About The Role

Are you the secret ingredient to Food Innovation for East Kent Colleges Group?

Join our team as a Technical Practitioner in our Food Innovation Kitchen, supporting our Technical Consultant

Are you passionate about food innovation and supporting small businesses? We are looking for a proactive and hands-on Technical Practitioner – Food Innovation to join our dynamic team. Based in our newly opened Innovation Kitchen in Broadstairs, you’ll play a vital role in ensuring the smooth, safe, and efficient operation of the EKC Innovation Kitchen.

Under the direction of our Technical Consultant – Food Innovation, you’ll work closely with small businesses, opening up and locking down the kitchen, guiding users through our specialist equipment, supporting food production activities, and maintaining high standards of hygiene and safety. From troubleshooting kitchen equipment to performing quality checks and maintaining inventory, your work will directly contribute to the success of the EKC Innovation Kitchen.

The core hours for this role are 26 hours per week, but at times there may be opportunity for the postholder to work additional hours. If you do undertake additional hours, you would not be expected to work more than 37 hours per week.

For 26 hours per week, the salary will be £17,218 pro rata (£24,503 FTE) per annum. Note, this role is until 31 July 2026.

Working pattern (but can be flexible)

Monday - 8am -1.30pm

Wednesday - 8am - 1.30pm

Friday - 8am - 6pm

This is a fantastic opportunity for someone who thrives in a practical, fast-paced environment and is excited by the opportunity to support food entrepreneurs and learners alike.

Alongside our priority of excellent student experience, we also focus on our employees. Here are just some of our benefits when working for the East Kent Colleges Group:

Competitive salary and holiday entitlement
Access to 100's of online discounts via our Rewards Scheme (Inc. Restaurant, Grocery, Retail, Gym, Holidays)
Access to cycle to work, car leasing and tech purchasing schemes
Generous pension scheme - 18% employer contribution
Being part of a company with a Eco-Sustainability focus of being Net-Zero
Time off for your child's first day at school, moving home and for interviews
My 10 Days initiative - bid for up-to 10 days off work to pursue voluntary work
Being part of Community Days and Annual Staff Celebration Day

About You

You’ll bring a flexible, can-do attitude and a background in food production or a related environment. You’re confident working with industrial kitchen equipment and understand the importance of food safety and hygiene protocols. You will need to be flexible as the role may require some weekend work.

You’ll also have:

Excellent practical and administrative skills
Strong communication and interpersonal abilities
The initiative to work independently and solve problems on the go
A commitment to safeguarding and promoting a safe, inclusive environment

A Level 3 qualification in a relevant field is desirable, but not essential - we’re more interested in your practical experience and willingness to learn.

If you’re ready to support innovation, empower small businesses, and help shape the future of food, we’d love to hear from you

No need to spend time updating your CV, just click apply and complete our short application form. You can save your progress as you go, and we’ll review all applications and get back to all candidates after the closing date.

If you are interested in an informal chat about the role, or have any queries, please email us on jobs@ekcgroup.ac.uk

Skills Practitioner jobs

Technical Practitioner - Food Innovation

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