Head of Technical Food Manufacturing
Location: Hampshire
£80-100,000 + car allowance + bonus +excellent benefits
A high-growth ambient food manufacturing sites in Hampshire is entering a significant expansion phase and is seeking an experienced Technical Leader to join its senior leadership team.
The 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.
To support this next stage of development, the Head of Technical is required to lead and evolve the sites technical and quality agenda.
The Role
This is a senior multi-site leadership role with full accountability for food safety, quality and regulatory compliance.
Key Responsibilities Include
Leading all sites Quality & Food Safety Strategy
Ensuring full compliance with BRC standards and all customer Codes of Practice
Acting as the primary contact for retailer technologists, audits and regulatory inspections
Managing the introduction of new product lines from a technical and compliance perspective
Driving continuous improvement across GMP, hygiene, allergen management and pest control Analysing quality and food safety metrics to identify trends and deliver measurable improvement
Generating internal management review documentation and external customer technical reports
Leading technical investigations in partnership with production and engineering
Contributing to Capex discussions, process improvements and equipment selection
Reviewing and optimising the sites technical structure and resource deployment
The role works closely with NPD, Engineering, Manufacturing, Commercial teams, raw material and packaging suppliers, third-party service providers and customer technical stakeholders.
The Person
We are seeking a technically strong leader with:
Degree qualification in Food Science, Food Technology or a related discipline
Demonstrable experience in a similar technical leadership role within fast-paced food manufacturing, beverages or FMCG
Multi-site experience
Strong practical knowledge of BRC and retailer compliance frameworks
HACCP and Food Safety qualifications (minimum Level 2, ideally advanced)
Experience managing complex retailer technical relationships
Strong analytical capability and data-led decision making
Confidence in challenging existing systems and driving improvement
Ability to operate effectively under tight deadlines and multiple priorities
Excellent stakeholder management across operational and commercial teams
Clear and confident communication at all levels
A structured, logical approach to problem solving
A continuous improvement mindset
Experience within ambient and fresh categories would be advantageous.
Why Consider This Role?
Senior leadership influence within a growing business
Significant retailer exposure
Clear strategic growth trajectory
Opportunity to shape and modernise the technical systems and agenda
Long-term career progression potential
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.
To apply, please email your CV.
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