Avondale Foods is a leading food manufacturing company of Fresh and Chilled products supplying leading retail businesses including Marks & Spencer, Waitrose, Dunnes, Morrisons, Aldi & Lidl throughout the UK & Ireland. The Technical Manager will oversee all technical and quality aspects of food production and compliance. This role ensures that products are safe, legal and meet customer expectations and industry regulations. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in food science, quality assurance and food safety systems, with the leadership skills to guide cross-functional teams. Key Responsibilities Advise on all technical aspects of factory production to ensure product meets customer expectations and comply with legal standards. Collaborate with the factory team to promote continuous improvement. Foster and maintain strong relationships with customers and internal teams. Manage dedicated technical team members Lead the culture team and embed a strong food safety and quality culture across the site, promoting best practices & staff engagement. Oversee the technical aspects of customer accounts, collaborating closely with NPD, Operations and Sales to ensure customer requirements are fully understood and delivered. Lead and assist with customer visits and audits. Manage the technical team Training Matrix. Collaborate with and assist other technical functions as required to achieve team objectives. Travel to customer sites and participate in meetings as necessary to maintain strong technical and commercial relationships. Contribute to internal projects aimed at continuous improvement of the site and technical department. Maintain flexibility to support the technical team during occasional out-of-hours work, including weekend or evening hygiene audits. Contribute to the development of a culture of Integrity, collaboration do the right thing approach in all interactions. Ensure Food Safety compliance with company policies and regulatory requirements to remain audit-ready at all times Essential Criteria A degree in Food Science, Food Technology or a related discipline Proven technical management experience with a solid understanding of quality assurance processes In-depth working knowledge of HACCP, BRC standards and broader food safety management systems Experience dealing with retail customers, participating in audits & engaging with regulatory authorities. Demonstrated leadership ability, along with excellent communication and problem-solving skills. Willingness and ability to adapt to changing working hours and operational demands Strong grasp of food safety principles and regulatory compliance Proactive Mindset A valid drivers licence is required Desirable Criteria Postgraduate qualification in Food Science, Food Safety or a related field Strong background in High Care / High Risk Food Manufacturing Lead auditor or Internal Auditor qualification / certification Familiarity withretailer-specific standards;specifically, M&S and Waitrose Experience managingcross-functional teamsor technical projects across multiple sites. Comfortable representing the business incustomer meetings,audits and industry events HACCP Level 4 Please note, we are managing this recruitment process directly and are not seeking agency support Skills: Compliance Collaboration Food Safety Culture Audit management Continuous improvement Benefits: Medical Aid / Health Care Pension Fund Mental health & wellbeing support //Learning & career developmet opportunities //Employee engagement activities //Subsidised canteen