Technical Manager - Food Manufacturing
Job Description
Head of Technical – food manufacturing
\nLocation: Hampshire
\n£80-95,000+ car allowance + bonus +excellent benefits
\nA high-growth High Care food manufacturing sites in Hampshire is entering a significant expansion phase and is seeking an experienced Technical Leader to join its senior leadership team.
\nThe business produces a range of branded and private label ambient products for major UK retailers and international markets. Following recent capital investment and with a clear three-year growth strategy in place, the sites are positioned to substantially increase revenue and operational capability.
\nTo support this next stage of development, the Head of Technical is required to lead and evolve the site’s technical and quality agenda.
\nThe role:
\nThis is a senior multi-site leadership role with full accountability for food safety, quality and regulatory compliance.
\nKey responsibilities include:
\nLeading all sites Quality & Food Safety Strategy
\nEnsuring full compliance with BRC standards and all customer Codes of Practice
\nActing as the primary contact for retailer technologists, audits and regulatory inspections
\nManaging the introduction of new product lines from a technical and compliance perspective
\nDriving continuous improvement across GMP, hygiene, allergen management and pest control Analysing quality and food safety metrics to identify trends and deliver measurable improvement
\nGenerating internal management review documentation and external customer technical reports
\nLeading technical investigations in partnership with production and engineering
\nContributing to Capex discussions, process improvements and equipment selection
\nReviewing and optimising the site’s technical structure and resource deployment
\nThe role works closely with NPD, Engineering, Manufacturing, Commercial teams, raw material and packaging suppliers, third-party service providers and customer technical stakeholders.
\nThe person:
\nWe are seeking a technically strong leader with:
\nDegree qualification in Food Science, Food Technology or a related discipline
\nDemonstrable experience in a similar technical leadership role within fast-paced food manufacturing, beverages or FMCG
\nMulti-site experience
\nStrong practical knowledge of BRC and retailer compliance frameworks
\nHACCP and Food Safety qualifications (minimum Level 2, ideally advanced)
\nExperience managing complex retailer technical relationships
\nStrong analytical capability and data-led decision making
\nConfidence in challenging existing systems and driving improvement
\nAbility to operate effectively under tight deadlines and multiple priorities
\nExcellent stakeholder management across operational and commercial teams
\nClear and confident communication at all levels
\nA structured, logical approach to problem solving
\nA continuous improvement mindset
\nExperience within ambient and fresh categories would be advantageous.
\nWhy Consider This Role?
\n- \n
- Senior leadership influence within a growing business \n
- Significant retailer exposure \n
- Clear strategic growth trajectory \n
- Opportunity to shape and modernise the technical systems and agenda \n
- Long-term career progression potential \n
This opportunity will suit an ambitious Senior Technical Manager who thrives in a growth environment and wants to play a meaningful role in delivering the next chapter of business performance.
\nTo apply, please email your CV in confidence to [email protected]
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