Our client, a leading catering company that provides healthy, delicious, child-friendly meals and snacks to childcare centres and schools- is searching for a Menu and Allergen Specialist. The Menu and Allergen Specialist is responsible for project planning and managing the menu development process, with a focus on overall menu objectives in nutrition, menu innovation, and customer satisfaction rating. In addition, this role will develop allergen menus and work with the Allergen Supervisor and Nutritional Services Manager to innovate and expand our allergen service offering. This role works intensely in managing items, boms, recipes, and menu set-up in the ERP system ensuring accuracy and timeliness to changes to support operations and customer communications. RESPONSIBILITIES:Menu DevelopmentLead the Menu Steering and Development Process and TeamCreates project plans and tracks progress for all functional areas to achieve the optimum menu development process. Enhances process to predictably meet the needs of the customer and the functions to enable delivery of the menu on time and in full.Proactively sources and assess new meals and snacks for menus in collaboration with the nutritional services, purchasing and quality assurance teams.Able to deliver on overall menu objectives as set out by Leadership (targets for new items, limitations, menu score, and food cost).Accurately recommends, reviews and approves menu substitutions.Prepares, updates and communications around one time and permanent menu changes.Helps to prepare portion and allergen guides with each new menu and helps to maintain and update the documents incorporating any changes and/or modifications. Allergen ManagementProactively sources and assesses new allergen replacements to offer kids with allergens healthy foods that best mimic the main meal.Ensures variety in allergen meals by mapping out replacement options.Be the “item” and “allergen processing” expert in technology; understanding our customized technology processes to ensure it is being used and leveraged effectively for allergen and menu purposes. Ability to train others on these processes for support during peak volumes.Completes key components of daily allergen processes.Completes daily creation and assignments to special allergen childrenCreates new allergen substitutions for the main menu in the menu development process Other ResponsibilitiesWorks closely with Customer Care team to answer allergen specific questions from parents and customers.In collaboration with the Nutrition Services Manager, help with the development of a semi-annual innovation report.Attends conferences, tradeshows and other events to source new products, learn innovations, and keeps abreast with food, allergen and nutrition trends.Ability to innovate and recommend improvements to help fulfill the company differentiator of accommodating both preferences and allergies.Participates in customer events and occasional customer visits to stay informed and connected to customer needs and feedback.DESIRED PROFILE:Strong customer centric focus and service orientation, be keen to accommodate preferences in addition to medical needs.Degree in Nutrition or Food Science, Registered Dietitian preferred.Minimum 2 years experience in menu development required.Minimum 2 years experience and knowledgeable in allergen management preferred.Minimum 2 years experience in meal preparation and/or food production planning preferred.Minimum 2 years experience working in a database or ERP required.Strong communication skills.Intermediate skill level in Microsoft Office Suite of products – Word, Excel, PDF, Outlook.Intermediate skill level in ERP system, Nutritional software, Recipe Management software.Personable, professional and can lead a team positively with a diverse group with various levels of responsibility and accountability.Ability to learn and leverage technology (digital native)Interested in this Opportunity? Submit an Application Package by clicking on APPLY TO THIS POSITION.