Technical Manager

D R Newitt & Associates; Shotts; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

D R Newitt & Associates is recruiting a Technical Manager for a well-established food manufacturer in North Lanarkshire. You will own the site's technical, quality and food safety function and lead a small technical team, working with site leadership to drive compliance and continuous improvement.

We are seeking an experienced food industry professional with proven HACCP/BRCGS knowledge, audit management experience, and strong cross-functional communication.

Qualifications

• Previous experience in a Technical, Quality or Food Safety management position in food manufacturing.
• Strong working knowledge of BRCGS, HACCP and food safety management systems.
• Experience of managing or supporting customer, certification and regulatory audits.
• Good knowledge of UK food legislation and manufacturing compliance requirements.
• Ability to investigate technical issues, identify root causes and implement practical improvements.
• Strong communication skills and the confidence to work across departments and with external customers.
• Previous team leadership or people management experience.

Responsibilities

• Leading and developing the site's food safety, quality and technical management systems.
• Maintaining HACCP, food safety plans, risk assessments and prerequisite programmes.
• Ensuring controls for allergens, microbiological risks, foreign bodies, chemical hazards and other food safety risks.
• Managing audits for BRCGS, customers, regulatory and internal audits and closing actions.
• Maintaining robust quality standards and ensuring products meet specification and customer expectations.
• Leading investigations into food safety and quality incidents with root cause analysis.
• Acting as a key technical contact for customers and handling specifications and approvals.
• Working with Procurement to maintain supplier approvals and performance management.
• Leading, supporting and developing the technical team and identifying training needs.
• Collaborating with Production, Engineering and Warehouse to drive a strong site-wide safety and quality culture.

Skills

Technical leadership

Food safety management

HACCP knowledge

BRCGS knowledge

Job description

We are recruiting for a Technical Manager to join an established food manufacturing business in North Lanarkshire, home to one of Scotland's leading and most recognised food product brands.

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced food industry technical professional to take ownership of the technical and food safety function within a well-established manufacturing operation.

The role offers the opportunity to lead a technical team, work closely with the wider site leadership team and have a genuine influence over food safety, quality, compliance and continuous improvement.

The Role

As Technical Manager, you will be responsible for maintaining and developing the site's food safety, quality and technical standards, ensuring the business continues to meet legislative, customer and industry requirements.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Leading and developing the site's food safety, quality and technical management systems.
• Maintaining and continuously improving HACCP, food safety plans, risk assessments and prerequisite programmes.
• Ensuring effective controls are in place for allergens, microbiological risks, foreign bodies, chemical hazards and other food safety risks.
• Managing preparation for BRCGS, customer, regulatory and internal audits, including the investigation and closure of resulting actions.
• Maintaining robust quality standards and ensuring products consistently meet specification and customer expectations.
• Leading investigations into food safety and quality incidents, complaints and non-conformances, ensuring effective root cause analysis and corrective actions.
• Acting as a key technical contact for customers, supporting technical enquiries, specifications, questionnaires and approval requirements.
• Working with Procurement to maintain effective supplier approval and performance management processes.
• Leading, supporting and developing the technical team, identifying training and development requirements.
• Working collaboratively with Production, Engineering, Warehouse and other departments to drive a strong site-wide food safety and quality culture.
• Keeping the business informed of relevant changes to food legislation, industry standards and customer requirements.

About You

We are looking for someone with a strong technical background gained within food manufacturing who is comfortable taking ownership of site food safety, quality and compliance.

You will ideally bring:

• Previous experience within a Technical, Quality or Food Safety management position in food manufacturing.
• Strong working knowledge of BRCGS, HACCP and food safety management systems.
• Experience of managing or supporting customer, certification and regulatory audits.
• Good knowledge of UK food legislation and manufacturing compliance requirements.
• The ability to investigate technical issues, identify root causes and implement practical improvements.
• Strong communication skills and the confidence to work across different departments and with external customers.
• Previous team leadership or people management experience.

The Opportunity

This position would suit someone looking for a role where they can have real ownership of the technical function and influence standards across the wider manufacturing operation.

You will be joining an established Scottish food manufacturer behind a highly recognised consumer brand, with the opportunity to lead and develop a technical team, strengthen site standards and drive continued improvements across food safety, quality and compliance.