Technical Manager

Manucomm Recruitment Ltd; Exeter; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A food manufacturing company near Exeter is seeking a Technical Manager to lead quality and food safety activities. The role involves managing technical teams across multiple sites, ensuring compliance with industry standards, and maintaining robust supplier systems. The ideal candidate will be hands-on and capable of delivering effective solutions in a fast-paced environment. A minimum Level 3 HACCP & Food Safety qualification and strong knowledge of BRC standards are required.

Qualifications

• Experience in driving a culture of quality and food safety.
• Hands-on operational understanding, assisting in real-time challenges.
• Strong leadership skills overseeing technical teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Technical teams across both sites.
• Drive a culture of quality, food safety, and continuous improvement.
• Oversee internal and external audits ensuring compliance.
• Manage private label compliance and customer standards.
• Represent the business during customer audits and visits.

Skills

Strong knowledge of BRC

Private label compliance experience

Excellent communication skills

Stakeholder management

Analytical skills

Education

Minimum Level 3 HACCP & Food Safety qualification

Job description

Overview

Technical Manager. Exeter Area with some travel required. £Competitive. My Client based near Exeter is a manufacturer of premium food products. Reporting directly to the Directors, within this role you will lead all technical, quality and food safety activities across the site. You will also be managing the Technical team at the sister site based in West Sussex, so occasional travel there will be required (approximately every couple of weeks and when audits are conducted). The ideal candidate will be hands-on, while also being commercially creative. You will have the ability to lead and manage audits and regularly update the Board.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Technical teams across both sites, ensuring high performance and standards.
• Drive a culture of quality, food safety and continuous improvement.
• Bring a hands-on, solution-oriented approach — ready to step in and assist the teams whenever needed.
• Remain calm and decisive under pressure, especially when faced with operational and technical challenges.
• Oversee internal and external audits (including BRC), ensuring all accreditations are maintained.
• Manage private label compliance — meeting customer standards, specifications and audit requirements.
• Ensure supplier approval systems are robust, compliant and up to date.
• Work collaboratively with Operations to address and resolve production challenges.
• Apply pragmatic, commercially minded solutions that work in a real manufacturing environment.
• Own and continually improve the Group Quality Management System.
• Lead HACCP teams, ensuring plans are current and effectively implemented.
• Manage non-conformances with a focus on eliminating root causes.
• Lead complaint investigations, ensuring prompt and professional customer communication.
• Support NPD technical sign-off for both branded and private label products.
• Represent the business during customer visits, audits and site tours.

Qualifications

• Strong knowledge of BRC and other relevant industry standards.
• Private label compliance experience – specifications, audits and customer requirements.
• Hands-on operational understanding – able to work closely with production and assist in solving real-time challenges.
• Minimum Level 3 HACCP & Food Safety qualification.
• Excellent communication, stakeholder management and analytical skills.

If the role is of interest, then please send your CV today.