Technical Account Manager

Driscoll's, Inc.; Maidstone; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

Driscoll's, Inc. in the United Kingdom seeks a Technical Account Manager to manage the technical and quality relationship with key UK retail customers, ensuring berries meet retailer specs, legal requirements and high-quality standards.

You will be the technical link between retailers, growers, packhouses and internal teams, driving quality improvements, food safety, audits and compliance. The role is hybrid, combining home and head office work with occasional travel across the UK.

Qualifications

• Degree in Food Science, Agriculture, Horticulture or related discipline.
• 2–5 years of experience in a technical or quality assurance role within fresh produce.
• Experience with soft fruit or berries is advantageous.
• Proven experience managing technical relationships with UK retailers.
• Knowledge of fresh produce quality, post-harvest handling and shelf-life challenges.
• Familiarity with UK retailer standards and systems (Tesco TFMS, M&S Select Farm, Morrisons OPs).
• Strong customer-facing and relationship-building skills.
• Ability to balance product quality, customer service and commercial priorities.
• Proficient in Excel, PowerPoint and retailer portals.

Responsibilities

• Act as the main technical point of contact for assigned UK retail customers.
• Lead technical preparation and follow-up of retailer audits, customer visits and seasonal reviews.
• Interpret customer policies and implement requirements across the supply chain.
• Monitor quality data, identify trends and coordinate corrective actions.
• Manage product complaints and non-conformances with timely resolutions.
• Work with growers to ensure compliance with legal, retailer and certification requirements.
• Visit growers and packhouses to review quality and food safety practices.
• Provide technical support for audits and new product development.
• Contribute to sustainability initiatives relating to packaging and pesticide reduction.

Skills

Technical knowledge

Communication

Stakeholder coordination

Analytical thinking

Commercial acumen

Education

Degree in Food Science, Agriculture, Horticulture or related discipline

Tools

Excel

PowerPoint

Job description

About the Opportunity

Are you passionate about fresh produce, product quality and building strong relationships with leading UK retailers? Do you enjoy working at the intersection of technical expertise, commercial priorities and customer satisfaction?
As our Technical Account Manager, you will manage the technical and quality relationship with key retail customers in the United Kingdom. You will ensure that our berries consistently meet retailer specifications, legal requirements and our own high-quality standards.
You will act as the technical link between our retail customers, growers, packhouses and internal teams. Your focus will be on delivering excellent product quality, maintaining food safety and compliance, resolving technical challenges and identifying opportunities for continuous improvement.

Responsibilities

In this varied and customer-focused position, you will:

• Act as the main technical point of contact for assigned UK retail customers.
• Build strong relationships with retailer technical teams and create alignment around quality, compliance and innovation.
• Lead the technical preparation and follow-up of retailer audits, customer visits and seasonal reviews.
• Interpret customer technical policies and help implement these requirements throughout the supply chain.
• Monitor product quality and performance data, identify trends and coordinate corrective and preventive actions.
• Manage product complaints, rejections and non-conformances, ensuring thorough investigations and timely resolutions.
• Work closely with UK and international growers to ensure compliance with legal, retailer and certification requirements.
• Visit growers, suppliers and packhouses to review quality, food safety and compliance practices.
• Provide technical support and guidance to growers, including preparation for customer and retailer audits.
• Support new product development and varietal development based on customer needs and consumer trends.
• Contribute to sustainability initiatives relating to packaging, pesticide reduction and carbon footprint.
• Maintain accurate specifications, certificates, audit documentation and other technical records.
• Prepare and present technical reports, performance updates and improvement plans.

Candidate Profile

You communicate clearly and confidently with customers, growers and colleagues. You are comfortable addressing technical challenges, coordinating different stakeholders and translating complex requirements into practical actions.

You enjoy taking ownership, working independently and creating solutions that improve quality and customer satisfaction. At the same time, you understand that the best results come from close collaboration across Commercial, Technical, Agronomy and Operations teams.

What you bring

We are looking for someone who combines strong technical knowledge with excellent communication and relationship-building skills.

You ideally bring:

• A degree in Food Science, Agriculture, Horticulture or a related discipline, or equivalent relevant industry experience.
• Approximately 2 to 5 years of experience in a technical or quality assurance role within fresh produce.
• Experience working with soft fruit or berries would be a strong advantage.
• Proven experience managing technical relationships with UK retailers.
• Good knowledge of fresh produce quality, post-harvest handling and shelf-life challenges.
• Knowledge of food safety, compliance and audit standards such as HACCP, BRCGS and GLOBAL G.A.P.
• Familiarity with UK retailer technical standards and systems, such as Tesco TFMS, M&S Select Farm or Morrisons OPs.
• Strong aroactive approach.
• The ability to balance product quality, customer service and commercial priorities.
• Confidence using Excel, PowerPoint, retailer portals and technical specification systems.
• A full UK driving licence and flexibility to travel throughout the United Kingdom, with occasional international travel.

What we offer

A varied and highly visible technical position within an international fresh produce business. You will work closely with major UK retailers, growers and experienced colleagues across different functions and countries.

The role offers a hybrid working environment, combining home and head office working