Technical Manager (Chilled Foods)

The Company

Our client is a leading UK food manufacturer supplying major retail and foodservice customers with high-quality added-value protein products. Operating in a fast-paced, high-volume manufacturing environment, the business is committed to delivering the highest standards of food safety, quality, innovation and customer service.

This is an opportunity to join a well-invested operation where technical excellence sits at the heart of the business. The site produces a wide range of value-added products for some of the UK's most recognised food brands and retailers, offering both the scale and complexity to challenge an experienced Technical professional.

The Role

As Technical Manager, you will take full responsibility for the site's food safety, quality and compliance agenda, ensuring products consistently meet customer, legal and internal standards.

Reporting into the senior leadership team, you'll be a key member of the site management team, partnering closely with Operations, Engineering, Planning and Commercial functions to drive a proactive quality culture across the business.

This is a highly visible role that combines strategic leadership with a hands-on approach to factory standards, customer relationships and continuous improvement.

Key responsibilities will include:

• Leading the site's Technical and Quality functions, ensuring best-in-class food safety and compliance standards.
• Managing and developing the Technical team, creating a culture of accountability, engagement and continuous improvement within the site technical team and promoting food safety awareness across the wider business.
• Acting as the primary technical contact for major retail and foodservice customers.
• Ensure compliance with UK food legislation, leading BRCGS, customer, third-party and regulatory audits, ensuring the site remains audit-ready at all times.
• Maintaining and continually improving HACCP, quality management and traceability systems.
• Investigating customer complaints, non-conformances and technical incidents, implementing robust corrective actions.
• Working cross-functionally with Operations to improve factory standards, product quality and process performance.
• Managing supplier approval and raw material compliance programmes.
• Keeping abreast of legislative and industry developments, ensuring the site remains fully compliant with evolving requirements.

The Candidate

We're looking for an experienced Technical Manager or a strong Senior Technical professional ready to take the next step within a fast-paced food manufacturing environment. You will have a proven track record of leading food safety, quality and compliance standards within a high-care, high-risk or chilled food operation, with the confidence to operate as a key member of the site leadership team.

The successful candidate will possess a strong understanding of BRCGS, HACCP, retailer standards and UK food legislation, coupled with experience managing customer relationships, leading audits and maintaining robust quality management systems. Equally important is the ability to build credibility across the factory floor, influencing operational teams and driving a positive food safety and quality culture throughout the site.

You will be a visible and hands-on leader who enjoys developing people, challenging the status quo and delivering continuous improvement. With excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, you'll be comfortable engaging with customers, auditors, suppliers and senior leadership alike, balancing technical requirements with the practical realities of a high-volume manufacturing operation.

A degree or professional qualification in Food Science, Food Safety, Microbiology or a related discipline would be advantageous, although proven experience and success within a similar manufacturing environment will be equally valued. This opportunity would suit a driven and ambitious individual looking to make a significant impact within a large, complex and customer-focused food manufacturing business.

Please apply or for a confidential chat please call Jessica on 07700 137 110 or 0345 2600 737.

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