Technical Services Manager

Haywood & Padgett LTD; Barnsley; On-site; GBP 27,000 - 45,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension Scheme

264 holiday hours per year (pro rata)

Job summary

Haywood & Padgett LTD in Barnsley, UK, is seeking a Technical Services Manager to oversee technical services for new product development, QA, and compliance. You will liaise with customers, suppliers and internal teams to ensure successful product launches and adherence to quality standards.

The role requires experience in a food manufacturing environment, a degree in Food Technology/Science, and strong knowledge of industry standards.

Qualifications

• Degree-level qualification in Food Technology, Food Science or related discipline, or equivalent experience.
• Strong knowledge of food safety and QA processes.
• Experience as Technical Services Manager or similar role in food manufacturing.
• Understanding of BRCGS Global Standard for Food Safety preferred.
• Experience writing technical policies and procedures.

Responsibilities

• Overall responsibility for technical services relating to new product development.
• Liaise with customers, suppliers and internal teams to ensure smooth processes.
• Maintain compliance, hygiene, quality standards and product specifications.
• Lead VACCP and TACCP activities and manage related risks.
• Prepare and attend customer meetings, provide technical support for new product submissions.
• Review retailer specifications and approve supplier materials and packaging.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Communication

Organisational skills

Attention to detail

Work under pressure

Independent and team work

Education

Degree in Food Technology or Food Science

Tools

Microsoft Outlook

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Excel

PowerPoint

Job description

You must be flexible with your working hours and days to meet the needs of the business.

Up to £45,000 per year.

About Us

Haywood & Padgett are a leading food manufacturer based in Barnsley. We are an established company with a stable order book and a friendly, family-oriented culture. Our employees are respected, valued and supported throughout their careers.

We believe in developing our people regardless of the level at which they join the business. Many of our employees have been with us for years, contributing to our low staff turnover and positive working environment.

Our production facility is modern, well organised and equipped with the latest technology. As you would expect from a food manufacturing site, the environment is maintained to exceptionally high standards of cleanliness and hygiene.

Due to continued growth and increasing demand for our products, we are looking to recruit a Technical Services Manager.

The Role

Our Technical Department plays a crucial role in maintaining and monitoring compliance, hygiene, quality standards, product specifications, auditing activities and customer requirements across the business.

The Technical Services Manager will have overall responsibility for all technical services relating to new product development, liaising with customers, suppliers and internal teams to ensure a smooth and successful process.

The successful candidate will work closely with the Technical Manager, NPD Manager, Commercial Team and Production Team, whilst also collaborating with colleagues across the wider business.

Key Responsibilities

Customers

• Preparing for and attending customer meetings, providing technical support for new product submissions.
• Interpreting customer codes of practice and ensuring all new products comply with legal, safety, authenticity, quality and customer requirements.
• Supporting customers by providing information required for supplier checks, questionnaires and audits.
• Providing retailers with complete product specifications, including ingredients, nutritional information, allergens and storage requirements.
• Creating detailed Quality Assurance Standards (QAS) documentation covering product characteristics and organoleptic properties such as colour, aroma, taste and texture.
• Ensuring customers understand how to undertake quality assessments of our products.
• Reviewing and updating retailer specifications as required.
• Raising derogations and concessions where necessary.
• Responding promptly and professionally to customer enquiries.
• Creating and approving customer packaging requirements.
• Liaising with designers to ensure artwork meets customer requirements.
• Managing and maintaining supplier approval systems for raw materials, packaging and services.
• Reviewing and approving supplier raw material and packaging specifications.
• Protecting the business through TACCP (Threat Assessment Critical Control Point) activities to prevent malicious threats to food, including sabotage, extortion and terrorism.
• Protecting the business through VACCP (Vulnerability Assessment Critical Control Point) activities to prevent economically motivated food fraud.
• Leading the VACCP and TACCP Team, ensuring food defence and food fraud risks are effectively managed and reviewed.

Other

• Liaising with Operations Management regarding customer feedback.
• Completing customer KPIs and reports relating to quality and technical planning.
• Attending routine product sampling and tasting sessions.
• Taking responsibility in the absence of the Technical Manager.
• Developing, reviewing and updating technical policies and procedures.
• Managing and editing the company newsletter as part of the food safety culture initiative.
• Providing temporary cover for holidays and sickness, supporting roles such as Technical Manager and Technical Administrator when required.
• Assisting with internal audits.

Qualifications and Experience

• Experience working within a food manufacturing environment is essential.
• Degree-level qualification in Food Technology, Food Science or a related discipline, or equivalent experience.
• Previous experience as a Technical Services Manager or a similar role is essential.
• Food Safety Level 2 essential (Level 3 preferred).
• Understanding of the BRCGS Global Standard for Food Safety preferred.
• Comprehensive knowledge of customer codes of practice and their implementation within a food manufacturing business preferred.
• Strong experience writing technical policies and procedures is essential.
• Experience of raw material and supplier approval is essential.
• Experience completing finished product specifications using retailer web-based systems is essential.
• Experience in Horizon Scanning is essential.
• Fully competent in Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel and PowerPoint.
• Applicants must have the legal right to work in the UK. Unfortunately, visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

Skills

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
• Highly motivated and enthusiastic.
• Excellent organisational skills.
• Strong attention to detail.
• Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Pension Scheme
• 264 holiday hours per year (pro rata for part-time employees)