Technical Services Manager - FTC in Coleford

We are Suntory, a global leader in the beverage industry with a heritage that dates back to 1899 in Osaka, Japan. Today, we operate across more than 265 group companies worldwide, employing over 40,000 people. Our portfolio spans soft drinks, spirits, beer, wine, ready-to-drink beverages, and wellness products, combining tradition with innovation to deliver exceptional quality.

We are driven by our philosophy, “Bringing Water to Life,” which reflects our deep respect for nature and our commitment to sustainability. We strive to enrich lives and create harmony with people and nature through everything we do. As one of the world’s leading beverage companies and the third-largest distilled spirits company globally, we continue to grow while staying true to our values of quality, craftsmanship, and responsibility to society.

You are an experienced quality and food safety professional with a strong background in FMCG, food, or beverage manufacturing. You bring a deep understanding of GFSI-approved standards, including FSSC, ISO, AIB, and retailer requirements. You are confident leading HACCP at an advanced level and have proven experience managing audits, resolving non‑conformances, and driving continuous improvement.

You thrive in operational environments, communicate effectively at all levels, and use data to make balanced, risk‑based decisions. As a people‑focused leader, you know how to coach, develop, and inspire teams to deliver consistently high performance.

This role is a maternity cover of 1 year FTC.

In this role, you ensure that quality and food safety systems remain effective, compliant, and future‑ready. You oversee and develop the Technical Services Team, ensuring they have the capability, direction, and support needed to excel. You manage the internal audit programme, lead the site during external audits, and ensure corrective actions are completed in a timely and robust manner. You provide leadership in root cause analysis and incident investigation, manage consumer complaints for the site, and report all quality and food safety KPIs. You also coordinate validation activities, support the introduction of digital quality systems such as SAP QM, and safeguard the site through strong governance of non‑conformance, held stock, and technical change. Throughout, you promote world‑class quality standards, continuous improvement, and alignment with regulatory and industry expectations.

Success in this role requires a degree in a science or engineering discipline, along with several years of experience in food or beverage manufacturing environments. You bring strong knowledge of GFSI standards, experience as a lead auditor, and advanced expertise in HACCP, ideally at Level 4. You understand UK and EU legislation relating to food and beverage safety and have hands‑on experience with systems such as SAP QM and other IT‑based quality platforms. You combine technical strength with strategic thinking, enabling you to make informed, commercially balanced decisions. Your leadership skills are well‑developed, allowing you to coach, motivate, and inspire a high‑performing team. You are analytical, resilient, collaborative, and confident in managing multiple priorities in a dynamic operational environment.

You will need solid experience in food or beverage manufacturing, supported by a science or engineering degree. Strong knowledge of GFSI standards, advanced HACCP expertise, and proven auditing experience are essential. You should be an effective communicator with the ability to influence at all levels, paired with strong leadership skills to guide and develop your team. Success also requires good judgement, resilience, and the ability to make balanced, risk‑based decisions while maintaining the highest standards of product quality and food safety.

At Suntory, we recognize that diverse knowledge, perspectives, and backgrounds contribute to our collective success. We are committed to fostering a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace where all individuals can bring their whole selves to work every day, regardless of race, color, religion, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, or any other protected characteristic. Our recruitment and selection processes are designed to highlight what Suntory offers as an employer while allowing candidates to share their unique skills and experiences. We understand that career trajectories vary, and if you believe your experience/background can benefit our team, we encourage you to apply. We endeavor to make our interview process as inclusive as possible and offer reasonable accommodations as needed. Together, we can cultivate a workplace where everyone can thrive and propel our mission of Growing for Good.