packaging technologies and designs from initial idea through to commercial roll-out.
• Supporting the Process Technology team in running pilot plant trials. This also involves managing all stack, packaging, equipment and bookings to ensure the smooth running of the pilot plant. Also ensuring that health and safety and food manufacturing standards are adhered to.
• Researching and developing new production processes and making modifications to existing process systems to improve overall efficiency and profitability.
• Facilitate new food developments and innovations, redeveloping and transferring all products from concept through factory trial to launch, meeting all requirements of internal and external timescales, kPIs and budget expectations.
• To ensure all incoming materials are in line with internal, customer standards and come from approved sources.

Qualifications required:

Requirements are dependent on level and role, but generally the following will be required for a job in NPD:

• Innovative and creative
• A passion for food!
• A food science degree or equivalent.
• Minimum of 5 GCSE’s (Including English and Maths)
• Enter via an apprenticeship or Graduate Scheme

PROCUREMENT

Procurement involves the purchasing of raw ingredients, packaging or any supplies required for production.

Role Titles:

• Procurement Executive
• Procurement Executive Assistant
• Buyer
• Assistant Buyer

Main Tasks

• Constantly searching for newer and better-quality materials to ensure the company is ahead of competition but ensuring that quality of the product is maintained.
• Customer facing role, organising contracts with new suppliers.
• Finding the best possible price for the ingredients required.
• Ensuring that ingredients arrive on time and able to hit deadlines.
• The role may also involve visiting and inspecting prospective supplier before contracting an agreement.

Requirements:

These roles require

• A degree
• Good communication skills to negotiate contracts
• Minimum 5 GCSE’s
• Some roles may require an additional qualification that can be obtained through some businesses to become a charted buyer.