Site Technical Manager in Norwich

Job Description

Site Technical Manager

Norwich • Monday–Friday, 8am–5pm

Step into a role where your expertise shapes the future of some of the UK’s most iconic snack brands. At Valeo Foods UK , home of the legendary Kettle and Metcalfe’s 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’re always ready for what’s next.

Qualifications

Qualifications & Technical Expertise

• 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.

Additional Information

• Matched pension scheme 4.5% matched up to 10%
• Death in service
• Cycle to work scheme
• Canteen accessibility
• Retailer discount platform
• Staff discount