What we are looking for Ensure all your application information is up to date and in order before applying for this opportunity. ? ? Moulton Bulb Company is a specialist fresh produce business supplying onions, garlic, and shallots to several UK Supermarkets. We turn over £90 million, employ 340 people, and have been doing this for three generations. Our focus is deliberately narrow; one category, done better than anyone else. We are looking for a Head of Technical to lead our technical and quality function at a genuinely interesting moment for the business. We have active retailer relationships that demand technical rigour, an ESG programme with real deadlines, a Knowledge Transfer Partnership with Cranfield University focused on Fusarium disease management and soil health, and a large UK grower base and international suppliers that we are raising to a higher standard. The role is broad, the expectations are high, and the right person will have the scope to shape something significant. You will be an accomplished, credible leader; someone who can make difficult decisions, build trusted relationships with retail customers, and drive a technical function that is seen across the business as an enabler, not a gatekeeper. As we build our ESG programme and deepen our commitment to sustainable supply chains, this role will also be the lead for our grower sustainability programme. You will inherit a highly capable team and a technical function that has achieved AA* BRCGS certification with zero non-conformances for three consecutive years; a standard that sets the baseline for what we expect to maintain and build on. The position Lead the technical and quality function, creating a future vision and technical strategy aligned to current and future business priorities Own the food safety and quality management system, HACCP programme, and internal audit schedule, maintaining BRC certification and all customer standards Be a trusted advisor across the business on food safety, quality, and technical matters Develop and maintain direct relationships with the technical teams at our key retail customers, managing audits, specifications, and sustainability requirements Work with the commercial function to support tenders, new business proposals, and product development Ensure training and development standards across the technical and quality teams deliver the competency and performance the business needs Support key retailers with sustainability and R&D priorities, including supply chain carbon data, climate resilience, and environmental compliance data capture Lead the operational delivery of our grower sustainability programme, including our carbon measurement pilot, IPM assessment across contracted growers, and the revised grower technical pack incorporating ESG data fields Coordinate supply chain ethical compliance in conjunction with our Head of HR, including SMETA audit management for import suppliers and seasonal labour standards Act as the internal expert partner for our Knowledge Transfer Partnership with Cranfield University, currently focused on Fusarium disease management, soil health, and supply chain traceability Work with senior management, commercial, and procurement to develop a market-leading R&D programme, covering sustainable agronomy, new technologies, and innovations that align with customer objectives and deliver business growth Identify opportunities to streamline processes and use resources more efficiently The perfect candidate should have Significant experience in a senior technical role in food manufacturing or fresh produce; Site Technical Manager or Head of Technical level, with multi-retailer exposure essential Educated to degree level or equivalent in an Agricultural, Plant Science, or Food Science related discipline Working knowledge of agricultural sustainability frameworks, carbon measurement tools, or grower ESG programmes and an understanding of where retailer sustainability requirements are heading A proactive, dynamic, change-oriented leader with the interpersonal skills to persuade and influence across departments and at executive level Technically and commercially astute, with the ability to identify and act on business opportunities Highly developed understanding of risk and decision-making, able to provide fact-based guidance under pressure Proven ability to lead, motivate, and develop a high-performing technical team Strong communication skills; concise, credible, and effective at all levels Level 3 HACCP and Food Safety qualifications as a minimum; Level 4 preferred Confident user of Microsoft Office, customer specification systems, and other software platforms Occasional international travel required Why join us This is a senior leadership role with genuine scope. You will inherit a highly capable team and step into a business that is making long-term bets, on sustainability, on research, on technology, without the short-term pressure of external shareholders. The ESG programme is real and resourced, not a marketing exercise. xxuwjjq The Cranfield KTP is a rare credential for a business of our size, and the technical challenge of supplying several major retailers in a specialist, seasonally complex category is one that will keep a good technical leader genuinely engaged. In addition to a competitive compensation and benefits package we offer: Competitive company pension scheme On-site staff canteen Free, convenient on-site parking Compassionate paid bereavement leave Company sick pay Premium overtime pay at 1.33 x your hourly rate 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme & DoctorLine access Long service rewards and recognition Christmas gift voucher as a thank you from us Supportive family-run business that values its people Savings and cashback offers through the exclusive Moulton Bulb discount platform "Shallot More" Free access to a comprehensive wellbeing hub Committed to providing training and development opportunities If you are looking for a role where the technical function sits at the heart of the business and is expected to contribute to its future, this is it