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- Tasks: Lead technical operations, ensuring food safety and quality compliance across the business.
- Company: Join Taiko, a pioneering sushi manufacturer with a global presence.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, annual bonus, private medical plan, and discounts on dining.
- Why this job: Be a key player in driving innovation and sustainability in the food industry.
- Qualifications: Extensive experience in food manufacturing and strong leadership skills required.
- Other info: Opportunity for career growth and participation in sustainability initiatives.
The predicted salary is between 65000 - 84000 £ per year.
Contract: Full Time
Salary: 75,000 to 80,000
Contracted Hours: 40
Established in 1997 as the first manufacturer of sushi for the UK supermarket industry, Taiko has evolved into the most innovative manufacturer of Sushi, Food To Go, Prepared Meals and Snacking products in the UK, supplying Waitrose, Tesco and Sainsbury’s to name a few. Over the past 25 years Taiko has launched more first to market Sushi and Food to Go products than any other sushi manufacturer in the UK.
About you
- Extensive experience in a senior technical or quality management role within the food manufacturing industry.
- Strong knowledge of BRCGS, HACCP, food safety legislation, and retailer technical requirements.
- Proven experience in leading audits, managing supplier relationships, and ensuring compliance with industry standards.
- Exceptional leadership skills with experience in developing and managing high-performing technical teams.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities, with the ability to drive continuous improvement.
- Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills, with the ability to influence at all levels.
Overview of the role
As a Head of Technical, you will be the key technical interface for customers, internal teams, and suppliers, ensuring the highest standards of food safety, quality, and legal compliance. Reporting directly to the Technical Director, you will lead the technical team, drive continuous improvement, and provide strategic direction to enhance technical operations and compliance.
Key Responsibilities
- Strategic Leadership: Provide senior-level technical expertise, advising the business on food safety, compliance, and quality standards to align with company objectives and industry best practices.
- Technical Governance: Oversee all aspects of food safety, quality, and regulatory compliance, ensuring full adherence to legal, corporate, and BRCGS accreditation requirements.
- Quality Management System (QMS): Ensure the QMS is effectively managed, regularly reviewed, and continuously improved to drive operational excellence.
- Audit & Compliance Management: Lead customer and third-party audits, ensuring the business consistently meets certification and compliance standards.
- HACCP & Risk Management: Lead the HACCP team, ensuring effective risk assessments, reviews, and implementation of corrective and preventative actions.
- Technical Team Leadership: Manage and develop the technical team, providing coaching, training, and succession planning to build capability and expertise.
- Innovation & Product Development Support: Collaborate with NPD, sourcing, and operational teams to ensure technical feasibility and compliance for new and existing products.
- Performance & Continuous Improvement: Monitor and drive improvements in departmental KPIs, challenging processes and implementing strategies to enhance overall performance.
- Regulatory & Industry Awareness: Stay ahead of changes in legislation and industry developments, ensuring timely implementation of new regulatory requirements.
We’re proud to offer
- Opportunity to grow your career alongside with us with available apprentice program.
- Brilliant support services designed to enhance your physical, mental and financial wellbeing.
- Annual discretionary bonus subject to business and overall performance.
- Discretionary Life Assurance.
- Discretionary Income Protection.
- Private Medical Cash Plan.
- Bespoke reward platform including access to retail, cinema & gym discounts.
- 50% off your food every time you dine with us for you and 3 friends.
- Contribute towards our award-winning sustainability initiatives that delivers progress against 9 UN sustainability goals.
- We’re committed to responsibly sourcing and all our seafood, therefore we only use source sustainable fish.
- All our packaging is recyclable and 80% of our packaging is already made from recycled plastic.
- Annual Awards ceremony celebrating our success and offering winning Managers free trips to Japan.
About us
Come roll with us and be part of something big. Celebrate global success across:
- Over 1500 retail kiosks globally (YO!, Panku, Mai Taiko Snowfox & Bento).
- Our Taiko manufacturing and distribution centre.
- 63 YO! restaurants.
- 3700 locations globally from Hawaii to Aberdeen.
Our Values
Own it, Care About it, Make it Exceptional, Win Together.
Ready to Roll? Come roll with us and play a key role by bringing people together to celebrate better food for everyone the Japanese way…
Head of Technical employer: Pankufood
Contact Detail:
Pankufood Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Technical
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to industry contacts on LinkedIn or at events. A friendly chat can lead to opportunities that aren’t even advertised yet.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its products. Show us you’re passionate about food safety and quality – it’ll make you stand out!
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your leadership stories! We want to hear how you’ve built high-performing teams and tackled challenges. Real examples will showcase your skills.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are keen to join us directly.
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Technical
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the Head of Technical role. Highlight your extensive experience in food manufacturing, especially in technical and quality management. We want to see how your skills align with our needs!
Showcase Your Leadership Skills: In your application, emphasise your exceptional leadership abilities. Share examples of how you've developed high-performing teams and driven continuous improvement. We love seeing candidates who can inspire and lead!
Highlight Compliance Knowledge: Don’t forget to mention your strong knowledge of BRCGS, HACCP, and food safety legislation. We’re looking for someone who can ensure compliance and uphold the highest standards, so make this a key focus in your application.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother process. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and get to know you better. Let’s roll together towards a great future!
How to prepare for a job interview at Pankufood
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of BRCGS, HACCP, and food safety legislation. Being able to discuss these topics confidently will show that you're not just familiar with the standards but can also lead the charge in ensuring compliance.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Prepare examples of how you've successfully led technical teams in the past. Highlight your experience in coaching and developing team members, as well as any strategies you've implemented for continuous improvement. This will demonstrate your capability to manage and inspire a high-performing team.
✨Be Ready for Scenario Questions
Expect questions that ask how you would handle specific challenges, like leading an audit or managing supplier relationships. Think through potential scenarios beforehand and prepare structured responses that showcase your analytical and problem-solving abilities.
✨Engage with Stakeholders
Since this role involves a lot of stakeholder management, be prepared to discuss how you've effectively communicated and influenced at various levels in previous roles. Share specific instances where your communication skills made a difference in achieving compliance or improving processes.
