Head Of Technical

The Sterling Choice; Manchester; On-site; GBP 108,000 - 132,000; Full time

Job summary

The Sterling Choice is seeking a Head of Technical for a major food manufacturing group with two sites in the North-West of England. You will set the technical strategy, align functions and lead a senior team across Site Technical, Customer Technical and Supplier Quality.

You'll influence decisions across Operations, Commercial and Procurement, and drive a collaborative, high-impact Technical function with autonomy across both sites, supported by a six-figure package and a 10% bonus.

Qualifications

• Senior technical leadership experience in food manufacturing.
• Ability to lead multiple sites and manage managers.
• Strong stakeholder management and strategic thinking.

Responsibilities

• Oversee two sites and align technical strategy.
• Lead Site Technical, Customer Technical and Supplier Quality teams.
• Influence decisions across operations, commercial and procurement.
• Develop and coach the management team.
• Lead supplier decisions, product launches and operational challenges.

Skills

Senior leadership

Strategic thinking

Stakeholder influence

People management

Cross-site coordination

Job description

Head of Technical

Food Manufacturing

North-West England

Total Comp: Up to £120,000 +10% Bonus

There's a big difference between being responsible for a Technical function and having the authority to actually lead it.

This opportunity offers both.

You'll be joining a major food manufacturing group that has recently restructured its Technical leadership team, creating a position with greater autonomy, clearer accountability and genuine influence over how the function operates.

With two manufacturing sites across Greater Manchester, you'll oversee two very different operations, each with its own technical challenges, customer requirements and opportunities for growth.

But you won't be expected to know everything about every product.

You'll have four experienced managers reporting directly into you, covering Site Technical, Customer Technical and Supplier Quality. Your job will be to bring that expertise together, establish a clear strategy and make sure the different functions are working towards the same objectives.

And that's where this role gets interesting.

You’ll have the freedom to challenge how things are done, influence decisions across Operations, Commercial and Procurement, and ensure Technical has a meaningful voice throughout the business.

Whether it's a supplier decision, a new product launch or an operational challenge, you'll be the person bringing the right people together and making sure decisions work for the business as a whole.

There's also a significant people leadership element. You'll be developing an established management team, giving them direction, supporting their growth and creating a Technical function that works collaboratively rather than in isolation.

They're looking for someone with senior Technical leadership experience within food manufacturing, but they're deliberately keeping an open mind on product background.

Your ability to lead people, influence stakeholders and think strategically matters far more than being a specialist in one particular category.

You’ll have the backing of a major food manufacturing group, a competitive six-figure package and the autonomy to manage your time across both sites.