Factory Technical Manager
Location: Cardiff
Salary: £50,000 - £55,000 + benefits
Advocate Group is proud to partner with a leading global food and beverage manufacturer, renowned for its trusted brands, innovation, and commitment to quality.
As the Factory Technical Manager, you will play a key role in leading the site’s Quality Assurance function — ensuring all aspects of product safety, legality, quality, and compliance are achieved. You’ll drive the technical agenda within operations and lead continuous improvement initiatives that protect brand integrity and enhance overall performance.
Key Responsibilities
* Lead and manage the site Quality Assurance department, supporting all manufacturing operations on quality, product, process, and premises standards.
* Own and lead the HACCP plan across the site — ensuring compliance, validation, verification, and continuous improvement.
* Drive a culture of food safety, quality, and integrity, aligning with the wider site strategy.
* Ensure the site Quality Management Systems (QMS) meet customer requirements, BRC standards, and industry best practices.
* Oversee raw material, packaging, and finished product assessment and release processes.
* Champion continuous improvement initiatives across quality, process, and GMP standards.
* Lead root cause investigations and corrective/preventive actions following non-conformances, complaints, or audit findings.
* Manage pest control, hygiene verification, and microbiological/chemical/allergen monitoring programmes.
* Act as the key contact for accreditation bodies, EHO, suppliers, and central technical teams.
* Provide deputy support to the Senior Technical Manager, including leadership in crisis management and non-conformance handling.
* Lead the QA team — developing capability, succession plans, and a high-performance culture.
* Represent the Technical function in site leadership meetings, ensuring strong cross-functional collaboration and communication.
About You
You’ll be an experienced Technical or Quality leader within the food or beverage manufacturing industry, confident managing teams in fast-paced environments and passionate about driving operational excellence.
Essential Skills & Experience:
* Proven experience in a senior Quality/Technical role within FMCG manufacturing.
* Strong understanding of BRC, QMS, HACCP, and Food Safety systems.
* Expertise in food processing, continuous improvement, and compliance.
* Knowledge of canning, bottling, or thermal processing environments is highly desirable.
* Excellent stakeholder management and leadership skills.
* IT proficiency, particularly in SAP and data analysis tools.
Qualifications:
* BSc or equivalent in a Food Science or related discipline.
* HACCP Level 4 and Food Safety Level 4 (or equivalent).
* Lead Auditor qualification.
* IOSH or NEBOSH certification desirable.
Get in touch with Erin at the Advocate Group or ‘Apply Now’ to be considered for this position.
Email: Erin@advocate-group.co.uk
The Advocate Group is a leading recruitment partner, based in the UK, to the FMCG and consumer product sectors. We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons regardless of their race, sex, disability, religion/belief, sexual orientation, or age.
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