Technical Manager

Gregory Walker; Wirral; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus 10%

Pension 5.3%

Private healthcare

Job summary

Gregory Walker is recruiting an experienced Technical Manager for a flagship UK food manufacturing site in Wirral. The role sits on the Site Leadership Team, taking full responsibility for Technical, Quality and Hygiene across the operation.

You will lead food safety strategy, HACCP, audits, and quality systems, manage the Quality and Hygiene teams, and work with Operations and Engineering to resolve challenges with pragmatic, risk-based decisions.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience leading Technical functions in complex food manufacturing.
• Proven track record with HACCP, food safety and quality systems.
• Experience managing Technical and Hygiene teams at scale.
• Strong stakeholder influence and leadership style.

Responsibilities

• Lead food safety, quality and hygiene strategy across the site.
• Own HACCP, TACCP, food defence and quality management systems.
• Lead a busy programme of audits with customers and third parties to stay audit-ready.
• Manage and develop Quality and Hygiene teams; foster accountability and continuous improvement.
• Collaborate with Operations and Engineering to resolve technical challenges with pragmatic, risk-based decisions.
• Drive improvements in complaints, right-first-time performance, hygiene and quality KPIs.
• Support NPD, capital investment and new products/processes/equipment introduction.
• Act as the site's senior technical authority with a solutions-focused approach.

Job description

An established food manufacturer. A complex, high-volume operation. A senior technical leadership role where experience, judgement and pragmatism really matter.

We're partnering with a major food manufacturer to recruit an experienced Technical Manager for one of its flagship UK operations.

This is a substantial, well-established manufacturing site producing a diverse range of products for major blue‑chip customers. With over 300 SKUs, significant production volumes and an extensive programme of customer and accreditation audits, it's an environment that demands a technically accomplished, commercially aware leader.

We're looking for someone who knows how to run a Technical function in the real world. Someone who can maintain uncompromising food safety standards while building relationships, making sensible risk‑based decisions and working collaboratively with Operations, Engineering and the wider leadership team.

The Role

Reporting directly to the Plant Manager and sitting on the Site Leadership Team, you'll take full responsibility for Technical, Quality and Hygiene across the operation.

Key responsibilities include:

• Leading the site's food safety, quality and hygiene strategy, ensuring compliance with BRCGS, customer standards and relevant legislation.
• Taking ownership of HACCP, TACCP, food defence, food fraud and quality management systems.
• Leading a busy programme of customer, third‑party and accreditation audits, ensuring the site remains audit‑ready.
• Managing and developing the Quality and Hygiene teams, building a culture of accountability and continuous improvement.
• Working closely with Operations and Engineering to resolve technical challenges through pragmatic, risk‑based decision‑making.
• Driving improvements in complaints, right‑first‑time performance, hygiene standards and quality KPIs.
• Supporting NPD, capital investment and the introduction of new products, processes and equipment.
• Acting as the site's senior technical authority, balancing robust standards with a collaborative, solutions‑focused approach.

About You

We're particularly interested in speaking with established Technical Managers who have spent a significant part of their careers leading Technical functions within complex food manufacturing environments.

Ideally, you'll bring:

• Extensive experience as a Technical Manager or Site Head of Technical within food manufacturing.
• A background in bakery, cakes, biscuits, pastries, pies, frozen foods or similarly complex, multi‑ingredient products.
• Strong exposure to major retailers, blue‑chip food businesses and demanding customer codes of practice.
• Deep technical expertise across food safety, HACCP, auditing and quality management systems.
• Experience managing Technical and Hygiene teams in busy, established manufacturing environments.
• The confidence to challenge when necessary, coupled with the diplomacy to influence stakeholders at every level.
• A calm, measured leadership style and the ability to distinguish genuine food safety risks from issues that can be resolved pragmatically.
• We're not necessarily looking for someone chasing their next promotion. We'd be equally interested in an accomplished Technical Manager who enjoys the challenge of running a complex site and wants to make a lasting impact.

The Package

Bonus: 10%

Pension: 5.3% employer contribution

Healthcare: Private healthcare allowance being introduced

Location: Wirral, Merseyside

Interested?

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced Technical Manager to join a substantial food manufacturing business in a genuinely influential site leadership position.

For a confidential conversation, contact Gilbert Gregory at Gregory Walker.