Technical Manager

The Menu Partners; Bicester; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 Days holiday + Bank Holiday

Company Pension

Life Assurance

Job summary

Absolute Taste is seeking an experienced Technical Manager to oversee food safety, quality, and compliance across production, Travel, and Events. You will lead the technical team and drive robust quality systems.

You will manage audits (BRCGS, SALSA) and customer visits, provide guidance on HACCP, and mentor staff to uphold the highest standards. Join a fast-growing, innovative company with a supportive culture and strong career development, plus benefits like 25 days holiday, pension, and life

Qualifications

• Experience in food manufacturing, especially High Care/High Risk environments.
• Strong knowledge of Ready-to-Eat products and related safety practices.
• Proven ability to lead technical teams and manage audits.
• Excellent communication across production, NPD and wider teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead and mentor the technical team to ensure all processes and standards are met.
• Provide expert guidance to all departments: production, Travel and Events, ensuring compliance.
• Prepare for and manage audits and customer visits, including BRCGS and SALSA.
• Promote quality and continuous improvement across NPD and manufacturing.
• Log, investigate, and resolve customer complaints with effective follow-up.
• Conduct internal audits, review results, and implement corrective actions.
• Monitor environmental samples (Listeria swabs, water) and shelf-life verifications.
• Ensure HACCP and food safety regulations are followed; train staff.

Skills

Food safety

HACCP

BRCGS

SALSA

Audits

Leadership

Communication

Job description

Who Are Absolute Taste and What Do We Do?

We are an innovative culinary and customer service provider, dedicated to delivering inspirational food and experiences that redefine customer satisfaction. With a commitment to excellence and a passion for pushing boundaries, we continue to grow from strength to strength.

As a small, dynamic team of event professionals, we specialize in creating exciting, well-managed, and sustainable events, while fostering strong working relationships. We're looking for individuals who share our fun, resilient, and hardworking values to join our supportive, high-performing team.

This is an exciting opportunity to be part of a highly regarded organisation dedicated to success and a positive, empowering culture.

About The Role

We are looking for an experienced Technical Manager to oversee food safety, quality, and compliance across our production, NPD, Travel, and Events teams. You will lead and mentor the technical team, ensure robust quality systems are maintained, manage audits and customer visits, and provide expert guidance on HACCP, BRCGS, SALSA, and regulatory requirements.

You will drive a culture of continuous improvement, supporting teams to deliver the highest standards through effective auditing, training, complaint resolution, and quality monitoring.

As a Technical Manager, your key responsibilities will be :

• Lead and mentor the technical team, overseeing their activities to ensure all technical processes and standards are met.
• Provide expert technical guidance and support to all departments: upstairs and downstairs productions, Travel, and Events, ensuring their technical needs and compliance requirements are effectively met.
• Prepare for and manage all audits and customer site visits, including BRCGS Food Standard and SALSA, ensuring all documentation and procedures are in place for smooth audits.
• Promote a culture of quality and continuous improvement across the NPD and manufacturing teams. Implement and monitor quality systems and processes to ensure high standards.
• Log, investigate, and resolve customer complaints, following up on internal and external issues to ensure effective resolution.
• Conduct internal audits, review results, and implement corrective action plans as needed. Monitor environmental and listeria swabs, water samples, and shelf-life verifications to maintain product integrity.
• Monitor and ensure compliance with HACCP and food safety regulations.
• Provide training to staff on food safety protocols and ensure all are compliant with safety and regulatory guidelines.

What we are looking for:

• Experience working within food manufacturing, particularly in High Care and High Risk environments.
• Strong knowledge and experience with Ready to Eat products.
• Proven understanding of food safety, HACCP, BRCGS, SALSA, and regulatory compliance.
• Experience leading, mentoring, and developing technical teams.
• Ability to manage audits, customer visits, and maintain robust technical documentation.
• Experience conducting internal audits, investigating complaints, and implementing corrective actions.
• A passion for quality, continuous improvement, and maintaining the highest standards of food safety.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to work collaboratively across production, NPD, and wider business teams.

Why Join Us at Absolute Taste?

Join a fast-growing and innovative company that is redefining customer experiences in the culinary and event space. We offer an empowering team culture, the opportunity to work on exciting, well-managed events, and a supportive, resilient team environment.

We are committed to supporting your career growth with thorough training and ongoing development.

You can also enjoy benefits such as:

• 25 Days holiday + Bank Holiday
• Company Pension
• Life Assurance

We are committed to being an equal opportunities employer.