Senior Technical Manager

Novus Recruitment Limited; England; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Novus Recruitment Limited is seeking a Senior Technical Manager for a leading UK food manufacturer in Kent. You will own the site's technical strategy, shaping food safety, quality, compliance and continuous improvement across the operation.

As a member of the Senior Leadership Team, you’ll lead a high-performing technical and quality function, manage audits with retailers, and drive transformational projects to sustain growth and product excellence.

Qualifications

• Significant technical management experience within UK food manufacturing.
• Proven success supplying major UK retailers and acting as the primary technical contact for customers.
• Strong experience with food safety management systems, audits and regulatory compliance.
• Degree in Food Science/Technology, plus HACCP Lead Assessor or equivalent qualifications.

Responsibilities

• Define and deliver the site's food safety and quality strategy.
• Lead, coach, and develop a high-performing Technical and Quality team.
• Act as the site's technical authority on all food safety, quality, legal, and regulatory matters.
• Manage customer audits, retailer relationships, and external technical contacts.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives across technical, operational, and supply chain functions.
• Build strong partnerships with major UK retailers, suppliers, and key stakeholders.
• Lead customer-facing technical communications with integrity, confidence, and credibility.
• Develop a learning culture that promotes technical excellence throughout the organisation.
• Influence and challenge senior stakeholders to ensure the highest standards of compliance, customer service, and product quality.
• Support innovation and growth initiatives through robust technical leadership.

Skills

Technical Leadership

People management

Stakeholder influence

Quality mindset

Continuous improvement

Education

Degree in Food Science/Technology

HACCP Lead Assessor / equivalent qualifications

Job description

Senior Technical Manager - Food Manufacturing

Kent

Ready for Your Next Technical Leadership Challenge?

Whether you're an experienced Technical Manager ready to step into a Senior Technical or already established and seeking a new environment where you can make a genuine impact, this could be the opportunity you've been looking for.

We're working with a leading food manufacturer supplying major UK retailers to recruit a Senior Technical Manager for a high-performing site that has investment scheduled. This is a senior leadership position, offering full ownership of the site's technical agenda and the opportunity to shape food safety, quality, compliance, and continuous improvement strategies for the future.

The Opportunity

As a key member of the Senior Leadership Team, you will be the technical conscience of the site, setting and delivering the strategy for food safety, legality and product quality from raw materials through to finished product.

Working closely with the Site Director and wider leadership team, you'll have the autonomy to develop and implement the site's technical vision while fostering a culture of excellence across the business.

The key responsibilities for the role are to:

• Define and deliver the site's food safety and quality strategy.
• Lead, coach, and develop a high-performing Technical and Quality team.
• Act as the site's technical authority on all food safety, quality, legal, and regulatory matters.
• Manage customer audits, retailer relationships, and external technical contacts.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives across technical, operational, and supply chain functions.
• Build strong partnerships with major UK retailers, suppliers, and key stakeholders.
• Lead customer-facing technical communications with integrity, confidence, and credibility.
• Develop a learning culture that promotes technical excellence throughout the organisation.
• Influence and challenge senior stakeholders to ensure the highest standards of compliance, customer service, and product quality.
• Support innovation and growth initiatives through robust technical leadership.

We're looking for an experienced technical leader with:

• Significant Technical Management experience within UK food manufacturing.
• Proven success supplying major UK retailers and acting as the primary technical contact for customers.
• Strong experience of food safety management systems, audits, and compliance.
• A degree in Food Science, Food Technology, or a related discipline, supported by relevant professional qualifications such as HACCP, Lead Assessor, or equivalent.
• A track record of developing technical teams and building high-performance cultures.
• Experience delivering technical strategy and improving food safety, quality, and manufacturing processes.
• Strong communication and influencing skills, with the ability to gain buy-in at all levels.
• A hands-on, detail-focused approach combined with strategic leadership capability.
• The ability to translate technical requirements into practical business solutions within fast-paced manufacturing environments.

You'll be joining a business where quality is a key focus throughout the operation. Investment continues to support growth, and the Technical function is the heart of the operation.

Key highlights:

• Senior leadership position within a respected and growing food manufacturer.
• Full autonomy to shape and deliver the site's technical strategy.
• Direct influence on business performance as part of the Senior Leadership Team.
• High visibility with major UK retailers and strategic suppliers.
• A strong 'one team' culture driven by an engaged and supportive Site Director.
• A modern, well-invested manufacturing facility with excellent infrastructure.
• A collaborative technical network that encourages knowledge sharing and best practice.
• Significant continuous improvement and transformation projects providing exposure to broader business initiatives.
• Career development opportunities within a forward-thinking and ambitious organisation.
• Growth driven by innovation, strong customer partnerships, and an exciting product pipeline.

Interested?

If you're a proven technical leader looking for the autonomy to shape the future of a successful food manufacturing business, we'd love to hear from you.