Join RSSL (Reading Scientific Services Ltd) as an FMCG Food Safety & Manufacturing Systems Consultant based in Reading, United Kingdom. In this casual / zero-hours consultancy role, you will provide expert guidance and training on applied microbiology, HACCP systems, and BRCGS compliance, supported entirely by RSSL's commercial and administrative team.
Requirements
Degree in food science, microbiology, or a closely related discipline (essential).
Extensive experience in food safety / technical roles within FMCG food manufacturing environments.
Hands-on ownership of HACCP systems and BRCGS Global Standard for Food Safety compliance.
Lead Auditor qualification and recognized training credentials are highly desirable.
Skills & Responsibilities
Applied microbiology: Design environmental monitoring programmes, determine shelf-life, and conduct root-cause investigations of micro failures.
HACCP management: Lead HACCP team meetings, conduct hazard analyses, and validate critical control points in manufacturing settings.
BRCGS compliance: Implement system designs, perform gap analyses, and support manufacturing sites through certification audits.
Training delivery: Design and deliver HACCP training, BRC interpretation workshops, and food safety culture sessions to diverse audiences.
Commercial bid-writing: Contribute technical content to proposals, estimate effort, and write clear specifications for consultancy projects.
Potential transition routes: People from quality assurance manager, food technical manager, or senior food microbiologist roles may bring strong auditing and hazard analysis skills, alongside meeting the extensive FMCG manufacturing experience requirements.
Job description
Job Description
Are You Ready to Make an Impact at RSSL?
Join Our Mission to Transform Lives Through Science, Innovation and Collaboration
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 expert consultancy and training to RSSL's food industry clients on applied microbiology in FMCG manufacturing environments, HACCP system design and verification, and BRC Global Standard for Food Safety compliance. This consultant will also support the commercial function by contributing technical content to bids, helping scope quotations, and writing specifications for training and consultancy projects.
Essential Experience
Extensive experience in food safety / technical roles within FMCG food manufacturing environments (not solely laboratory, retail, or regulatory)
Hands-on ownership or management of HACCP systems in a manufacturing setting, including leading HACCP team meetings, conducting hazard analyses, and validating critical control points
Direct experience with BRCGS Global Standard for Food Safety at a practitioner level - system design, implementation, gap analysis, and supporting sites through certification audits (not just audit awareness)
Demonstrated experience of working across multiple product categories or manufacturing environments (e.g., ambient, chilled, frozen, high-care/high-risk)
Training delivery experience: proven ability to design and deliver HACCP training (Levels 2–4), BRC interpretation workshops, food safety culture sessions, or internal auditor training to audiences ranging from factory-floor operatives to senior management
Commercial and bid-writing capability: experience contributing technical content to proposals, tenders, or consultancy quotations. Able to scope a piece of work, estimate effort, and write a clear specification
Desirable Experience
Experience in a consultancy or advisory capacity (not solely in-house roles) - evidence of working across multiple client sites or business units
BRC Lead Auditor status or significant experience conducting BRC-related audits
Familiarity with retailer Codes of Practice (major UK and European retailers)
Experience with food safety culture assessments and improvement programmes
Incident management and crisis response experience (product recalls, contamination events)
Experience developing training course materials and curricula for food safety programmes
Understanding of GFSI-benchmarked schemes beyond BRC (FSSC 22000, SQF, IFS) to broaden the consultancy offering
Qualifications
Degree in food science, microbiology, or a closely related discipline (essential)
Lead Auditor qualification - BRCGS, FSSC 22000, or equivalent (highly desirable)
Recognised training qualification (e.g., PTLLS/Award in Education & Training, or equivalent) (desirable)
Chartered Scientist (CSci) or Registered Scientist (RSci) status (desirable)
MSc or PhD in food microbiology or food safety (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 - the consultant does not need to find their own leads
Full support from RSSL's internal team for bid coordination, project logistics, and scheduling
Opportunity to build a portfolio of work across diverse food manufacturing sectors
Association with the RSSL brand - a respected name in analytical and consultancy services
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.
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.
