Position Type: Regular - Full-Time
Grade: Grade 05
Requisition ID: 42725
The Senior Scientist, Specifications is responsible for developing, maintaining, and ensuring compliance of all product specifications for items sourced from the GB and EMENA regions within the Global Snacking portfolio. This role ensures that specifications meet regulatory, quality, and safety standards while supporting business continuity and innovation. The position requires strong technical expertise, cross-functional collaboration, and a proactive approach to risk management.
Responsibilities
Specification Ownership:
- Develop, review, and approve specifications for raw materials, packaging, and finished products sourced from GB and EMENA regions.
- Ensure specifications comply with global standards, local regulations, and customer requirements.
Governance & Compliance:
- Maintain accurate and up-to-date specification data in relevant systems.
- Ensure adherence to food safety, quality, and regulatory requirements across all markets.
Cross-Functional Collaboration:
- Partner with R&D, Quality, Regulatory, Procurement, and Manufacturing teams to align specifications with business needs.
- Support regional and global teams during audits, product launches, and supplier onboarding.
Risk Management:
- Identify and mitigate risks related to specification gaps or inconsistencies.
- Provide technical guidance to resolve specification-related issues promptly.
Continuous Improvement:
- Drive process improvements for specification management systems and workflows.
- Contribute to global harmonization initiatives for specification standards.
Requirements
- Bachelor's or Master's degree in Food Science, Chemistry, or related field.
- 5+ years of experience in specification management within FMCG or food industry.
- Strong knowledge of food safety, regulatory compliance, and quality systems.
- Experience with specification systems and data governance.
- Excellent attention to detail, analytical skills, and ability to manage complexity.
McCain Foods is an equal opportunity employer. As a global family-owned company, we strive to be the employer of choice in the diverse communities around the world in which we live and work. We recognize that inclusion drives our creativity, resilience, and success and makes our business stronger. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, age, veteran status, disability, or any other protected characteristic under applicable law.
McCain is an accessible employer. If you require an accommodation throughout the recruitment process (including alternate formats of materials or accessible meeting rooms), please let us know and we will work with you to find appropriate solutions.
Your privacy is important to us. By submitting personal data or information to us, you agree this will be handled in accordance with McCain's Global Privacy Policy and Global Employee Privacy Policy , as applica ble. McCain leverages AI in the hiring process, though all final decisions are made by humans. You can understand our approach to AI and how your personal information is being handled here .
Job Family: Research & Development
Division: Global Research and Development
Department: Specialist - Specification
Location(s): FR - France : Nord : Villeneuve-d'Ascq
Company: McCain Alimentaire SAS
Skills Required
- Bachelor's or Master's degree in Food Science, Chemistry, or a related field
- 5+ years of experience in specification management within the FMCG or food industry
- Strong knowledge of food safety, regulatory compliance, and quality systems
- Experience with specification systems and data governance
- Excellent attention to detail, analytical skills, and ability to manage complexity
What the Team is Saying
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McCain Foods Compensation & Benefits Highlights
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Healthcare Strength — Health coverage is often characterized as affordable or good, with medical, dental, and vision options supported by mental-health resources and an Employee and Family Assistance Program. Company materials also highlight wellbeing resources available to employees and families.
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Retirement Support — A 401(k) with company match and other retirement options are presented as strong components of total rewards. Mentions of good matching and region-specific retirement support reinforce long-term financial benefits.
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Leave & Time Off Breadth — PTO, sick time, paid holidays, and parental leave feature prominently across materials. Some locations note solid starting vacation and region-dependent leave programs.
McCain Foods Insights
What We Do
The power it has to uplift and bring people, Guided by our purpose - Celebrating real connections through delicious, planet-friendly food - we believe that working together with our teams, business and community partners will bring sustainable growth and positive change - today, tomorrow and for generations to come. As a privately owned family company with over 60 years of experience, a presence in over 160 countries and a global team of 22,000 people, our values and culture are at the heart of everything we do. Our product quality, people and customer dedication help us achieve global sales in excess of CDN $10 billion. Through our investment and innovation, we continue to be a global leader in prepared potato products, including our famous French Fries and appetizers. We are passionate about supporting and developing our people-providing opportunities to grow and learn in their roles, as well as building careers for the long term.
Why Work With Us
We are working to bring digital tools and data into our processes to drive efficiency, automation and data-driven insights. From connecting our business, enabling our supply chain, supporting our customers, to reinventing agriculture. So if you are a tech expert looking to join a company transforming technology, think of McCain.
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McCain Foods Offices
Hybrid Workspace
Employees engage in a combination of remote and on-site work.
In both our manufacturing plants and corporate offices, we believe connection brings out the best in our people. While in-office expectations will vary by role, flexibility is key. In our corporate offices, the hybrid standard is 3-days in office.
