At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead food safety and quality for iconic UK snack brands in a dynamic environment.
- Company: Valeo Foods UK, home of beloved brands like Kettle and Metcalfes.
- Benefits: Matched pension scheme, staff discounts, cycle to work scheme, and more.
- Why this job: Shape the future of food while inspiring a passionate team.
- Qualifications: Degree in Food Science, 10 years FMCG experience, and strong leadership skills.
- Other info: Join a transformative journey with excellent career growth opportunities.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
At Valeo Foods UK we bring together a family of much-loved UK food brands supported by the scale and ambition of a global investment partner. From Kettles bold crunch to Rowses natural sweetness, through to Matthew Walker and Barratt Sweets, our portfolio blends heritage, craft and category-leading innovation. Alongside our branded portfolio, we are also one of the UKs largest suppliers of private label products, partnering with major retailers to deliver quality and category expertise that meets the needs of millions of households every week. As a business, we're on a journey of transformation. We're strengthening our operations, driving quality and investing in our people. It's an exciting, fast-moving environment where heritage meets new thinking, and where every colleague contributes to shaping the future of food across the UK. Join us and play your part in building the next chapter of some of Britains most loved brands.
Step into a role where your expertise shapes the future of some of the UKs most iconic snack brands. At Valeo Foods UK, home of the legendary Kettle and Metcalfes products, we're looking for a dynamic Site Technical Manager to lead the charge in food safety, quality, and technical excellence. This is your chance to influence, innovate, and inspire across a fast-paced site that thrives on collaboration, high standards, and continuous improvement.
What You’ll Be Leading
- As our Site Technical Manager, you’ll be the driving force behind a culture where food safety and quality aren’t just priorities they’re a shared passion.
- You’ll guide both technical and operational teams, ensuring our processes are robust, future-ready, and consistently delivering excellence that our customers trust.
- Your leadership will strengthen our systems, elevate our standards, and keep our products at the top of their game.
Leadership & Management
- Champion a collaborative, cross-functional approach where food safety and quality are owned by everyone.
- Lead, inspire, and develop the technical team, building capability, confidence, and strong succession plans.
- Shape and deliver the site’s technical strategy, pushing forward innovation and best practice.
- Coach and mentor teams to embed continuous improvement at every level.
Standards & Compliance
- Drive a risk-based, proactive approach to food safety and compliance.
- Oversee internal audit programmes that challenge, improve, and strengthen our systems.
- Lead incident management with data-driven investigations and effective root-cause analysis.
- Ensure our Quality Management Systems meet BRC standards and retailer codes of practice.
Quality Systems & KPI Ownership
- Track, analyse, and report on internal and customer KPIs to fuel ongoing improvement.
- Continuously evolve our Quality Management System to stay ahead of industry expectations.
Customer Engagement
- Lead customer visits and audits with confidence, clarity, and professionalism.
- Build strong relationships with customers, understanding their needs and shaping quality plans that deliver.
- Manage customer complaints and queries, working closely with commercial teams to drive positive outcomes.
Learning & Development
- Design and deliver impactful food safety and quality training programmes.
- Assess team capability and plan for future skills, ensuring we are ready for what’s next.
Qualifications
- A degree (or equivalent) in Food Science or a related discipline.
- At least 10 years experience in FMCG or a similar fast-paced environment, including 5+ years leading teams.
- HACCP Level 3 certification and a strong understanding of food safety principles.
- Hands-on experience with retailer quality systems and customer technical expectations.
- Solid awareness of BRC compliance, audits, and industry best practice.
- Proven project management capability, able to deliver improvements with pace and precision.
- A confident, inspiring people leader who brings out the best in others.
- Exceptional communication and presentation skills, able to influence at every level.
- A natural relationship-builder who thrives on collaboration internally and externally.
- Strong understanding of team dynamics, organisational structure, and effective development pathways.
- Up-to-date knowledge of technical advancements and the evolving consumer landscape.
- A genuine passion for coaching, mentoring, and developing talent.
- Meticulous attention to detail and a diligent, quality-driven mindset.
- Sharp problem-solving skills and the ability to make sound, data-led decisions.
- A proactive, ambitious drive to succeed and continuously improve.
- Highly organised, able to juggle multiple priorities while staying focused on what matters most.
Benefits
- Matched pension scheme 4.5% matched up to 10%
- Death in service
- Cycle to work scheme
- Canteen accessibility
- Retailer discount platform
- Staff discount
Site Technical Manager employer: Valeo Foods UK
Contact Detail:
Valeo Foods UK Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Site Technical Manager
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the food industry, especially those who might know someone at Valeo Foods. A friendly chat can open doors that a CV just can't.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by diving deep into Valeo's brands and values. Show us you’re not just another candidate; demonstrate your passion for food safety and quality, and how you can contribute to our exciting journey.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your pitch! Be ready to explain how your experience aligns with the Site Technical Manager role. Highlight your leadership skills and how you've driven quality improvements in past roles.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets the attention it deserves. Plus, we love seeing candidates who take that extra step.
We think you need these skills to ace Site Technical Manager
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV reflects the skills and experiences that align with the Site Technical Manager role. Highlight your leadership in food safety and quality, and don’t forget to mention any relevant certifications like HACCP Level 3!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to tell us why you’re passionate about food safety and quality. Share specific examples of how you've driven improvements in previous roles to show us what you can bring to Valeo Foods.
Showcase Your Leadership Style: We want to know how you lead and inspire teams! In your application, give us a glimpse into your management style and how you’ve developed talent in your past positions. We love a collaborative approach!
Apply Through Our Website: Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it’s super easy to navigate!
How to prepare for a job interview at Valeo Foods UK
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you brush up on food safety principles and quality management systems, especially BRC standards. Valeo Foods UK is all about high standards, so being able to discuss these topics confidently will show that you're the right fit for the Site Technical Manager role.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Prepare examples of how you've led teams in the past, particularly in fast-paced environments. Highlight your experience in coaching and mentoring, as well as how you've driven a culture of collaboration and continuous improvement. This will resonate well with their focus on team dynamics.
✨Be Data-Driven
Since the role involves tracking KPIs and conducting data-led investigations, come prepared with examples of how you've used data to drive improvements. Discuss any specific projects where your analytical skills made a significant impact on quality or compliance.
✨Engage with Customer Focus
Valeo Foods UK values strong customer relationships, so be ready to talk about your experience with customer engagement. Share how you've handled audits, complaints, or queries, and how you’ve built trust with clients. This will demonstrate your ability to align with their customer-centric approach.