Technical Manager

Persona Staff; Wes-Kaap; On-site; ZAR 900,000 - 1,300,000; Full time

Job summary

Persona Staff in South Africa seeks aTechnical Quality Leader to own food safety and quality functions across the business. You will manage the Quality and Technical team, maintain the FSSC 22000 system, and ensure compliance with retailer standards and regulations.

You will drive root-cause analyses and continuous improvement from raw materials to finished products. The role demands 5+ years in a similar leadership position within food manufacturing, with HACCP and ISO 22000 expertise, and

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Food Technology or related field.
• ISO 22000 Lead Auditor certification.
• Strong HACCP, PRPs and FSSC 22000 knowledge.
• Minimum 5 years in a Technical or Quality leadership role in food manufacturing.
• Solid microbiology and food safety principles understanding.
• Experience in meat or cold foods industry advantageous.
• Knowledge of major retailer standards (e.g. Woolworths).
• Proven cross-functional leadership ability.
• Excellent communication, organisational and problem-solving skills.
• High attention to detail in a compliance-driven environment.

Responsibilities

• Take full accountability for all food safety, quality, and technical functions across the business.
• Manage and lead the Quality and Technical team, including Food Safety, QC, and related functions.
• Maintain and continuously improve the FSSC 22000 Food Safety Management System to ensure ongoing certification.
• Ensure compliance with statutory, regulatory, and customer-specific requirements (including retailer standards).
• Oversee end-to-end product quality and food safety from raw material to final delivery.
• Drive reduction in customer complaints through root-cause analysis and improvement initiatives.
• Ensure all product documentation is accurate and maintained (specifications, COAs, shelf life, nutrition data).
• Act as primary contact for customers, suppliers, and regulators on technical matters.
• Lead audits and inspections, ensuring readiness and compliance.
• Develop and implement technical and quality strategies aligned with business objectives.
• Establish and manage training plans across production, quality, and technical teams.
• Monitor risks and opportunities related to food safety and quality with mitigation plans.
• Support broader business performance including operational efficiency and profitability.
• Work cross-functionally with production, NPD, maintenance, and operations to ensure alignment.
• Assist with social compliance requirements in collaboration with HR.

Skills

Leadership

Quality management

Food safety

Regulatory knowledge

Communication

Problem-solving

Education

BTech / BSc in Food Technology or Food Science

ISO 22000 Lead Auditor certification

Job description

Key Responsibilities

• Take full accountability for all food safety, quality, and technical functions across the business


• Manage and lead the Quality and Technical team, including Food Safety, QC, and related functions


• Maintain and continuously improve the FSSC 22000 Food Safety Management System to ensure ongoing certification


• Ensure full compliance with all statutory, regulatory, and customer-specific requirements (including retailer standards)


• Oversee end-to-end product quality and food safety from raw material procurement through to final product delivery


• Drive reduction in customer complaints through root cause analysis and continuous improvement initiatives


• Ensure all product documentation is accurate and maintained (specifications, COAs, shelf life, nutritional data, etc.)


• Act as the primary point of contact for customers, suppliers, and regulatory authorities on all technical matters


• Lead all audits and inspections, always ensuring full readiness and compliance


• Develop and implement technical and quality strategies aligned with overall business objectives


• Establish and manage training and development plans across production, quality, and technical teams


• Monitor risks and opportunities related to food safety and quality, implementing mitigation strategies


• Support broader business performance, including contributing to operational efficiency and profitability


• Work cross-functionally with production, NPD, maintenance, and operations teams to ensure alignment


• Assist with social compliance requirements in collaboration with HR

Requirements

• BTech / BSc in Food Technology, Food Science, or related field


• ISO 22000 Lead Auditor certification


• Strong working knowledge of HACCP, PRPs, and FSSC 22000 systems


• Minimum 5 years’ experience in a similar Technical or Quality leadership role within food manufacturing


• Solid understanding of microbiology and food safety principles


• Experience within the meat or cold foods industry highly advantageous


• Strong knowledge of major retailer (e.g. Woolworths) standards and requirements


• Proven leadership ability with experience managing cross-functional teams


• Excellent communication, organisational, and problem-solving skills


• High attention to detail and ability to operate in a compliance-driven environment

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