Technical Manager

We are looking for an experienced and driven Technical Manager to lead our food safety, quality, and compliance agenda across site operations. This is a critical leadership role responsible for ensuring our products consistently meet customer expectations, regulatory requirements, and business standards. You will champion a culture where food safety and quality are at the heart of everything we do, driving continuous improvement while building a strong technical ethos across the factory.

Working cross-functionally with Operations, Commercial, and Supply Chain teams, you will play a key role in maintaining industry certifications, strengthening customer relationships, and supporting the successful delivery of new product innovation.

• Lead the site’s food safety, quality, and compliance strategy, ensuring adherence to customer, retailer, and regulatory standards (including BRCGS and HACCP).
• Own and continuously improve the Quality Management System (QMS) to maintain certification and audit readiness.
• Lead all customer and third-party audits, ensuring strong performance and successful outcomes.
• Maintain robust traceability systems from raw material intake through to finished product dispatch.
• Proactively identify risks to product safety and compliance, implementing preventative actions.
• Drive a right-first-time culture across the factory, ensuring products consistently meet specifications.
• Oversee product testing and validation including shelf life, pesticide residue, and microbiological assessments.
• Provide technical expertise to operational teams, embedding quality standards across all departments.
• Act as the technical lead for customer relationships, communicating quality performance and improvement initiatives.
• Build strong relationships with retail partners and customers to ensure alignment and engagement.
• Collaborate with suppliers and procurement teams to maintain high raw material standards.
• Support and manage the innovation pipeline, working with commercial, operations, and technical teams.
• Ensure new product trials meet food safety and quality requirements through effective testing and risk assessment.
• Evaluate new raw materials, packaging, and processing methods to ensure compliance and feasibility.
• Ensure compliance with all health and safety legislation and company policies.
• Conduct safety audits, risk assessments, and toolbox talks.
• Lead, coach, and develop the Technical Team to ensure high performance and engagement.
• Champion technical excellence and challenge existing processes to implement best practices.

• Proven experience in a Technical Manager or Senior Technical role within food manufacturing.
• Strong knowledge of BRCGS, HACCP, retailer standards, and food safety legislation.
• Experience managing customer audits and regulatory compliance.
• Strong leadership skills with the ability to develop and motivate teams.
• Data-driven mindset with a focus on continuous improvement.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.

• Great Place to Work accredited.
• Attractive basic salary, & annual bonus.
• 31 days holiday per year including bank holidays.
• 40 hours per week, Monday to Friday.
• Salary sacrifice pension scheme.
• Cinema, Sky Store, supermarket & retailer discounts.
• Health Cash Plan, holiday discounts, life assurance & income protection.
• Employee referral scheme & Employee Assistance Programme.
• Cycle to Work and electric car salary sacrifice schemes.
• Eyecare contributions.
• Learning, development, and mentoring opportunities.
• Regular social, charity, and community engagement events.
• Onsite health checks, annual flu jabs, and wellbeing sessions.

We politely request no contact from recruitment agencies or media sales. We do not accept speculative CVs from recruitment agencies nor accept the fees associated with them.