Factory Technical Manager

The Compleat Food Group; Tees Valley; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

The Compleat Food Group in Middlesbrough is seeking a Factory Technical Manager to lead the site technical function, ensuring food safety, quality, legality and compliance while delivering the technical strategy.

You will build a high-performing team, drive continuous improvement with key retailers, audits and certifications, and collaborate across Operations, Engineering, NPD and Commercial to raise standards.

Qualifications

• Degree in Food Science or related discipline.
• HACCP Level 3 and Food Safety Level 3.
• Experience in fast-paced food manufacturing, ideally chilled foods.
• Strong knowledge of UK retailer standards, Codes of Practice and BRC.
• Proven experience leading retailer and certification audits.
• Experience managing factory-facing technical or quality teams.
• Track record of improving technical standards, quality performance and customer satisfaction.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead the site technical function and guide across the business to meet requirements.
• Lead and develop a high-performing factory technical team.
• Drive food safety, quality, legality and compliance across the site.
• Manage retailer relationships and deliver technical customer service.
• Lead customer audits, certification audits and site visits.
• Deliver technical improvement plans and quality initiatives.
• Use technical data and KPIs to identify opportunities and drive improvement.
• Collaborate with Operations, Engineering, NPD, Commercial and Supply Chain teams.
• Maintain and enhance BRC and retailer accreditation standards.
• Support product development and process improvements from a technical perspective.
• Deputise for the Head of Technical when required.

Skills

People management

Stakeholder engagement

Food safety

Quality systems

Audits leadership

Education

BSc in Food Science or related

Job description

Middlesbrough (South Bank) Competitive Salary + Benefits

Drive Technical Excellence in a Fast-Paced Food Manufacturing Environment

At The Compleat Food Group, we're on a mission to create food to feel good. As we continue to grow, we're looking for an experienced and ambitious Factory Technical Manager to join our South Bank site in Middlesbrough.

This is a key leadership role where you'll take ownership of the site's technical performance, ensuring the highest standards of food safety, quality, compliance, and customer satisfaction. Working closely with the Head of Technical and Site Leadership Team, you'll play a pivotal role in delivering our technical strategy while driving a culture of continuous improvement across the factory.

What You'll Be Doing

As Factory Technical Manager, you'll lead the site technical function and provide expert guidance across the business to ensure products consistently meet customer, retailer, legal, and company requirements.

Key responsibilities include:

• Leading and developing a high-performing factory technical team.
• Driving food safety, quality, legality and compliance across the site.
• Managing retailer relationships and delivering outstanding technical customer service.
• Leading customer audits, certification audits and site visits.
• Delivering technical improvement plans and quality initiatives.
• Using technical data and KPIs to identify opportunities and drive continuous improvement.
• Working collaboratively with Operations, Engineering, NPD, Commercial and Supply Chain teams.
• Maintaining and enhancing BRC and retailer accreditation standards.
• Supporting product development and process improvements from a technical perspective.
• Deputising for the Head of Technical when required.

What We're Looking For

We're seeking a technical leader who combines strong food manufacturing experience with excellent people management and stakeholder engagement skills.

You'll ideally have:

• Degree qualification in a Food Science or related discipline.
• HACCP Level 3 and Food Safety Level 3 qualifications.
• Experience within a fast-paced food manufacturing environment, ideally chilled foods.
• Strong knowledge of UK retailer standards, Codes of Practice and BRC requirements.
• Proven experience leading retailer and certification audits.
• Experience managing factory-facing technical or quality teams.
• A track record of improving technical standards, quality performance and customer satisfaction.
• Excellent communication, influencing and relationship-building skills.

Why Join The Compleat Food Group?

This is an exciting opportunity to join a growing food business where quality, innovation and customer service are at the heart of everything we do.

You'll have the opportunity to:

• Influence technical strategy at site level.
• Lead and develop a talented technical team.
• Work with some of the UK's leading retailers.
• Drive meaningful improvements across quality, food safety and factory performance.
• Be part of a collaborative and ambitious leadership team.

If you're passionate about food safety, quality excellence and leading high-performing teams, we'd love to hear from you.

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