Join RSSL as a Food Allergen Management Consultant based in Reading, United Kingdom. This flexible, casual (no fixed hours) role focuses on delivering specialist allergen consultancy and training with zero administrative overhead, supported by an established commercial team.
Requirements
Degree in food science, biochemistry, immunology, or a closely related discipline.
Extensive food industry experience in allergen management, including FMCG manufacturing.
Proven experience with quantitative allergen risk assessments (e.g., VITAL 4.0) and PAL strategies.
Practical knowledge of allergen testing methods such as ELISA, LFDs, and PCR.
Experience in training delivery and commercial bid writing.
Skills & Responsibilities
Allergen Risk Assessment: Conduct quantitative risk assessments using methodologies like VITAL 4.0 to evaluate cross-contact and ingredient risks.
Consultancy & System Design: Design and implement robust allergen management plans, segregation strategies, and cleaning validation protocols in manufacturing environments.
Training Delivery: Develop and deliver specialist allergen awareness and management training to audiences ranging from factory-floor operatives to senior management.
Commercial Support: Contribute technical expertise to bid writing, quotation scoping, and training course development.
Potential transition routes: People from food safety management, quality assurance, or regulatory compliance roles may bring strong risk assessment and auditing skills, alongside meeting mandatory industry 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 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
Qualifications
Degree in food science, biochemistry, immunology, or a closely related discipline (essential)
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.
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.
