Technical Manager - Food in Gateshead

The salary for this role is 40k - 55k dependent on experience. This role is located in Gateshead, with 25% European travel required.

About Our Client

Our client is a major European food manufacturer supplying a wide range of products into UK retailers, brand owners and high‑street discounters. They operate across multiple international sites and are committed to raising technical standards, improving processes, and delivering best‑in‑class customer service.

Job Description

Key responsibilities:

• Act as the primary technical contact for all UK customers and sourcing sites, managing queries and ensuring timely resolution.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with UK retailers and European manufacturing partners.
• Ensure all sites understand and meet UK customer codes of practice; support, coordinate and close out actions from audits.
• Lead site visits and audits across European locations to assess capability and identify improvement needs.
• Develop and implement the BIUK Food Manufacturing Standard, ensuring consistent compliance across all sourcing factories.
• Manage third‑party auditing teams and support sites during customer audits, including portal management and data submission.
• Own cross‑sell processes, improving speed and quality of approvals and maintaining a centralised information source for all SKUs and factories.
• Track and manage costs including customer portals, audits, SEDEX/SMETA and travel.
• Manage customer KPI data and reporting.
• Respond to customer enquiries within agreed service levels (48 hours for customers, 24 hours for sourcing sites).
• Support specification writing during peak periods and contribute to key project meetings as the technical representative.

The Successful Applicant

The successful applicant:

• Degree-qualified in Food Technology, Food Science or a related discipline.
• Willingness to travel to Europe 25% of the time.
• Minimum 2 years' experience in a Quality or Technical Management role within food manufacturing, ideally supplying UK retailers.
• Strong understanding of UK retailer standards, codes of practice and audit expectations.
• Knowledge of HACCP, food safety and auditing (Level 3/Lead Auditor trained preferred).
• Excellent communication, relationship‑building and organisational skills.
• Strong analytical capability with the ability to prioritise, problem‑solve and manage multiple projects in a fast‑moving environment.
• Resilient, tenacious and confident working with both senior stakeholders and factory‑floor teams.
• Able to work independently, travel across Europe (minimum one week per month) and adapt to changing customer and business needs.
• Additional languages (Dutch/French) advantageous but not essential.

What's on Offer

What's on offer:

• Competitive salary between £40,000 and £55,000.
• A high‑visibility technical role with significant ownership across UK customer relationships and European manufacturing sites.
• The opportunity to shape cross‑sell strategy and influence technical standards across a growing business.
• International exposure with regular travel and the chance to work across multiple manufacturing platforms.
• Strong career progression opportunities within Technical, Quality, and wider Operational functions.
• A fast‑paced environment where your decisions directly impact customer satisfaction and product compliance.

Take the next step in your career as a Technical Manager. Apply now to join a respected organisation and contribute to its success.