Technical Manager

Vive Foods Ltd · Wigston, Leicester · Part-time, 2 to 3 days a week (full time at first if you prefer) · Permanent · Fully on site · £45,000 to £60,000 full-time equivalent, pro rata

About us

Vive Foods makes chocolate-coated nut bars, brownies and monthly limited-edition flavours at our own site in Leicester, and manufactures bars for other brands under contract. We are a small, fast-moving team with SALSA approval, and we are now working towards BRCGS Global Standard for Food Safety, Issue 9 certification.

We have already done a lot of the groundwork but need someone to go through the whole system, refining each document and process to make it perfect run smoothly. What we need now is an experienced technical lead to own the food safety system, close the gaps and take us through our first BRCGS audit.

The role

You will be our Technical Manager and HACCP team leader, reporting to the Managing Director. You will lead the site to a successful first BRCGS certification and then keep the system running and improving. You will work closely with production, purchasing and our QA team, and you will have the backing to make decisions on food safety.

What you will do

Lead the road to BRCGS certification

• Carry out a gap analysis against BRCGS Issue 9 and agree a realistic plan and timeline to certification.
• Prepare the site for the audit, host the certification body and lead the close-out of any non-conformities.
• Report progress to the Managing Director, with clear priorities and risks.

Quality system and culture

• Manage non-conformances, corrective and preventive actions, traceability tests, and withdrawal and recall procedures.
• Plan and run the internal audit and GMP inspection programme.
• Keep controlled documents current and build a strong food safety and quality culture, including the culture plan BRCGS requires.
• Train and coach staff in food safety, hygiene, HACCP and allergens, and keep training records up to date.

What you will bring

Essential

• Proven experience as a Technical Manager or senior QA lead on a BRCGS-certified food manufacturing site, ideally having taken a site through its first certification or a major grade improvement.
• HACCP Level 4 (or Level 3 with substantial HACCP team leader experience).
• Food Safety Level 3 or above.
• Strong working knowledge of BRCGS Issue 9, allergen management, supplier approval and root cause analysis.
• Confident hosting third-party audits and dealing with auditors, customers and suppliers.
• Organised and practical: able to prioritise in a small business and get things done with limited resource.
• Clear, plain written English for procedures and records.

Desirable

• Experience in confectionery, bars, nuts, chocolate or other low-moisture ready-to-eat foods.
• Internal or lead auditor qualification.
• VACCP and TACCP training.
• Digitally minded
• Comfortable working with digital quality systems rather than paper.

What we offer

• £45,000 to £55,000 a year full-time equivalent, depending on experience, paid pro rata for the days you work (for example £27,000 to £33,000 a year for 3 days a week). For the right person we are also open to an interim day rate of around £300 to £375.
• A permanent role with flexible part-time hours, fully on site in Leicester.
• [Holiday entitlement, pension and other benefits]
• The chance to shape the food safety system of a growing brand and lead it to BRCGS certification.
• A modern digital compliance system already in place, so your time goes on judgement and improvement rather than paperwork.

Working pattern

2 to 3 days a week, on days agreed. If you would like more hours, we are happy for you to work full time at first while we prepare for certification, then move to 1 to 2 days a week once we have passed to keep the system running. Expect more time on site in the run-up to the certification audit, and availability by phone for urgent food safety issues on non-working days.

How to apply

Send your CV and a short note on a site you have taken through BRCGS certification, and your part-time availability, to [email protected].

Vive Foods is an equal opportunities employer.