Group Technical Manager

Always Candid; Preston; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work model

Job summary

Always Candid in the United Kingdom is seeking a Group Quality & Technical Manager to own the quality strategy across a multi-site FMCG manufacturing operation. You will drive best-in-class quality standards and identify opportunities to improve products, materials, and processes to boost factory performance.

You will work with the Operations Director and site leadership to deliver measurable savings while ensuring accreditation and customer standards are met.

Qualifications

• 5–10 years of experience across manufacturing, quality and product/process development in high-volume environments.
• Experience in paper, packaging or consumer products preferred.
• Background in ISO 9001 Lead Auditor, Lean, Six Sigma, and continuous improvement.
• Ability to influence leadership and build strong relationships with operations teams.
• Analytical and commercially minded, capable of challenging existing ways of working.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement the overall Quality Management strategy, systems and improvement plans.
• Ensure internal management systems meet required accreditation and customer standards.
• Drive a culture of best-in-class quality across manufacturing.
• Collaborate with Operations to improve factory performance and deliver measurable savings.
• Lead activity around supplier quality, materials and product performance.
• Provide technical expertise around paper, packaging and finished products.
• Use data to identify improvement opportunities across product, process and materials.
• Project manage technical and quality improvements through to implementation.
• Report progress with clear action plans and communications.

Skills

Quality leadership

Analytical thinking

Data analysis

Stakeholder management

ISO 9001 Lead Auditor

Tools

Lean

Six Sigma

CI/WCM

Job description

Group Quality & Technical Manager

UK Multi‑Site Manufacturing | Consumer Products

North West HQ, Hybrid

A fantastic opportunity for an experienced Quality & Technical leader to take ownership of quality strategy and standards across a significant UK FMCG manufacturing operation.

Our client is a major consumer products manufacturer with a substantial UK manufacturing footprint. Following continued investment and development across the business, they are now looking to appoint a Group Quality & Technical Manager to work closely with the Operations Director and site leadership teams.

This is much broader than simply maintaining systems and accreditation.

You will become the voice of the customer within Operations, driving best-in‑class quality standards while identifying opportunities to improve products, materials, manufacturing processes and overall factory performance.

The role

Working across a multi‑site operation, you will:

• Develop and implement the overall Quality Management strategy, systems and improvement plans.
• Ensure internal management systems and processes continue to meet required accreditation and customer standards.
• Drive a culture of best‑in‑class quality across manufacturing.
• Work closely with Operations teams to improve factory performance and deliver measurable savings.
• Lead activity around customer specifications, supplier quality, materials and product performance.
• Provide technical expertise around paper, packaging and finished‑product specifications.
• Use data and operational insight to identify improvement opportunities across product, process and materials.
• Project manage technical and quality improvement activity through to implementation.
• Provide clear reporting, action plans and communication around progress.
• Play an active role within site management teams and the wider operational leadership agenda.

Quality is closely connected to operational performance in this role, with success measured through areas including customer complaints, OEE and annual cost savings, alongside the wider safety agenda.

Who are we looking for?

You will probably have 5-10 years' experience across manufacturing, quality and product/process development, ideally gained within a high-volume manufacturing or consumer products environment.

A background in paper manufacturing, tissue, paper technology or associated materials would be particularly attractive, although broader manufacturing experience will also be relevant.

The business is looking for someone who can combine technical credibility with strong leadership and influencing skills. You will need to be analytical, commercially aware and comfortable challenging existing ways of working while building strong relationships with operational teams.

Experience or qualifications across areas such as ISO 9001 Lead Auditor, Lean, Six Sigma and CI/WCM would be highly relevant.

Just as importantly, you will be someone who is:

• Customer focused
• Results driven
• Analytical
• Positive
• Collaborative
• Comfortable leading change
• Accountable

This is an excellent opportunity to join a business where Quality and Technical can genuinely influence operational performance, rather than simply policing standards.

Interested?