Assistant Technical Manager

Zest; Essex; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 56,000; Full time

Job summary

Zest, a leading food business, is seeking an Assistant Technical Manager in the Essex area to influence food safety, compliance and quality across the site. You will report to the Site Technical Manager and drive accreditations, traceability, pest control and auditing programs.

The role requires HACCP Level 3 or higher, strong leadership and communication skills, and a proactive, collaborative approach to ensure customer and regulatory expectations are met.

Qualifications

• Strong understanding of food safety, legality, compliance, and quality standards in food manufacturing.
• Experience in a technical or quality role within food manufacturing.
• HACCP Level 3 or higher.
• Food Safety and Hygiene certification level 3 or higher.
• Strong understanding of HACCP, VACCP, TACCP.
• Leadership and team development experience.

Responsibilities

• Ensure food safety, legality, quality, and integrity through the development, implementation, and adherence to technical policies and procedures.
• Play an active role in achieving site accreditations, ensuring compliance and audit readiness for BRCGS and customer audits.
• Develop and implement robust traceability systems for transparency and regulatory compliance.
• Lead pest control strategy, protecting product integrity and a hygienic production environment.
• Oversee product testing and environmental monitoring to prevent contamination.
• Investigate customer complaints, conduct root cause analysis, and implement preventive actions.
• Deliver training to site personnel on food safety, hygiene, and quality standards.
• Monitor and manage site trends and risks.
• Manage the site QA and Hygiene teams, ensuring daily standards, checks, and monitoring are completed correctly.
• Oversee the non-conformance system end to end.
• Coordinate and maintain the internal auditing process to meet BRCGS and customer requirements.

Skills

Food safety

Quality management

HACCP

Audit readiness

Leadership

Communication

SAP

Education

HACCP Level 3

Food Safety & Hygiene Level 3

Tools

SAP

Job description

A leading food business and part of a growing global FMCG group, to are looking to add to their team for an Assistant Technical Manager.

This is a great opportunity for a technical or quality professional to take on a role with real scope to influence food safety, compliance, and quality standards across the site, reporting into the Site Technical Manager.

The Role

• Ensure food safety, legality, quality, and integrity through the development, implementation, and adherence to technical policies and procedures
• Play an active role in achieving site accreditations, ensuring compliance and audit readiness for BRCGS and customer audits
• Develop and implement robust traceability systems for transparency and regulatory compliance
• Lead pest control strategy, protecting product integrity and a hygienic production environment
• Oversee product testing and environmental monitoring to prevent contamination
• Investigate customer complaints, conduct root cause analysis, and implement preventive actions
• Deliver training to site personnel on food safety, hygiene, and quality standards
• Monitor and manage site trends and risks
• Manage the site QA and Hygiene teams, ensuring daily standards, checks, and monitoring are completed correctly
• Oversee the non-conformance system end to end
• Coordinate and maintain the internal auditing process to meet BRCGS and customer requirements

What They're Looking For

• Strong understanding of food safety, legality, compliance, and quality standards in food manufacturing
• Previous experience in a technical or quality role within food manufacturing
• HACCP Level 3 or higher
• Food Safety and Hygiene certification level 3 or higher
• Strong understanding of HACCP, VACCP, TACCP
• Leadership and team development experience
• Working knowledge of SAP advantageous
• A proactive, can-do attitude and strong communication skills

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