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- Tasks: Lead food quality and safety across operations and third-party manufacturers.
- Company: Join FBC UK, the home of iconic biscuit brands like Maryland and Jammie Dodger.
- Benefits: Hybrid work, inclusive culture, and opportunities for personal and professional growth.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in food safety while working with top UK retailers.
- Qualifications: Food or science degree, HACCP Level 4, and proven leadership experience.
- Other info: Be part of a diverse team that values authenticity and innovation.
The predicted salary is between 72000 - 108000 £ per year.
Location: St. Paul’s, GB
Place of Work: Hybrid
Company Description
We are FBC UK, Fox's Burton's Companies! We bake the UK's most incredible biscuits. FBC UK was a match made in heaven, with two of the top UK biscuits manufacturers (Burton's Biscuits and Fox's Biscuits) coming together to create one unique, integrated company. We are home to famous iconic brands, including Maryland, Fox's, Jammie Dodger & Rocky, to name just a few. We are proud manufacturing partners to some of the biggest UK retailers and household names. We bake our incredible biscuits at eight bakeries across the UK, located at Isle of Arran, Livingston, Blackpool, Llantarnam, Edinburgh, Kirkham, Batley & Dorset and our HQ in St Paul’s. Together, we employ circa 4,000 amazing colleagues across all our locations.
We are committed to building an inclusive workforce that feels empowered to build a fulfilling and successful career. By embracing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) we create a supportive environment for people to thrive and strive to have more positive impact. We understand that having formal and on-the-job learning opportunities is key to our colleagues’ professional and personal growth. We are committed to providing an environment where everyone can learn from each other and grow through a variety of learning experiences.
About The Role
We are looking for an experienced Central Technical Director to lead Food Quality and Safety across our central functions, including operations and third-party manufacturers. You will head the central FSQ function, ensuring compliance with regulatory, customer and industry standards while driving continuous improvement. Working closely with R&D, Operations and Supply Chain, you will ensure the consistent delivery of safe, high-quality products aligned to customer frameworks and business strategy. You will also lead Product Incident Management where required and play a key role as a member of the Technical Leadership Team.
Main Responsibilities
- Customer Interface
- Lead and maintain strong technical relationships with existing and new customers, acting as the senior technical representative on quality, food safety and sustainability matters.
- Oversee delivery of customer quality plans, technical activities and portal requirements for strategic accounts.
- Provide clear direction to internal teams on customer technical expectations and strategy.
- Ensure effective management of artwork changes, corrective actions and continuous improvement in response to customer and audit feedback.
- Performance Management
- Oversee the development of technical scorecards and evaluate performance review outputs, providing guidance and challenge where required.
- Ensure impactful customer requests are assessed in alignment with FBC strategies.
- Oversee the Product Quality Assessment framework, providing feedback to Operations and defining clear success measures for improvement.
- Product Development
- Oversee teams responsible for evaluating technical aspects of new product launches, finished product specifications and artwork origination/changes, escalating unmitigated risks where necessary.
- Lead delivery of technical support for retailer brand project work.
- Food Law
- Ensure effective evaluation of global and local food law requirements using best-in-class sources, including trade associations, law firms, consultancies and online services.
- Oversee the internal legislation hub, ensuring the business is prepared for regulatory change through clear communication and action planning.
- Food Regulation
- Support the definition of regulatory strategy for product development aligned with business requirements.
- Lead the provision of regulatory intelligence and the development of business-wide response plans.
- Compliance
- Lead the product labelling compliance team, ensuring legislative checks, claims validation and guidance to operational teams.
- Oversee validation of local legislation on claims (health, nutrition, ingredients) and conditions of use, including risk assessments covering legal and reputational considerations.
- Lead teams contributing to cross-functional working groups to improve workflows, best practices and ways of working.
- Project Management
- Own the intake and prioritisation of new FSQ system and standards projects.
- Ensure appropriate stakeholder engagement and effective project kick-off.
- Monitor project execution and progress to ensure delivery against objectives.
- FSQ Governance
- Define and implement FSQ governance aligned to key milestones within the FBC UK calendar.
- Facilitate the definition of the FSQ budget and SAF.
- Coordinate internal FSQ stakeholders to ensure effective governance and alignment.
- Internationalisation & Ferrero Ecosystem
- Act as FSQ lead for the introduction of Ferrero Ecosystem products into FBC UK distribution and sales, ensuring all legal and food safety requirements are met.
- Ensure ongoing quality assessment of Ecosystem products and implementation of corrective actions where required.
- Lead FSQ activity for FBC brands entering international markets, ensuring ongoing quality assessments are maintained.
Qualifications
- Food or Science-related degree
- HACCP Level 4 qualification
- Food Safety Level 4 qualification
- FSSC 22000 certification
- Qualified Lead Auditor
Experience
- Proven leadership experience within a multi-site FMCG food organisation
- Demonstrated ability to operate at senior leadership level in complex food manufacturing or FMCG environments
- Strong background in retailer private label, managing high-risk, high-profile customer requirements
- Significant senior-level experience working with major UK retailers, including M&S and Tesco
Diversity Statement
FBC UK is committed to building a diverse and inclusive culture in which all employees feel welcomed and appreciated and have the same opportunities. We believe all of our people are equally talented in their own way. In nurturing the curiosity and natural abilities of our employees, we provide them, generation after generation, the means to succeed personally and professionally, enabling them to craft their journey at FBC UK. The diversity of our talents is what makes our work environment multicultural, innovative and highly rewarding.
Central Technical Director in London employer: Paterson Arran
Contact Detail:
Paterson Arran Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Central Technical Director in London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the industry, especially those connected to FBC UK. Attend events or webinars where you can meet potential colleagues and show off your passion for biscuits and food safety.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by diving deep into FBC UK's values and products. Know your stuff about their brands and be ready to discuss how your experience aligns with their mission of quality and innovation.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your leadership skills! Be ready to share examples of how you've successfully managed teams and projects in the past. FBC UK is looking for someone who can drive continuous improvement and lead with confidence.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in being part of the FBC UK family.
We think you need these skills to ace Central Technical Director in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Be Yourself: When you're writing your application, let your personality shine through! We want to see the real you, so don’t be afraid to show your passion for biscuits and what makes you unique.
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your application to fit the Central Technical Director role. Highlight your relevant experience in food safety and quality, and how it aligns with our mission at FBC UK.
Showcase Your Achievements: Don’t just list your responsibilities; share your successes! Use specific examples of how you've improved processes or led teams in previous roles to demonstrate your impact.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for this exciting opportunity!
How to prepare for a job interview at Paterson Arran
✨Know Your Biscuits
Before the interview, get familiar with FBC UK's brands and products. Understanding their iconic biscuits like Maryland and Jammie Dodger will show your genuine interest in the company and its offerings.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
As a Central Technical Director, you'll need to demonstrate strong leadership. Prepare examples of how you've successfully led teams in previous roles, especially in multi-site FMCG environments, and be ready to discuss your approach to managing high-risk customer requirements.
✨Understand Food Safety Regulations
Brush up on food safety laws and regulations relevant to the UK market. Be prepared to discuss how you would ensure compliance and drive continuous improvement in food quality and safety across operations and third-party manufacturers.
✨Emphasise Your Collaborative Spirit
FBC UK values teamwork and collaboration. Think of instances where you've worked closely with R&D, Operations, or Supply Chain teams. Highlight how you fostered effective communication and alignment to achieve common goals.
