Senior Technical Manager

The People Co. / Assure Jobs; Devon and Torbay; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

The People Co. / Assure Jobs seeks a Senior Technical Manager for a leading food manufacturing site in the UK. You will head technical, quality and food safety, ensuring products meet customer and regulatory standards while embedding a strong safety culture.

Reporting to the senior leadership team, you will drive continuous improvement, oversee audits, supplier performance and budgets, and influence strategic planning across operations and commercial teams.

Qualifications

• Senior leadership experience in a food manufacturing environment.
• Strong knowledge of HACCP, food safety systems and quality management.
• Experience maintaining customer standards and leading external audits.

Responsibilities

• Lead the site's technical, quality and food safety functions.
• Maintain HACCP, food safety and quality management systems.
• Manage external audits, customer audits and site visits.
• Drive supplier assurance, supplier performance monitoring and raw material programmes.
• Support continuous improvement and strategic site initiatives.

Skills

Senior technical leadership

HACCP

Food safety systems

Quality management

Regulatory compliance

External audits

Supplier assurance

Stakeholder management

Communication

Continuous improvement

Job description

The Company

A well-established and growing food manufacturing business is seeking an experienced Senior Technical Manager to join its leadership team. Operating within a fast-paced production environment, the business is committed to delivering exceptional product quality, food safety standards and continuous improvement across all areas of the operation. Working closely with senior stakeholders, this role will play a key part in shaping technical strategy, driving compliance and supporting the ongoing success of the site.

The Role

Reporting directly to the senior leadership team, the Senior Technical Manager will lead all technical, food safety, quality and compliance activities across the site. You will be responsible for ensuring products meet customer, legal and food safety requirements while developing a positive food safety culture and driving continuous improvement initiatives. The role combines strategic leadership with hands-on technical management and offers significant influence across the wider business.

Key Accountabilities

• Lead the site's technical, quality and food safety functions.
• Maintain and develop HACCP, food safety and quality management systems.
• Ensure compliance with customer, legal and regulatory requirements.
• Manage external audits, customer audits and site visits.
• Lead supplier approval, supplier performance monitoring and raw material assurance programmes.
• Drive a strong food safety and quality culture through coaching, training and engagement.
• Manage customer complaints, product investigations and corrective action activities.
• Control technical budgets and support site performance against key business objectives.
• Work closely with operational and commercial teams to support continuous improvement and business growth.
• Contribute to strategic planning as a member of the senior leadership team.

Person Profile

• Proven experience in a senior technical leadership position within food manufacturing.
• Strong knowledge of HACCP, food safety systems, quality management and regulatory compliance.
• Experience maintaining customer standards and leading external audits.
• Ability to influence, engage and develop teams while promoting a positive food safety culture.
• Strong understanding of supplier assurance, customer relationships and technical risk management.
• Commercially aware with experience working as part of a senior leadership team.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
• A proactive and solutions-focused approach with a passion for continuous improvement.
• Experience operating within a BRC-certified manufacturing environment would be advantageous

REF: PR013357