Campden & Chorleywood Food Research Association (CCFRA)
Position: Home Economist, Consumer and Sensory Science
Campden & Chorleywood Food Research Association (CCFRA) is a major independent research organisation with an international reputation for its work with the food and drink industry. Our clients range from major blue-chip multi-national companies to small and focussed businesses, with our overall role to provide independent advice and services to ensure product safety, to improve product quality and to stimulate product, packaging and process innovation
CCFRA is supported by approximately 1700 companies world-wide through our membership base, and most of our work consists of applied research, services and training to clients on a contract basis. At present, approximately 300 full or part-time staff are employed at our site in Chipping Campden, and a further 30 staff at our site in Budapest, Hungary, which offers strong possibilities of business expansion within Hungary and in neighbouring countries as the European Union expands.
This is reinforced by an annual total of over 250 scientific papers, trade articles, internal publications and lectures by Research Association staff. In addition, CCFRA has links with academic and industrial research centres in the UK and Europe, aiding the successful transfer of technology to industry.
Department of Consumer and Sensory Science
The Department is responsible for work on many aspects of food quality and is involved in measuring the characteristics of food, such as appearance, odour, taste and texture. Food companies are interested to understand how these ‘sensory' characteristics are changed under different manufacturing or storage conditions.
Sensory analysis uses people as the measuring ‘instrument'. Teams of fully trained food and drink tasters are used for the assessment of a wide range of fresh, processed and prepared food and drink products on behalf of client companies. Consumer research is also carried out to investigate consumer opinions and preferences.
Duties and Responsibilities:
- To support existing business from major clients and accommodate growing volume of business from new clients
- To undertake technical duties in respect of contractual services particularly relating to product evaluations, competitor benchmarking and market place surveys
- To prepare client reports, detailing the evaluation of samples with specific attention to suggested improvements, comparison data and market positioning
- To contribute to data collection, participation and co-ordination of sampling sessions
- To conduct desk research through trade consumer magazines, maintaining sound market place knowledge
- To assist in the organisation of seminars and conferences including the preparation and delivery of presentations at both internal and external events for food industry clients.
Qualifications and Experience
- HND/Degree in Home Economics/Consumer Science or other relevant food qualifications
- GCSE Maths, English and Science
- Clean driving licence
- Basic Food Hygiene Certificate desirable
Key Skills
- Good organisational skills, ability to prioritise workload and achieve tight deadlines
- Good wordprocessing skills, database and spreadsheet competency
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Ability to work as part of a team and on an individual basis
- Good technical skills and understanding of food and food preparation
- Ability to liase with clients on a professional level
- Must have a passion for food!
For an application form and job description, please contact Debbie Wiblin Human Resources Department, CCFRA, Chipping Campden, Glos. GL55 6LD
Telephone: 01386 842091.
Email address: personnel@campden.co.uk
Web site address: http://www.campden.co.uk
Pay and Benefits
Salary: |
£13,725 - £19,435 |
Grade: |
TO |
Holidays: |
24 days rising on length of service, plus public holidays |
Pension Scheme: |
CCFRA operates a pension scheme |
Training: |
CCFRA is an ‘Investor in People' and is committed to ensure all staff receives appropriate training to support their job function and business needs. |
Health: |
All employees are entitled to receive half of their costs towards the company approved private medical insurance scheme . CCFRA also operates a ‘permanent health scheme' if you are unable to continue work for health reasons, and a ‘death in service' scheme |
Others: |
Other benefits include subsidised restaurant on site, and the use of a subsidised on-site day nursery facility for pre-school children. |
Location
Chipping Campden is an attractive stone built town situated on the edge of the Cotswolds and offers an attractive family lifestyle. The town itself has good schooling, many hotels, pubs and restaurants, a new sports centre and attractive walking country, with Chipping Campden being the start of the Cotswold Way.
Gloucestershire is a unique and special place, which combines idyllic scenery with hi-tech industry, bustling market towns and unspoilt rural villages. Leisure pursuits are well catered for, with many formal gardens, historic buildings, museums and galleries. There is a thriving theatre and art scheme throughout the county, and nearby Stratford-upon-Avon is only 10 miles from Chipping Campden
Gloucestershire is also a sporting county. It is the home of one of the country's top Rugby Union sides and more than forty club sides play regularly. There are a number of excellent non-league football sides and of course no reference to county sport would be complete without a mention of Cheltenham Racecourse, famous for the Gold Cup festival.
Further Information
If further information is required, please visit our web site (www.campden.co.uk) or contact Debbie Wiblin on 01386 842091