Site Technical Manager - Food Manufacturing

Agrial Fresh Produce ltd; Lichfield; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A food manufacturing company based in Lichfield is seeking a Technical Manager to oversee the quality and safety of Salad and Beetroot production. The successful candidate will ensure compliance with industry standards and lead a technical team. Requirements include experience in FMCG chilled food environments and relevant food industry certifications. This role offers a competitive salary, annual bonuses, and employee benefits such as health insurance and development programs.

Benefits

Life Assurance

Private Health Insurance

Employee Assistance Programme

Annual leave entitlement

Learning and Development

Employee discount platform

Recognition awards and engagement days

Qualifications

• Relevant experience in a QA / Technical managerial role within an FMCG environment.
• Essential certifications in Food Safety and HACCP.
• Experience leading a team in high care/risk chilled food environments.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Technical teams in Salad and Beetroot production.
• Ensure compliance with food safety, legality and quality management.
• Manage and improve the HACCP system.

Skills

FMCG chilled food experience

Food Safety certifications

Team leadership

Quick decision making

Problem-solving skills

Education

Formal Qualifications in Food Science

Tools

HACCP

BRC Audit experience

Job description

We have an exciting opportunity for a Technical Manager to join our team at Florette in Lichfield, WS13 8NF. This role will lead our Technical teams in both our Salad and Beetroot production areas of the site and ensure product safety, quality, legality, and relevant fresh produce quality standards are maintained throughout the supply chain and site operation.

Working hours: Monday to Friday, 08:30am - 17:00pm, 37.5 hours per week.

Pay: Competitive salary with annual managerial bonus eligibility and private health insurance.

Main Responsibilities

• Support, mentor, implement, achieve, and drive a process to continually improve food safety, legality and quality management and to maintain these standards in line with BRC, customer requirements, UK legislation and due diligence.
• Monitor and report any issues that compromise product legality, safety & quality and as per customer specifications.
• Continually review, improve and update the HACCP system.
• Manage the QMS to maintain BRC accreditation at grade A, carrying out trend analysis on non-conformities.
• Implement all legislative updates incorporating them into the existing quality management system and ensure all EU and UK Legislation is respected.
• Lead audits and visits of both suppliers and customers.

Skills and Experience Required

• Previous experience within an FMCG chilled food environment in a QA / Technical managerial role.
• Relevant Food Industry certifications (Food Safety, HACCP) are essential.
• Formal Qualifications in a Food Science related field are desirable.
• Proven experience of leading a team of differing seniorities and of permanent and temporary staff.
• Experience in FMCG high care/risk chilled or frozen food environments, ideally in fresh produce or in Mixed Salad and Beetroot products.
• Proven success in leading BRC Audits and supermarket audits for both “Big-Four” and Discounters plus BRC Site training.
• Proven experience of leading and developing a team as well as managing direct reports.
• Quick decision making and problem-solving skills.

What You Will Get In Return

A competitive annual salary, inclusion in our annual bonus scheme and a range of employee benefits you’d expect from a market leading business, including:

• Life Assurance: 4x your basic salary paid to your nominated beneficiary.
• Private Health Insurance: BUPA Health Insurance for yourself, with possible expanse for your family.
• Employee Assistance Programme: Providing a Remote GP service along with a 24/7 helpline for financial, legal, medical and life issues.
• Annual leave entitlement: 33 days annual leave per annum inclusive of UK Bank Holidays which increases with service, as well as the option to purchase up to 2 additional working weeks of holiday per annum.
• Learning and Development: Personalised induction and regular learning and development courses and schemes: From L2 to L7 Funded Apprenticeships, Leadership Development Programme, First-Aid and MHFA Training, and many more!
• Benefits Platforms: Employee discount platform for multiple retailers and access to salary finance schemes for bicycles, gyms, and financial assistance.
• Other: Recognition awards, Regular Employee Engagement days, attendance incentives, an annual volunteering day, and a free staff transport service to and from site covering Lichfield, Burton on Trent, Cannock, Rugeley, and Burntwood.

About Us

Florette is one of three UK food manufacturing factories within Agrial Fresh Produce Ltd, which is an autonomous part of the larger 17,500 employee strong French co-operative group, Agrial. The business operates mainly under its recognisable Florette salad brand and we are one of the UK’s leading producers in the industry. Under the well-known Florette brand, our site processes and distributes pre-packed, ready to eat, fresh salad bags and bowls to some of the UK’s most well-known supermarkets and retailers, as well as your favourite restaurants and fast food vendors. In total, we sell on average around 600,000kg of products every week - an unbe-leaf-able amount! Agrial has operations across 11 countries, with 100 industrial sites, and a 2024 turnover of €7.1bn across 5 food divisions which comprise of Beverage, Dairy, Meat, Fresh Produce & Agricultural operations; it’s not just about lettuce! As well as 2 factories we also have a farming operation – Agrial Fresh Farms. All UK sites operate under the name of Agrial Fresh Produce Limited and fall under Agrial's vegetable division. We have a recipe for success through our EPIC values and working together as one team.

Next Steps

It’s an exciting time to join our business as we look for new starters to join us to innovate in everything we do! We’re looking for positive and driven people to join our professional team. If you have the skills or experience we are looking for, and want a fresh challenge we would love for you to join us on our journey! Please apply directly or alternatively contact Will Kaye, Recruitment Advisor for a totally confidential and informal discussion.