Factory Technical Manager

Description of Role

Main purpose of the role:

The Factory Technical Manager will own and lead site technical standards to ensure food safety, legality, authenticity and product quality are consistently maintained.

Job Responsibilities:

Technical Leadership & Compliance

• Own and lead site technical standards to ensure food safety, legality, authenticity and product quality are consistently maintained.
• Act as HACCP Team Leader, maintaining HACCP, TACCP and Food Defence systems and ensuring they remain effective, compliant and up to date.
• Ensure the site maintains an audit-ready culture, achieving compliance with BRCGS, relevant legislation and customer codes of practice.
• Lead internal and external audit preparation and drive effective close-out of findings and improvement actions.
• Review and challenge factory operations and quality systems to ensure the highest standards are maintained.

Team Leadership & Development

• Build, lead and develop a high-performing factory technical team, providing clear direction, coaching and performance management.
• Ensure effective management of key technical areas including factory compliance, allergen management, validation and verification, and microbiological / Listeria control.
• Foster a culture of collaboration, accountability and continuous improvement within the technical function.

Operational & Cross-Functional Partnership

• Work closely with the Factory Manager and operational teams to embed strong food safety and quality practices across the site.
• Support operational teams in managing factory non-conformances, leading root cause analysis and implementation of corrective and preventative actions.
• Partner with Operations, Logistics and Commercial teams to ensure food safety, quality and legality are fully considered during NPD and EPD product introductions.

Quality Performance & Continuous Improvement

• Ensure customer complaints, non-conformances and out-of-specification results are investigated promptly, with effective root cause analysis and corrective actions implemented.
• Monitor, analyse and report technical KPIs, incidents and compliance metrics, driving improvement initiatives where required.
• Champion continuous improvement, identifying opportunities to enhance technical systems, processes and site performance.
• Stay informed of industry and technological developments to strengthen technical capability and site standards.

Customer & Business Engagement

• Maintain strong customer confidence in the technical function through professional communication and robust technical management.
• Contribute technical expertise to site improvement initiatives and strategic projects.
• Manage the technical function budget effectively and ensure compliance with site Health & Safety standards.

Job requirements:

Skills & Experience required to do this role…

• Significant experience in a senior technical leadership role within FMCG food manufacturing, ideally within chilled, short shelf-life products and high care/high risk environments.
• Proven track record of leading BRCGS and customer audits and maintaining strong compliance with regulatory and customer standards.
• Demonstrable experience working with UK retailers and food industry bodies, managing technical relationships and expectations.
• Strong technical knowledge of HACCP, BRCGS, auditing, traceability and food safety management systems within a manufacturing environment.
• Experience driving continuous improvement in food safety, quality and factory compliance standards.
• Degree (or equivalent) in a science, food science or related technical discipline.
• HACCP Level 4 and Lead Auditor qualification.
• Strong leadership, communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to engage, influence and challenge where required.
• Highly organised, collaborative and resilient, with the ability to operate effectively in a fast-paced, retail-facing manufacturing environment.
• Willingness to be contactable outside of core business hours when required to support site operations.

Company Benefits:

• 25 days holiday plus Bank Holidays
• Health Scheme (Westfield Health)
• Private medical insurance
• Life assurance up to 4x annual salary
• Pension contributions 5%