At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the Quality Assurance team and ensure compliance with food safety standards.
- Company: Established food manufacturing business in Ballymena with a commitment to quality.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, 32 days annual leave, staff discounts, and career development opportunities.
- Other info: Structured working hours with flexibility and a dynamic work environment.
- Why this job: Step into a leadership role and make a real impact on food safety and quality.
- Qualifications: HNC or degree in Food Science, strong knowledge of food safety and manufacturing standards.
The predicted salary is between 30000 - 40000 £ per year.
Your new company is a well-established and highly successful food manufacturing business based in Ballymena, seeking an Assistant Technical Manager to join its Technical team. Operating within a fast-paced chilled food manufacturing environment, the company is committed to delivering the highest standards of food safety, quality, and compliance while maintaining strong relationships with major retail customers.
This is an excellent opportunity for a driven technical professional to step into a leadership role within a high-performing site.
Your new role: As Assistant Technical Manager, you will take responsibility for leading the Quality Assurance team and ensuring all site activities comply with company standards, customer requirements, and legislative expectations. You will play a key role in maintaining and developing the site's Quality Management System, supporting HACCP, allergen, integrity, and internal audit programmes, and ensuring the factory remains fully audit ready at all times. You will lead site audits and customer visits, coach operational and engineering teams to drive food safety culture, and support continuous improvement across quality and compliance functions. In addition, you will be responsible for managing non-conformances and complaints, ensuring corrective actions are implemented effectively, and deputising for the Technical Manager when required.
What you'll need to succeed:
- Qualification in Food Science, Food Technology or a related discipline - minimum HNC, ideally degree level
- Strong understanding of food manufacturing standards, including BRC and retailer Codes of Practice
- Proven ability to lead, influence and drive compliance and change across teams
- Strong knowledge of food safety within a chilled manufacturing environment, including microbiology
- Minimum Level 3 Food Safety and HACCP qualification
- Experience supporting audits, managing non-conformances and driving continuous improvement
What you'll get in return:
- Competitive salary and the opportunity to develop within a leading food manufacturing environment
- 32 days annual leave (including 8 bank holidays)
- Staff sales and employee discount scheme
- A wide range of staff engagement incentives, including Christmas vouchers, site awards and recognition events
- Leadership and management development opportunities to support your career progression
- Structured working hours (Monday-Thursday 8:00am-4:30pm, Friday 8:00am-3:30pm) with flexibility as required
If you're interested in this role, click 'apply now' to forward an up-to-date copy of your CV, or call us now. If this job isn't quite right for you, but you are looking for a new position, please contact us for a confidential discussion about your career.
Assistant Technical Manager employer: HAYS Specialist Recruitment
Join a well-established food manufacturing business in Ballymena that prioritises quality, safety, and employee development. With a competitive salary, 32 days of annual leave, and a supportive work culture, this role offers excellent opportunities for career progression and personal growth within a high-performing team. Enjoy structured working hours and various staff engagement incentives that make this company an attractive place to build your career.
Contact Details:
HAYS Specialist Recruitment Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Assistant Technical Manager
✨Tip Number 1
Get to know the company inside out! Research their values, recent news, and their approach to food safety and quality. This will help you tailor your conversations during interviews and show that you're genuinely interested in being part of their team.
✨Tip Number 2
Network like a pro! Connect with current employees on LinkedIn or attend industry events. Building relationships can give you insider info about the company culture and even lead to referrals, which can boost your chances of landing that interview.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for those tricky interview questions! Think about how your experience aligns with the role of Assistant Technical Manager. Be ready to discuss specific examples of how you've led teams, managed audits, or improved compliance in previous roles.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to follow up after your interview! A quick thank-you email can leave a lasting impression and shows your enthusiasm for the role. Plus, it’s a great opportunity to reiterate why you’re the perfect fit for their team.
We think you need these skills to ace Assistant Technical Manager
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV highlights your relevant experience in food manufacturing and quality assurance. We want to see how your skills align with the role of Assistant Technical Manager, so don’t be shy about showcasing your qualifications!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you’re passionate about food safety and quality. We love seeing candidates who can connect their personal values with our commitment to high standards.
Showcase Your Leadership Skills:Since this role involves leading a team, make sure to highlight any previous leadership experiences. We’re looking for someone who can influence and drive change, so share examples of how you've done this in the past!
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website for a smoother application process. It helps us keep track of your application and ensures you don’t miss out on any updates from us!
How to prepare for a job interview at HAYS Specialist Recruitment
✨Know Your Standards
Make sure you brush up on food manufacturing standards like BRC and retailer Codes of Practice. Being able to discuss these confidently will show that you understand the industry's expectations and can lead compliance effectively.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Prepare examples of how you've led teams or influenced change in previous roles. Highlighting your ability to coach operational and engineering teams will demonstrate that you're ready for a leadership role within the Technical team.
✨Be Audit-Ready
Familiarise yourself with the audit processes and be prepared to discuss how you've supported audits in the past. This will reassure the interviewers that you can maintain the site's Quality Management System and keep it fully audit-ready.
✨Discuss Continuous Improvement
Think of specific instances where you've driven continuous improvement in quality and compliance functions. Sharing these experiences will illustrate your proactive approach and commitment to enhancing food safety culture.
