Interim Technical Manager
Location: London
Contract: Interim
Sector: Chilled Food Manufacturing
Day rate: Negotiable (DOE)
Start: Immediate / Short Notice Preferred
Overview
An opportunity has arisen for an experienced Interim Technical Manager to support a fast-paced chilled food manufacturing site. This role will take responsibility for the technical function, ensuring product safety, quality, legality, and customer requirements are consistently met.
You will work closely with operations and senior leadership to drive standards, support continuous improvement, and lead the technical team through a busy operational period.
This is a hands-on leadership role within a high-volume manufacturing environment.
Key Responsibilities
Technical & Quality
* Lead the site technical function within a chilled food manufacturing environment
* Ensure compliance with food safety, quality and legal requirements
* Maintain and develop site QMS and HACCP systems
* Lead internal, customer and third-party audits
* Manage customer technical relationships and queries
* Oversee product quality, factory standards and GMP compliance
* Manage non-conformance, CAPA and root cause investigations
* Drive continuous improvement across technical and operational teams
* Support new product launches and process changes
* Ensure traceability, mass balance and recall procedures are maintained
Team Leadership
* Manage and develop the technical / QA team
* Set objectives and conduct performance reviews
* Provide coaching, training and development
* Ensure strong communication between technical and operations
* Promote a positive food safety culture
Operational Support
* Work closely with production to maintain standards in a fast-paced environment
* Provide technical guidance to operational teams
* Support site decision making as part of the leadership team
* Drive improvements in factory standards and compliance
* Ensure technical processes are efficient and cost effective
Candidate Requirements
* Proven experience as Technical Manager / Senior Technical role
* Background within chilled food manufacturing
* Strong knowledge of HACCP, GMP and food safety systems
* Experience leading customer and third-party audits
* Previous experience managing technical teams
* Hands-on approach with strong problem-solving skills
* Ability to operate in a fast-paced manufacturing environment
* Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills
* Available at short notice / immediately preferred
Desirable
* Experience within high care / short shelf life manufacturing
* Retailer exposure
* BRCGS experience
* Continuous improvement experience