Scope for Role
As our Technical Manager, you will lead our Quality Team and develop a strong culture of quality across our site. You will implement a robust scientific approach and manage company due diligence to ensure products produced are safe and legal. The goal is to develop and implement effective processes and practices, ensuring that products are manufactured in compliance with both legal and customer food safety and quality standards through rigorous validation.
Key Areas of Responsibility
(This list is not exhaustive, and the job description may be subject to change, in consultation with the post holder, in response to new circumstances)
- Ensure the safety, legality, quality, and ethical integrity of all products while collaborating with the Head of Technical and Sustainability to implement strategy.
- Lead and develop a committed Technical Team, providing optimum service to both internal and external customers.
- Drive technical standards forward and continually improve hygiene, GMP, food safety, and compliance standards in collaboration with the Quality System Coordinator and Operations Team.
- Maintain relevant site accreditations and achieve others as required.
- Manage customer complaint/quality failure investigations, including root cause analysis and preventive measures.
- Act as HACCP Team Leader, ensuring all validations are conducted and recorded.
- Contribute to site projects, including complaint investigation, quality failures, and new technology introduction.
- Serve as the authority on technical matters and take ownership of technical aspects on site.
- Support the Operations Manager in process improvements.
- Ensure compliance with export requirements and international product legislation.
- Oversee change management processes, raw material, and finished product specifications.
- Collaborate with other departments on non-conformance investigations and sustainable solutions.
- Identify significant issues that could compromise food safety and report to the Head of Technical and Sustainability.
- Manage stock movement on the ERP system, including QMAIN, HOLD, and Rework statuses.
- Stay informed about customer market requirements to prevent product rejections.
- Collaborate with NPD/Purchasing in product trials and process changes, signing off recipe authorisation forms.
- Monitor and maintain agreed Technical KPIs and reporting.
- Ensure adherence to Health and Safety legislation and identify potential hazards.
- Act as an emergency contact for food safety, quality, or legality incidents.
- Assist the Head of Technical and Sustainability in developing a high-performing technical function.
- Uphold business values: Respect, Integrity, and Dedication.
- Own your Personal Development Plan to support your growth and the business.
- Perform any other duties as requested by your line manager.
Person Specification
Essential:
- Minimum HACCP Level 3 (Level 4 desirable) and BRC Lead Auditor qualification. Experience with BRC standards and food legislation.
- Experience working with retail customers and understanding of retail codes of practice.
- Strong leadership, communication skills, and clarity of direction.
- Highly self-motivated, detail-oriented, and strong problem-solving abilities.
- Flexible and proactive approach.
- Customer-focused with excellent relationship-building skills.
- Effective workload management and prioritisation skills.
Desirable:
- Understanding of raw materials and product specifications, with a commitment to ownership.
- Passion for food safety and compliance, with the ability to address challenging issues.
- Experience in scientific validation of processes and products.
- Organisational agility and ability to navigate formal and informal networks.
Key Competences
- Prioritising (Essential)
- Customer Focus (Essential)
- Influencing (Essential)
- Problem Solving (Essential)
- Business Acumen (Desirable)
