Technical Manager in Melksham

Job Description

Technical Manager

Department: Technical Reporting to: Managing Director

Based at Melksham, Wiltshire

Purpose

To lead technical, food safety, quality assurance, compliance across the business’s cheese and cream operations to consistently deliver and maintain all internal and external standards whilst supporting ambitious growth plans. Embed strong and dynamic partnerships with customer and suppliers to support their technical activities in the delivery to market of all their existing and new traded goods.

Key Responsibilities

Food Safety and Compliance

• Drive a zero-tolerance food safety and strong food safety culture across all departments within the business, owning and overseeing the technical risk assessment processes
• Lead the continuous use of HACCP, VACCP and TACCP systems through teams, managing the review of completed documents and ensuring the implementation of identified actions
• Ensure full compliance with BRCGS Food Safety Standard by leading regular reviews and implementing improvements to the site QMS
• Oversee the goods‑in quality checking processes to ensure non conformities and root causes are identified promptly and, with proactive technical input, are promptly resolved
• Oversee investigations of all customer complaints and ensure timely resolution in line with agreed quality performance targets
• Maintain audit ready standards across relevant processes to optimise outcomes for all external and internal audits
• Ensure the site consistently meets customer, legal, food safety and environmental regulatory requirements whilst supporting operational efficiency, continuous improvement and business growth
• Lead environmental and sustainability compliance initiatives, ensuring consideration of environmental impact in product and process design
• Support cost saving initiatives without compromising quality or food safety

Leadership & Training

• Lead, manage, motivate and mentor the technical team to ensure the team is fully trained and resilient
• Design, implement and continuously improve the technical KPI framework, ensuring accurate and timely data is used to identify trends, prioritise activity and drive performance improvements across the function
• Develop and maintain a robust succession and cross‑training plan to strengthen team resilience, minimise single points of failure and build capability and capacity across all key technical disciplines in line with growth plans
• Conduct regular performance and skills reviews, implementing structured training plans to address gaps in technical, regulatory, dairy and soft skills knowledge
• Serve as the central technical interface across departments, driving collaboration between technical, operations, commercial and procurement teams to ensure aligned decision‑making and delivery
• Manage and control the technical budget, ensuring effective allocation of resources aligned to business priorities

Customer & Supplier Engagement

• As the technical lead for customer engagement, ensure retailer and customer needs are met through a deep understanding of their requirements across all markets and territories
• Work closely with the Supplier Relationship Manager, Sales and Marketing teams to showcase the Technical Team’s expertise and added value for stakeholders
• Proactively support product launches by identifying, communicating and mitigating technical and compliance risks at an early stage
• Control and continually improve technical processes for new product delivery to ensure CCI meets its customer requirements
• Manage the efficacy of the company supplier approval system including the recording and maintenance of risk assessments and other relevant supplier documentation
• Undertake onsite supplier visits and audits as appropriate, not only to maintain standards, ensuring all technical and quality requirements are met in line with national and international regulations, but also to create strong working relationships with the key suppliers

Innovation and continuous improvement

• Lead and manage the technical aspects of cream NPD to ensure products are technically feasible, compliant and commercially viable, working collaboratively with the Operations Manager. Manage idea screening, concept development and testing and product development including testing and compliance with regulations
• Lead continuous improvement strategy across the technical and quality systems to improve product consistency, ensure right first‑time performance, drive waste reduction, drive complaint reduction and improve shelf‑life performance, in collaboration with the Operations Manager
• Drive digitalisation and automation of technical and quality systems in collaboration with the Operations Manager, to improve efficiency, data integrity and decision making

Key relationships

• Managing Director
• Sales and Marketing Director
• Suppliers and customers
• All department heads including Supplier Relationship Manager
• Local Environmental Health
• Head of People and People Advisor

Decision making

• Provision of insight and direction on technical matters
• Ownership of technical risk assessments
• Define and deliver agreed technical strategy aligned to business objectives
• Leading continuous improvement strategy within the Technical team
• Creation of content of training plans
• Maintenance of compliant and relevant technical processes

Problem solving

• Investigation and root cause identification for customer complaints (supplier and site) and quality issues within the factoryImplementation of corrective, sustainable and preventive actions
• Management and resolution of people issues
• Continuous improvement of compliant and efficient ways of working

Experience

• Relevant experience in a similar technical role ideally with a chilled food manufacturing business supling UK retail. Cheese and dairy knowledge would be an advantage
• Proven experience in the implementation of BRC Grade A Global Standard and Quality and Food Safety initiatives, including HACCP
• Food Technology Degree or equivalent
• An advantage to possess qualifications in Level 4 Food Safety and HACCP
• Understanding and utilising ERP systems

Skills, Knowledge and Competencies

Interpersonal

• Leadership
• Organisational awareness
• Initiative
• Impact and influence
• Resilience
• Strong communication skills
• People management and development
• Team working
• IT literate

Technical

• Deep understanding and practical experience of HACCP, TACCP and VACCP
• Extensive experience with Internal and External auditing
• Strong IT skills

Measurement data

• Minimise food safety issues or recalls
• Minimise majors on audits and ongoing attainment of AA BRC
• Delivery of accurate and timely technical information and reports
• All technical standards consistently met in line with KPIS
• Maintained reduction in customer complaints
• Motivated and committed staff though strong review processes
• Delivery of regular and relevant training programmes
• Implementation of systems improvements
• Positive and productive working relationships with Suppliers and Customers
• Well planned and delivered cream NPD
• Effective maintenance of supplier approval system