Technical Manager

Reed Specialist Recruitment Ltd.; South Yorkshire; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 62,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Car allowance

6-month fixed-term contract

Job summary

Reed Specialist Recruitment Ltd. is recruiting a Technical Manager for a 6-month fixed-term role based in Barnsley (FMCG). The role leads the site technical team, ensuring food safety, quality and compliance across daily operations and customer-facing activities.

You will work closely with senior leadership, drive improvements, and manage audits and cross-functional collaboration to support product launches and continuous improvement initiatives.

Qualifications

• Experience in a senior technical role within food manufacturing.
• Strong knowledge of HACCP, food safety and quality systems.
• Experience leading a factory-facing technical or quality team.
• Knowledge of major UK retailers and retailer Codes of Practice.
• Lead auditor qualifications and drive for continuous improvement.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the factory technical team, maintaining high standards across the site.
• Take ownership of daily technical performance and deputise for the Head of Technical when required.
• Drive continuous improvement across food safety, quality and factory standards.
• Ensure products are safe, legal and consistently produced to the required quality standards.
• Develop and deliver technical plans in line with customer, retailer and business requirements.
• Build strong customer relationships and provide effective technical customer management.
• Lead and support customer visits, retailer audits and certification audits.
• Use technical KPIs, complaints and performance data to identify trends and implement improvements.
• Lead root cause investigations and ensure corrective and preventative actions are completed effectively.
• Work closely with Operations, NPD, Engineering and Supply Chain to support product launches and process improvements.

Skills

Technical leadership

Quality management

HACCP & food safety

Root cause analysis

KPIs & data analysis

Stakeholder management

People management

Education

Food-related degree

HACCP Level 3

Food Safety Level 3

Lead Auditor qualification

UK driving licence

Job description

Technical Manager - Chilled Food

Job Type: 6-month fixed-term contract

Location: Barnsley (FMCG)

Salary: £60,000-£62,000 + car allowance

A leading food manufacturer is looking for an experienced Technical Manager to join its site team on a 6-month fixed-term contract. This position is a key factory-facing role, taking day-to-day responsibility for technical performance across the site and working closely with senior leadership to maintain exceptional standards in food safety, quality and compliance.

Day to day of the role

• Lead and manage the factory technical team, maintaining high standards across the site.
• Take ownership of daily technical performance and deputise for the Head of Technical when required.
• Drive continuous improvement across food safety, quality and factory standards.
• Ensure products are safe, legal and consistently produced to the required quality standards.
• Develop and deliver technical plans in line with customer, retailer and business requirements.
• Build strong customer relationships and provide effective technical customer management.
• Lead and support customer visits, retailer audits and certification audits.
• Use technical KPIs, complaints and performance data to identify trends and implement improvements.
• Lead root cause investigations and ensure corrective and preventative actions are completed effectively.
• Work closely with Operations, NPD, Engineering and Supply Chain to support product launches and process improvements.

Required Skills & Qualifications

• Previous experience as a Technical Manager, Factory Technical Manager or in a similar senior technical role within food manufacturing.
• Strong technical and quality management experience in a fast-paced manufacturing environment, ideally within chilled food.
• Experience leading a factory-facing technical or quality team.
• Good knowledge of major UK retailers and retailer Codes of Practice.
• Strong BRCGS experience, including leading retailer and certification audits.
• Sound understanding of HACCP, food safety, quality systems, allergens and GMP.
• Proven ability to use KPIs, complaints data and trend analysis to drive continuous improvement.
• Confidence to challenge standards and influence stakeholders across all levels of the operation.
• Strong people management, coaching and stakeholder management skills.
• Ideally a food-related degree, HACCP Level 3, Food Safety Level 3, Lead Auditor qualification and a full UK driving licence.

Benefits

• Salary of £60,000-£62,000
• Car allowance
• 6-month fixed-term opportunity with a leading food manufacturing business
• Exposure to a key leadership role within the site technical function
• Opportunity to work cross-functionally with senior stakeholders across the business

FMCG | Food Manufacturing | Chilled | Barnsley |