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- Tasks: Lead technical management for food products, ensuring quality and compliance.
- Company: Join Solent Group, a leader in innovative food product solutions for global retailers.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible working, competitive salary, and extensive benefits including mental health support.
- Why this job: Be part of a dynamic team driving food innovation and sustainability in a fast-paced environment.
- Qualifications: Experience in food safety and quality, with a degree in Food Science or related field.
- Other info: Regular travel across Europe and the UK; must handle various food products.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
Solent Group Christchurch, United Kingdom Technical Hybrid
Company Description
Solent Group work with a diverse portfolio of Retailers and supply bespoke products within various categories, including Health & Beauty, Household Impulse Snacking and Reusable Bags. We are proud to be best-in-class when it comes to own-label product innovation. Our Categories are fast-paced with ever-evolving trends and a host of ground-breaking products coming to market on a regular basis – we add value to retailers by leading and owning each category.
Here at Solent we want people to be extraordinary. We pride ourselves on creating and producing amazing products and brands for our Global Customers. You will be joining a company with offices globally across South Africa, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Vietnam, and the UK.
Position
DIVISION/DEPT: Technical – Foods
REPORT TO: Head of Technical – foods
LINE MANAGEMENT: Food Technologist
LOCATION: Hybrid Christchurch (Minimum 1 day a week in the office)
TRAVEL: Regular European and UK overnight travel ( often at short notice)
We are seeking a dynamic and experienced Senior Technical Manager to join our team. This is a customer-facing role that requires a strong technical background in food safety and quality, exceptional communication skills, and the ability to build and maintain robust client relationships. The successful candidate will serve as the technical expert for key customers, ensuring product compliance, addressing technical queries, and driving continuous improvement initiatives.
Requirements
Responsibilities:
Customer Relationship Management:
- Serve as the primary technical contact for key customers, maintaining strong, trust-based relationships.
- Proactively address customer queries, complaints, and concerns, ensuring swift and effective resolution.
- Provide technical presentations, reports, and updates tailored to customer requirements.
- Escort customer visits to manufacturing partners. This will include where necessary attending factory trials, pre-production and product launches.
Technical Oversight:
- Lead product specification reviews and ensure compliance with relevant food safety standards, regulations, and customer codes of practice.
- Conduct risk assessments and provide guidance on raw materials, allergens, product testing and product labelling.
- Collaborate with internal teams and manufacturing partners to ensure products meet or exceed customer and regulatory expectations.
- Drive continuous improvement initiatives in quality and technical processes internally and with the key manufacturing partners.
- Work closely with NPD, supply chain, and manufacturing partners teams to develop innovative, customer-focused solutions.
- Deliver Solent sustainability programmes.
Auditing and Compliance:
- Support customer and third-party audits, ensuring readiness and compliance at all times.
- Support and guide manufacturing partners ensuring readiness and compliance to the customers standards and policies.
- Oversee and perform regular manufacturing partners audits in monitoring of their compliance to customers own standards and policies.
- Monitor changes in industry standards and regulations, advising customers, manufacturing partners and internal stakeholders as necessary.
- Mentor and guide junior members of the technical team.
- Act as a liaison between customers and manufacturing partners, fostering alignment and shared goals.
About you:
- Proven experience in a senior technical or quality role within the food industry.
- Strong knowledge of food safety standards (e.g., BRCGS, IFS), customer standards ( M&S, Tesco)and UK/EU food regulations.
- Demonstrated ability to manage and influence relationships with key customers.
- Excellent problem-solving skills and the ability to work under pressure.
- Strong organizational skills with attention to detail and the ability to prioritize effectively.
- A degree in Food Science, Microbiology, or a related field (or equivalent experience).
Please note: This role involves regular tasting/handling of food products, including dairy, nuts and other allergens. Please consider this when applying if you have severe food allergies.
Other information
What we offer:
- Competitive salary with annual salary reviews
- 25 days holiday per annum, increasing to 27 days after 3 years’ service and 30 days after 5 years’ service
- Extensive benefits programme including buying additional holiday, medical cash plan, access to mental health support and many other benefits
- Flexible hours and work from home available to all staff
- Great learning and development and progression opportunities · Yearly bonus structure (based on company targets)
- Enhanced Maternity and Paternity Leave
- Generous Company Sick Pay
- Pension Scheme Contribution
- Solent social events run by our inhouse Social Team
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Senior Technical Manager - Food employer: Solent Group
Contact Detail:
Solent Group Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Technical Manager - Food
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with the specific food safety standards and regulations mentioned in the job description, such as BRCGS and IFS. Being able to discuss these in detail during your interview will demonstrate your expertise and commitment to the role.
✨Tip Number 2
Network with professionals in the food industry, especially those who have experience with retail suppliers. This can provide you with valuable insights and potentially lead to referrals that could enhance your application.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare to showcase your problem-solving skills by thinking of specific examples where you've successfully managed customer relationships or resolved technical issues in the past. This will help you stand out as a candidate who can handle the pressures of the role.
✨Tip Number 4
Research Solent Group's recent product innovations and sustainability programmes. Being knowledgeable about their current projects will allow you to engage in meaningful conversations during interviews and show your genuine interest in the company.
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Technical Manager - Food
Some tips for your application 🫡
Understand the Role: Before applying, make sure you fully understand the responsibilities and requirements of the Senior Technical Manager - Food position. Tailor your application to highlight relevant experience in food safety, quality management, and customer relationship management.
Highlight Relevant Experience: In your CV and cover letter, emphasise your proven experience in a senior technical or quality role within the food industry. Mention specific examples of how you've managed relationships with key customers and driven continuous improvement initiatives.
Showcase Your Skills: Make sure to showcase your strong problem-solving skills, attention to detail, and ability to work under pressure. Use concrete examples to demonstrate these skills in your application, particularly in relation to food safety standards and compliance.
Personalise Your Cover Letter: Craft a personalised cover letter that reflects your enthusiasm for the role and the company. Mention why you want to work at Solent Group specifically, and how your values align with their commitment to innovation and quality in food products.
How to prepare for a job interview at Solent Group
✨Know Your Food Safety Standards
Make sure you have a solid understanding of food safety standards like BRCGS and IFS, as well as customer-specific requirements. Be prepared to discuss how you've applied these standards in your previous roles.
✨Demonstrate Strong Communication Skills
Since this role involves customer-facing responsibilities, practice articulating your thoughts clearly and confidently. Prepare examples of how you've effectively communicated technical information to non-technical stakeholders.
✨Showcase Problem-Solving Abilities
Be ready to share specific instances where you've tackled challenges in food safety or quality. Highlight your analytical skills and how you approach problem-solving under pressure.
✨Emphasise Relationship Management
This position requires building trust-based relationships with key customers. Prepare to discuss your experience in managing client relationships and how you've successfully resolved customer queries or complaints.
