Technical Manager

Technical Manager

Salary: Negotiable (depending on industry experience)

Location: Middlesbrough

Hours: Monday – Friday – days – flexible on hours

Type: Permanent

Purpose

Ensure the successful management of the Quality and Technical function including food safety, legal compliance, relevant quality related standards and product specification delivery. Ensure products are manufactured to the highest safety, quality, and legal standards, while implementing robust quality systems and driving continuous improvement initiatives.

Responsibilities

Compliance

• Continually develop and maintain the Company Quality Management System and HACCP system.
• Act upon legislation and guidelines to ensure that manufacturing is conducted legally.
• Advise on food safety, hygiene and housekeeping, factory fabrication and food handling practices to ensure products are produced in a food safe environment.
• Ensure compliance to customer’s policies and industry standards such as BRC standards, retailer-specific audits, and other food safety and industry accreditation and certifications.
• Embed a culture of food safety, compliance and GMP across the business ensuring standards are maintained.
• Be the main contact for customer audits. Liaise with customer/third party auditor(s). Ensure all documentation is available. Implement agreed corrective actions.
• Complete internal audits and set up an internal audit programme.
• Conduct supplier audits as required.

Systems and Processes

• Work closely with cross-functional teams to ensure alignment and seamless delivery of technical initiatives.
• Collaborate with both internal and external stakeholders to resolve technical issues and prevent future challenges.
• Manage technical risks, ensuring data security, compliance, and system integrity.
• Optimise production efficiency by overseeing technical processes, equipment performance, and SOP implementation. Drive continuous improvement in manufacturing.
• Support the New Product Development (NPD) and Process teams to ensure the safety, stability, and legality of new and existing products.
• Be the company gate keeper for product specifications including legal labelling requirements.
• Approval of new and existing suppliers based on established risk assessment.

Customers

• Provide information and expertise to external customers on all food safety and quality related matters.
• Liaise and co-operate with the production and commercial teams to ensure that customers are supplied with food products which are safe to drink and that the quality complies with the customer specifications.

Strategic

• Provide expertise in Health & Safety, environmental, and technical matters, influencing business strategy and operational decisions.
• Identify and integrate emerging technologies to drive innovation and maintain competitive advantage.
• Set objectives and team and individual KPI’s based on the business goals and monitor these objectives and KPI’s to ensure they are met.

Key Skills & Experience:

• Educated to degree level in a science or engineering discipline.
• 5+ years’ experience at Technical Manager level working within a food/drinks manufacturing environment
• Advanced HACCP certification
• Thermal Processing experience essential
• BRC and retail audit requirements (all major UK retailers, M&S advantageous)
• Knowledge of food legislation standards
• Experience of managing on site laboratory (preferable)
• Awareness of Health and Safety legislation and regulations
• Advanced Food Hygiene Certificate
• Exceptional strategic thinking, decision-making, and problem-solving capabilities.
• Proven track record of leading, mentoring, and developing high-performing teams.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to simplify complex technical concepts for diverse audiences.

For more information please contact Imperial Recruitment Group