Technical Development Lead (Darlington)

Join our snack-loving team! We are looking for a Technical Development Lead to join our team at KP Snacks. Fancy being part of a group where your ideas matter and your growth is celebrated? Keep reading – this might just be your next adventure!

In this role, you’ll drive the technical growth of our engineering team—supporting colleagues across the site in building capability, maintaining compliance, and delivering high-quality training. You’ll be central to ensuring we’re future-ready by owning our apprenticeship and ATM development programmes, and shaping a strong succession pipeline. You’ll also work closely with cross-functional teams to identify skills needed for new technology and equipment, creating in-house subject matter expertise. This is a great opportunity for someone with a background in engineering and a real commitment to helping others grow.

What’s in it for you? We believe in giving back and making sure you’re happy and thriving. Here’s a taste of what we offer:

• Annual bonus scheme, with an excellent track record of over achievement.
• Comprehensive Healthcare Support – Access to a Medicash Health Cash Plan or Private Healthcare, including a Digital GP service, Best Doctors (Second Medical Opinion Service), and specialist Cancer Care for peace of mind when you need it most.
• KP Pension Plan - contribution matching up to 7% of your salary.
• 25 days holiday + holiday buy scheme.
• KP4ME - online benefits, discounts, prizes, competitions and information platform with access to mental, physical and financial wellbeing information and tools.

What will you be doing?

• Taking ownership of engineering training and compliance, ensuring all statutory and legal certifications (e.g. PUWER, Control of Contractors) are met and sustained across the site, enabling safe and efficient operations.
• Designing and driving continuous improvement in our development programmes—you’ll evolve and deliver engaging learning pathways for Apprentices and ATMs, fostering technical mastery and growing future leaders.
• Partnering with cross-functional teams and the Electrical Responsible Person to assess technical competency, facilitate sign-offs, and support integrated succession planning through a robust Engineering Skills Matrix.
• Influencing the direction of training investment, managing the site’s engineering training budget effectively, while building partnerships with external training providers to bring in new expertise and capability.
• Embedding a culture of learning and technical excellence, contributing to the Engineering & Training (E&T) and IM Pillars by identifying skill gaps for future technologies and helping create in-house SMEs ready for tomorrow’s challenges.

Who are we? We are KP Snacks, proud to be part of the Intersnack family. Picture this: over 15,000 of us, spread across more than 30 countries, all working together to create the snacks you love. From Hula Hoops to McCoy's, we are the team behind your favourite munchies. Here in the UK, we are about 2,400 strong, spread across seven factories and our Slough HQ. But don’t let our size fool you – we’re as close-knit as they come. We believe in speaking our minds, celebrating our differences, and pushing boundaries together. Diversity isn’t just a buzzword for us. We’re on a mission to create a workplace where everyone belongs. So, even if you don’t tick every box, we want to hear from you! Your unique perspective could be just what we need. Also, if there’s anything we can do to make this process easier for you, just give us a shout.

We’d love to hear from you if you can demonstrate the following knowledge, skills and experience:

• A recognised Electrical Engineering qualification, with solid practical experience in a manufacturing, production or FMCG environment.
• Proven experience in developing others’ technical skills, whether through formal training, mentoring, or on-the-job development.
• A strong understanding of how to build capability within teams, with a focus on long-term succession planning and growing future talent.
• A health and safety mindset, with a NEBOSH or IOSH qualification being a plus—but if not, we’re happy to support you in gaining one.
• A genuine interest in learning and development, with the willingness to complete a training qualification if not already held.