Technical Manager

Drnewitt; Plymouth; On-site; GBP 75,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Benefits package

Job summary

Drnewitt is seeking an experienced Technical Manager to lead food safety, quality and compliance across its Devon production and distribution operations. You will drive HACCP, traceability, and customer compliance, partnering with senior operations leaders to protect product integrity.

The role requires strong leadership, hands-on execution, and the ability to foster a proactive food safety culture across the site.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in a senior technical, quality, or food safety management role in high-risk food manufacturing.
• Strong knowledge of HACCP, BRCGS, retailer standards, and traceability systems.
• Experience leading customer and certification audits and engaging with regulatory authorities.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills.
• Pragmatic, hands-on approach balancing operational priorities with technical compliance requirements.
• Degree or professional qualification in Food Science, Food Safety, Microbiology, or related discipline preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead all technical, food safety, quality assurance, and compliance activities across the operation.
• Ensure compliance with UK food legislation, BRCGS standards, retailer codes of practice, and customer requirements.
• Maintain and continuously improve HACCP systems, traceability procedures, and quality management systems.
• Manage third-party audits, customer audits, and regulatory inspections.
• Partner with production and operations teams to deliver continuous improvement initiatives and best practice standards.
• Provide technical guidance on supplier approval, product integrity, risk assessment, non-conformance management, and incident response.
• Monitor changes in legislation and emerging industry developments to ensure ongoing compliance.
• Develop, mentor, and lead the site technical team while promoting food safety awareness across the wider business.

Skills

Food safety leadership

HACCP knowledge

BRCGS standards

Audit management

Regulatory compliance

Stakeholder management

Quality assurance

Continuous improvement

Product integrity

Leadership

Education

Food Science degree

Job description

Location: Devon
Reporting to: Senior Operations Leadership Team
Salary: Competitive + benefits

A well-established and growing premium food manufacturer is seeking an experienced Technical Manager to lead food safety, quality, and compliance across its production and supply operations.

This is a confidential opportunity to join a respected business supplying major UK retail and foodservice customers. Working closely with senior operational leaders, you will be responsible for driving high standards of food safety, legality, traceability, and customer compliance across processing, packing, and distribution activities.

The successful candidate will combine strong technical expertise with a practical understanding of manufacturing operations and the ability to foster a positive and proactive food safety culture throughout the site.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead all technical, food safety, quality assurance, and compliance activities across the operation.
• Ensure compliance with UK food legislation, BRCGS standards, retailer codes of practice, and customer requirements.
• Maintain and continuously improve HACCP systems, traceability procedures, and quality management systems.
• Manage third-party audits, customer audits, and regulatory inspections.
• Partner with production and operations teams to deliver continuous improvement initiatives and best practice standards.
• Provide technical guidance on supplier approval, product integrity, risk assessment, non-conformance management, and incident response.
• Monitor changes in legislation and emerging industry developments to ensure ongoing compliance.
• Develop, mentor, and lead the site technical team while promoting food safety awareness across the wider business.

Candidate Profile

• Proven experience in a senior technical, quality, or food safety management role within high-risk food manufacturing.
• Strong knowledge of HACCP, BRCGS, retailer standards, and traceability systems.
• Experience leading customer and certification audits and dealing with regulatory authorities.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills.
• A pragmatic, hands-on approach with the ability to balance operational priorities with technical compliance requirements.
• A degree or professional qualification in Food Science, Food Safety, Microbiology, or a related discipline would be advantageous.

What’s on Offer

• Opportunity to join a successful and expanding food manufacturing business with a strong reputation for quality.
• A senior leadership position with genuine influence over operational and strategic decisions.
• Competitive salary and benefits package.
• Long-term career development within a stable and growing organisation.