Technical Manager in Watford

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Technical Manager (Hybrid)

We are looking for an experienced and commercially minded Technical Manager to lead our technical agenda and ensure Vegetarian Express continues to meet all relevant food safety, quality, regulatory and customer requirements across the production, storage and distribution of our products.

This is a key role within our Operations function, with responsibility for maintaining technical integrity across the business, leading the Technical/QA function, and ensuring we remain audit-ready and compliant.

You will play a critical role in protecting our customers, our products and our reputation, while supporting innovation, business growth and continuous improvement.

You’ll be a hands-on technical leader who is equally comfortable working on the operational floor, engaging with suppliers and customers, and presenting technical performance and risk to senior leadership.

Key Responsibilities:

Certification, compliance and audit readiness

Own and deliver BRCGS and other external certification programmes, including gap analysis, corrective action planning, documentation, training, audit management and continuous improvement activity.

Lead the response to customer audit non-conformances, including root cause analysis, corrective and preventive action, and close-out with customer technical teams.

Act as the primary technical contact for customer audits, third-party auditors and enforcement authorities

Maintain permanent audit readiness across the site

Provide technical leadership for own-brand conversion, packaging and product compliance projects.

Food safety, quality systems and technical governance

Own, develop and maintain the HACCP plan, ensuring risk assessments are current and operationally embedded

Build and maintain the quality management system, including specifications, traceability, labelling compliance, supplier approval and raw material risk profiling

Develop, implement and maintain accurate product specifications.

Provide expert oversight of allergen management and controls across a multi-temperature environment

Establish and manage testing regimes, product verification, shelf-life validation and environmental monitoring

Investigate customer and supplier complaints and non-conformances, driving corrective action and trend analysis

Ensure that technical governance is in place to deliver audit compliance with respect to internal, external, legal and customer requirements

Monitor departmental KPI's and develop a quality culture

Provide leadership and direction to ensure that within the function people are kept engaged, focused, developed and delivering to their potential

Keep up to date with relevant legislation and implement changes where required.

Work closely with Supply Chain and Operations with the introduction of new raw materials, packaging materials and products

Delivery of customer complaint information and other monthly information as requested by internal and external stakeholders

Leadership, culture and integration

Build a positive food safety culture in which technical standards are understood, embedded and consistently applied.

Recruit, lead and develop the technical, QA and hygiene function as it grows

Design and deliver food safety training, from induction through to ongoing competence assessment

Support the technical integration of multi-site operations.

Commercial support and continuous improvement

Support new product development and product changes from a technical and legal perspective

Manage supplier technical performance and raw material specifications

Provide technical support in customer onboarding and tenders, where certification and compliance are increasingly a commercial requirement

Report monthly to the Director of Operations on technical KPIs, audit status, complaints and programme progress

Manage the technical resource within budget and set realistic project schedules. Consistently deliver high-quality service to both internal and external stakeholders.

Provide day-to-day technical support to suppliers, logistics and internal teams to maintain continuity of product and ingredient supply.

About You

We’re looking for a confident, pragmatic and hands-on technical professional who can operate effectively in a fast-paced food business.

You will have the credibility to influence from the warehouse and operational floor through to the senior leadership team. You’ll be comfortable making decisions, managing risk, challenging where necessary and finding practical solutions.

Essential Qualifications & Experience

HACCP Level 3 qualification.

Full clean driving licence.

Proven experience as a Technical Manager, Food Safety Manager or Senior QA Manager within food manufacturing.

Experience managing customer, supplier and third-party audits.

Experience handling and closing out non-conformances under time pressure.

Demonstrable auditing skills.

Proven experience in the technical aspects of food storage and distribution.

Strong working knowledge of HACCP, UK food law, food safety, labelling and allergen legislation.

Knowledge of quality assurance systems, health and safety, current legislation and governance.

Desirable Qualifications & Experience

HACCP Level 4 or willingness to work towards.

Degree or equivalent qualification in Food Science, Food Technology, Quality Assurance or a related discipline.

Lead Auditor qualification or working towards one.

Certification to a recognised Internal Audit standard.

Experience working with ambient, chilled, frozen and short shelf-life products.

Experience building a technical function from a low base.

Experience within foodservice and managing customer technical requirements and supplier relationships.

About Us

Join the Plant-Based Revolution

We’re on a mission to fill plates across the UK with plant-based goodness. Since 1987, we’ve been the rebel explorers of the food world, on a constant journey to discover and deliver the very best in vegetarian and vegan ingredients. Today, we are the go-to partner for over 5,000 chefs - from industry giants like Compass and Sodexo to the most innovative independent operators.

As the demand for plant-based, vegetarian, and flexitarian diets continues to grow, we are uniquely positioned within the foodservice sector to meet it. We are expanding rapidly, bringing our expertise to kitchens that want to stay ahead of the curve.

Why we’re different

We don’t just deliver ingredients; we deliver the ideas and inspiration chefs need to master the plant-based learning curve. From Açaí to Za'atar, we speak fluent plant based. We help our customers create enticing menus that are better for their guests' health, better for the planet, and - importantly - better for their bottom line.

Business as a force for good

As a proud Certified B Corp, we balance people, planet, and profit. We don’t just talk about change; we own it. We are committed to building an exceptional, supportive team where your opinions matter and you are empowered to challenge the norm to make a real difference. (BRCGS AA Grade)

Want to join the original plant-based foodies?

If you’re passionate about food and want to help chefs succeed with plant-based menus, you’ll fit right in.

What We Offer

• Competitive salary based on experience
• 33 days’ holiday, including public holidays
• Option to purchase up to 3 additional days’ annual leave
• Cash health plan, including money back towards dental, optical, physiotherapy and other eligible treatments
• Life assurance – 4 x salary
• Staff discount on all products
• Pension – 3% employer contribution and 5% employee contribution
• Hybrid working, with a minimum of 3 days per week in the office, with flexibility around business needs.

Working Hours & Location

40 hours per week, with core office hours of 08:30–17:00, Monday to Friday, including a 30-minute lunch break.

Location:

Unit 7a, Odhams Trading Estate

St Albans Road

Watford

WD24 7RY

The role is hybrid, with an average requirement to work from the office a minimum of 3 days per week. Office days will need to remain flexible to meet business and operational requirements.

Ready to Make a Difference?

If you’re passionate about food safety, quality and technical excellence and want to play a key role in the continued growth of an ambitious, purpose-led plant-based food business, we’d love to hear from you.

Join Vegetarian Express and help us shape the future of plant-based food.