Head of Technical

Alexander Steele Recruitment; Stirling; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

A Scottish food manufacturer is recruiting a Head of Technical to take overall responsibility for food safety, quality, legality, authenticity and customer compliance across a complex site. The role is senior, strategic, but remains hands-on within the factory and visible to the leadership team.

You will lead the technical strategy, manage audits, oversee regulatory compliance, and drive continuous improvement while coaching the technical and QA teams to a high-performing culture.

Responsibilities

• Lead the site's food safety, quality and technical strategy.
• Manage BRCGS, retailer and customer audits and technical reviews.
• Build strong relationships with major UK retail customers.
• Ensure robust HACCP, allergen, hygiene and product safety controls.
• Oversee specifications, labelling, artwork, NPD and change control.
• Lead investigations into complaints and non-conformances.
• Ensure traceability, withdrawals and recalls procedures.
• Use data to identify trends and drive continuous improvement.
• Develop a strong food safety culture and coach the teams.

Job description

Our client is an established and highly regarded Scottish food manufacturer supplying a broad range of products across UK retail, foodservice and B2B channels.

They are now looking to appoint an experienced Head of Technical to take overall responsibility for food safety, quality, legality, authenticity and customer compliance across a technically complex manufacturing site.This is a senior site leadership position, requiring someone who can operate strategically while remaining highly visible and hands-on within the factory.

The Role

• Leading the site's food safety, quality and technical strategy.
• Managing BRCGS, retailer and customer audits and technical reviews.
• Building and maintaining strong relationships with major UK retail customers.
• Ensuring robust HACCP, allergen, hygiene, environmental monitoring and product safety controls.
• Overseeing specifications, labelling, artwork, NPD and technical change control.
• Managing supplier and raw material assurance programmes.
• Leading investigations into complaints, non-conformances and technical incidents.
• Ensuring effective traceability, withdrawal and recall procedures.
• Using technical and quality data to identify trends and drive continuous improvement.
• Developing a strong food safety and quality culture across the site.
• Coaching and developing the Technical and QA teams while providing clear technical leadership to the wider factory.

About You

We're looking for an established Technical professional with significant experience within food manufacturing, ideally gained within a bakery or similarly complex environment.

You will have a strong understanding of BRCGS, HACCP, food legislation, allergen management and retailer technical requirements, alongside demonstrable experience dealing directly with UK retail customers.

You'll be comfortable challenging standards, influencing senior stakeholders and making sound technical decisions in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.

Most importantly, you'll be a visible and credible leader who can move a site from reactive technical management towards a more proactive, accountable and consistently high-performing culture.

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced Technical Manager, Head of Technical or senior Technical professional looking to take ownership of a complex manufacturing operation and play a key role within the wider site leadership team.