Divisional Technical Director (Chilled Food Industry)

The Compleat Food Group; Nottingham; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading UK chilled food manufacturer is seeking a Divisional Technical Director to oversee technical compliance across multiple sites. This pivotal role involves setting high standards for food safety and quality, leading a team, and ensuring operational excellence. The ideal candidate has a degree in a food-related discipline and extensive experience in senior technical roles within the FMCG sector. This opportunity comes with competitive benefits and the chance to influence the future growth of a dynamic food business.

Benefits

Competitive Car Allowance

Company Bonus Scheme

Private Medical Insurance

33 days annual leave

Access to career development opportunities

Employee volunteering days

Qualifications

• Proven senior technical leader with experience in chilled food manufacturing.
• Strong knowledge of food safety frameworks including HACCP.
• Extensive understanding of UK and European food legislation.

Responsibilities

• Lead factory technical compliance ensuring food safety and quality.
• Represent the business in audits and customer forums.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives across manufacturing sites.

Skills

Technical leadership capability

Communication and negotiation skills

People leadership skills

Analytical and problem-solving skills

Stakeholder management capability

Education

Degree in a food-related discipline

Job description

Job Advert

Divisional Technical Director – Quality & Compliance (Chilled Food Manufacturing)

UK | Multi-site | Chilled Food Manufacturing

We are seeking an exceptional Divisional Technical Director to join one of the UK’s fastest-growing, UK chilled food manufacturing businesses. This is a pivotal technical leadership role within a complex, multi-site operation, offering the opportunity to drive technical excellence, safeguard brand integrity and influence the future direction of a rapidly scaling organisation.

As a senior member of the Group Technical Leadership Team, you will provide leadership, governance and assurance across your division, ensuring factory technical compliance is consistently achieved and continuously improved. You will set the benchmark for food safety, quality, legality and integrity—exceeding our customers' expectations while enabling operational performance and commercial success.

The Role

As Divisional Technical Director, you will:

• Act as the senior authority for factory technical compliance across your division, ensuring the highest standards of food safety, quality, legality and integrity.
• Represent the business with credibility and confidence at senior retailer and customer forums, leading audits, visits and regulatory engagement.
• Lead, inspire and develop our Site Heads of Technical and their team’s, driving a culture of accountability, continuous improvement and operational excellence.
• Translate the Group Technical Strategy into clear, actionable site-level plans aligned to customer, operational and commercial priorities.
• Build strong cross-functional partnerships across Operations, Commercial, NPD and Supply Chain to deliver improvement initiatives across manufacturing sites.
• Use data, insight and KPIs to monitor performance, identify risk and proactively drive continuous improvement across the division.
• Develop and strengthen joint customer quality and compliance plans, reinforcing trust and long-term partnerships.
• Maintain strong audit performance and accreditation outcomes, ensuring sites remain audit‑ready at all times.
• Act as a trusted subject matter expert, providing leadership, challenging for better and finding solutions on complex technical and food safety matters.
• Champion technical innovation projects that deliver tangible improvements in compliance, efficiency and operational performance.

About You

You will be a proven senior technical leader with the credibility, experience and influence to operate at a Divisional Director level within a high‑performing chilled food manufacturing environment.

Knowledge

• Degree-qualified (or equivalent) in a food-related discipline, with deep food science and technical expertise.
• Strong knowledge of food safety frameworks including HACCP (Level 3/4), Food Safety (Level 3/4) and TACCP / Product Integrity.
• Comprehensive understanding of UK and European food legislation, retailer Codes of Practice and BRC Global Standards.
• Strong knowledge of quality management systems, chilled production factory compliance and audit governance.
• Commercial and operational understanding, with the ability to align technical strategy to business performance.

Skills

• Highly developed technical leadership capability, able to set direction, influence senior stakeholders and challenge constructively.
• Excellent communication and negotiation skills, operating confidently in complex, high‑pressure environments.
• Proven people leadership skills, including the ability to develop large technical teams and future leaders.
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills, using data to drive performance and improvement.
• Exceptional stakeholder management capability, building trust with customers, regulators and internal partners.

Experience

• Proven track record in senior technical or quality leadership roles within FMCG, ideally chilled foods.
• Extensive experience working with key UK retailers, customer and certification audits.
• Experience managing technical compliance across multi‑site or group‑level operations.
• Demonstrated crisis management experience, leading effective technical response and resolution.
• Strong track record of shaping and delivering technical strategy and driving continuous improvement.
• Full UK driving licence and flexibility to travel across sites and customer locations.

Why Join Us?

This is a rare opportunity to play a defining role in one of the UK’s fastest-growing, dynamic and ambitious chilled food businesses. You will operate at the forefront of technical leadership, influencing strategy, shaping culture and delivering real impact across a complex manufacturing estate.

At The Compleat Food Group, we believe our people are the heart of our success. That’s why we offer a wide range of benefits designed to support your lifestyle, wellbeing, and career growth:

Financial & Lifestyle Benefits

• Competitive Car Allowance
• Company Bonus Scheme recognising performance and contribution
• Salary Sacrifice Schemes - including Electric Vehicles, Home & Tech, Cycle to Work, and SMART Pension
• 33 days’ annual leave (including bank holidays) with the option to purchase extra
• Holiday Discounts via our online retail platform
• Access to enhanced retail discounts online and in-store
• Free product handouts across our sites, so you can sample and enjoy our delicious products first hand
• EV charging points - available at selected sites

Health & Wellbeing

• Private Medical Insurance
• 24/7 access to GroceryAid for free financial, emotional, and practical support
• Physical Wellbeing Hub - free on-demand exercise classes, gym discounts
• Free diet & nutrition advice with access to thousands of healthy recipes
• Online wellbeing support - from mindfulness to lifestyle resources
• Financial wellbeing tools - including mortgage calculators, budgeting tools, and financial aid

Career Growth & Development

• Access to a personalised online learning platform (LMS)
• Formal and informal training opportunities tailored to your role
• Performance Development Plans and regular Career Conversations
• Company Mentoring Scheme to add depth and really support your career journey
• Recognition through Club Compleat rewards

Community & Culture

• 2 paid volunteering days per year to give back to causes that matter to you
• Charity initiatives and fundraising events
• Team socials to connect and celebrate together
• Employee networks & support groups - including Women @ Compleat
• New baby gift for new parents

If you are a senior technical leader looking for your next step in your career and ready to take ownership, drive excellence and help shape the future of a leading UK food manufacturer, we would love to hear from you.

The Compleat Food Group fosters an inclusive, respectful culture where everyone feels safe, supported, and valued. We welcome diverse talent, knowing it drives exceptional results and a better workplace. We are committed to Fairness, Equity, Inclusivity, and Respect, ensuring all colleagues can thrive by bringing their whole selves to work. As an Equal Opportunity employer, we provide all the support you need to succeed. Contact us with any questions about Diversity & Inclusion or accessibility during the application process.