Food Allergen Management Consultant

Location: Reading, United Kingdom

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RSSL (Reading Scientific Services Ltd) is a leading scientific services company providing analytical testing, consultancy, and training to the food, drink, pharmaceutical, and consumer goods industries. A wholly owned subsidiary of Mondelēz International, we combine deep scientific expertise with practical industry knowledge.

Our Training & Consultancy division delivers specialist food safety, allergen management, microbiology, regulatory, and FMCG manufacturing compliance services - both as tailored consultancy for individual client challenges and as structured training programmes for teams at every level. We work with businesses of all sizes, from start-ups navigating regulation for the first time to established manufacturers strengthening their systems. RSSL manages all client relationships and administration, so our consultants focus on what they do best: delivering expert advice and training.

Purpose of the Role

To provide specialist allergen management consultancy and training to RSSL's food industry clients, covering allergen risk assessment, precautionary allergen labelling (PAL) strategy, cleaning validation for allergen removal, and allergen management system design in manufacturing environments. This consultant will also contribute to the commercial pipeline - supporting bid writing, quotation scoping, and the development of training course specifications for allergen management programmes.

Essential Experience

Extensive experience working in allergen management in the food industry, with at least part of this in FMCG manufacturing environments

Proven experience conducting allergen risk assessments using quantitative methodologies (e.g., VITAL 4.0 / VITAL Online, or equivalent threshold-based approaches)

Experience designing and implementing allergen management plans in manufacturing settings: segregation strategies, cleaning validation, scheduling, and cross-contact risk management

Practical knowledge of allergen testing methods (ELISA, LFDs, PCR) and their appropriate application in manufacturing and supply chain contexts

Familiarity with current regulatory frameworks for allergen labelling (UK Food Information Regulations, EU FIC 1169/2011) and emerging regulatory trends

Experience advising on precautionary allergen labelling (PAL) strategy - evidence-based risk communication, not blanket "may contain" labelling

Training delivery experience: proven ability to design and deliver allergen awareness training, allergen management workshops, and specialist courses to audiences from factory-floor operatives to technical and management-level professionals

Commercial and bid-writing capability: experience contributing technical allergen content to proposals and consultancy quotations. Able to scope allergen management projects and write clear specifications

Desirable Experience

• Involvement in allergenicity assessment work (e.g., supporting novel food or novel protein allergenicity evaluations)
• Experience working with or for the Food Standards Agency (FSA) or equivalent European food authorities on allergen-related matters
• Published work, conference presentations, or recognised thought-leadership in allergen management

Experience with consumer-facing allergen incident management

• Familiarity with retail customer Codes of Practice relating to allergen management
• Experience developing allergen management training curricula and course materials
• Degree in food science, biochemistry, immunology, or a closely related discipline (essential)
• Advanced HACCP qualification (Level 4) (highly desirable)
• Recognised training qualification (e.g., PTLLS/Award in Education & Training, or equivalent) (desirable)
• BRCGS or equivalent auditor training covering allergen management requirements (desirable)
• FoodDrinkEurope / VITAL programme training (desirable)
• More about this role

What RSSL Offers the Consultant

Zero admin, pure delivery: RSSL manages the entire commercial and administrative cycle - client acquisition, all client communications and relationship management, invoicing, billing, credit control, and debt collection. The consultant simply delivers the work and takes their day rate. No chasing clients, no unpaid invoices, no business development overhead, no paperwork

Access to a pipeline of food industry clients through RSSL's established brand and active sales function - allergen management is already listed as a specialist expertise area, providing immediate credibility

Support from RSSL's existing allergenicity and allergen management specialists for complex engagements

Opportunity to contribute to the development of RSSL's allergen training portfolio

Flexibility of zero-hours engagement - fits alongside other consultancy commitments

Business Unit Summary

Reading Scientific Services Ltd (RSSL) is a cutting-edge contract research organisation (CRO), providing research, analysis and consultancy to the food, consumer goods and life science sectors. Whether we are creating new products, validating medicines or solving investigations, we take pride in being a leader in our field, serving clients from across 70 countries. Enriched by our parent company, Mondelēz International, our team are committed to transforming lives through science, innovation and collaboration.

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RSSL is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, colour, religion, gender, sexual orientation or preference, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

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Job Type

Casual (No Fixed Hours)

Food safety

Product Quality, Safety and Compliance