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For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead food safety and quality initiatives in a dynamic food manufacturing environment.
- Company: Join a specialist food distribution company committed to excellence.
- Benefits: Permanent, full-time role with competitive salary and career growth opportunities.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on food safety and quality standards while leading a passionate team.
- Qualifications: 5+ years in technical leadership within food manufacturing and a relevant degree.
- Other info: Opportunity for UK and international travel, enhancing your professional experience.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
Position: Technical Manager
Reports to: Head of Operations
Direct Reports: Food Technologists
Absence Cover: Food Technologists
Contract Type: Permanent, Full-Time
Working Hours: 40 hours per week, Monday to Friday
Location: Kent (site-based with regular attendance required)
Role Purpose
The Technical Manager will play a pivotal senior leadership role within a specialist food distribution and manufacturing environment. The position is responsible for ensuring that all products meet the highest standards of food safety, quality, legality, and integrity, in line with BRC Food Safety Standards, customer Codes of Practice (COPs), and relevant UK and international legislation. This role works closely with retail, independent, and foodservice customers, suppliers, and internal teams to ensure compliance, continuous improvement, and a strong food safety and quality culture across the business.
Key Responsibilities
- Food Safety, Quality & Compliance
- Maintain and continuously improve audit performance against BRC, organic standards, Sedex, and retailer Codes of Practice.
- Lead food safety, food quality, and product integrity systems, including risk assessments, procedures, policies, and work instructions.
- Manage and close out non-conformances, corrective actions, and preventative actions.
- Ensure compliance with all relevant food safety legislation and emerging regulatory requirements.
- Provide leadership on HACCP, food defence, and vulnerability assessment.
- Approve suppliers and raw materials, including conducting supplier approval audits where required.
- Ensure own-label producers and suppliers meet technical and retailer-specific requirements and remain audit-ready.
- Arrange and conduct audits of non-BRC suppliers according to schedule.
- Support suppliers in driving continuous improvement and best practice.
- Act as the primary technical contact for customers and retailers.
- Manage web-based customer information and technical data systems.
- Prepare for and lead customer, supplier, and third-party audits and site visits.
- Support timely completion of retailer specifications, technical documentation, and artwork approvals during NPD processes.
- Lead site technical, QA, and compliance functions.
- Develop and maintain the internal audit schedule and participate in audits.
- Review internal systems for effectiveness and efficiency, driving continuous improvement initiatives.
- Embed a strong right-first-time and food safety culture across operations.
- Work closely with Production, NPD, Engineering, Commercial, and Supply Chain teams to ensure consistent delivery of safe, compliant, and high-quality products.
- Provide technical insight, KPI reporting, trend analysis, and risk-based recommendations to support operational and strategic decisions.
- Undertake UK and international travel, including overnight stays, as required.
- Some travel may be at short notice.
Qualifications & Experience
- Minimum 5 years’ experience in a similar Technical or Quality leadership role within food manufacturing or food distribution.
- HND or Degree in Food Science or a related technical discipline.
- Strong working knowledge of BRC Food Safety Standards.
- Experience in quality management systems, auditing, and lead auditing.
- Retailer-facing experience with a clear understanding of customer standards and expectations.
- Full UK driving licence.
Technical Manager in Tonbridge employer: Leo Recruits
Contact Detail:
Leo Recruits Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Technical Manager in Tonbridge
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to industry contacts, attend food safety and quality events, and connect with professionals on LinkedIn. We all know that sometimes it’s not just what you know, but who you know that can help you land that Technical Manager role.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by brushing up on BRC Food Safety Standards and relevant legislation. We recommend practising common interview questions related to food safety and compliance. Show them you’re the expert they need!
✨Tip Number 3
Don’t forget to showcase your leadership skills! Be ready to discuss how you’ve led teams in previous roles and driven continuous improvement initiatives. We want to see how you can bring that strong food safety culture to their operations.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive about their job search. Let’s get you that Technical Manager position!
We think you need these skills to ace Technical Manager in Tonbridge
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the Technical Manager role. Highlight your experience in food safety, quality management, and any relevant qualifications. We want to see how your background aligns with our needs!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter should tell us why you're the perfect fit for this position. Share specific examples of your leadership in food safety and compliance, and how you've driven continuous improvement in previous roles.
Showcase Your Achievements: Don’t just list your responsibilities; showcase your achievements! Use metrics where possible to demonstrate how you’ve improved audit performance or enhanced product integrity in past positions.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother application process. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and keep track of it. Plus, we love seeing applications come directly from our site!
How to prepare for a job interview at Leo Recruits
✨Know Your Standards
Make sure you’re well-versed in BRC Food Safety Standards and any relevant legislation. Brush up on the specifics of food safety, quality, and compliance, as these will likely be hot topics during your interview.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Prepare examples that highlight your leadership experience, especially in managing teams and driving continuous improvement. Think about times when you’ve led audits or implemented new systems and be ready to discuss them.
✨Understand the Business
Research the company’s operations, their customer base, and any recent news related to their products. This will help you tailor your answers and show that you’re genuinely interested in how you can contribute to their success.
✨Prepare for Technical Questions
Expect questions that test your technical knowledge and problem-solving skills. Be ready to discuss risk assessments, supplier management, and how you would handle non-conformances. Practising these scenarios can give you an edge.
