Job Title: Factory Technical Manager
Location: Evesham
Job Type: Permanent
Reporting into: Head of Technical
Salary: Competitive
Hours: Monday – Friday Full-Time
Main purpose of the role:
The Factory Technical Manager will own and lead site technical standards to ensure food safety, legality, authenticity and product quality are consistently maintained.
Job Responsibilities:
Technical Leadership & Compliance
* Own and lead site technical standards to ensure food safety, legality, authenticity and product quality are consistently maintained.
* Act as HACCP Team Leader, maintaining HACCP, TACCP and Food Defence systems and ensuring they remain effective, compliant and up to date.
* Ensure the site maintains an audit-ready culture, achieving compliance with BRCGS, relevant legislation and customer codes of practice.
* Lead internal and external audit preparation and drive effective close-out of findings and improvement actions.
* Review and challenge factory operations and quality systems to ensure the highest standards are maintained.
Team Leadership & Development
* Build, lead and develop a high-performing factory technical team, providing clear direction, coaching and performance management.
* Ensure effective management of key technical areas including factory compliance, allergen management, validation and verification, and microbiological / Listeria control.
* Foster a culture of collaboration, accountability and continuous improvement within the technical function.
Operational & Cross-Functional Partnership
* Work closely with the Factory Manager and operational teams to embed strong food safety and quality practices across the site.
* Support operational teams in managing factory non-conformances, leading root cause analysis and implementation of corrective and preventative actions.
* Partner with Operations, Logistics and Commercial teams to ensure food safety, quality and legality are fully considered during NPD and EPD product introductions.
Quality Performance & Continuous Improvement
* Ensure customer complaints, non-conformances and out-of-specification results are investigated promptly, with effective root cause analysis and corrective actions implemented.
* Monitor, analyse and report technical KPIs, incidents and compliance metrics, driving improvement initiatives where required.
* Champion continuous improvement, identifying opportunities to enhance technical systems, processes and site performance.
* Stay informed of industry and technological developments to strengthen technical capability and site standards.
Customer & Business Engagement
* Maintain strong customer confidence in the technical function through professional communication and robust technical management.
* Contribute technical expertise to site improvement initiatives and strategic projects.
* Manage the technical function budget effectively and ensure compliance with site Health & Safety standards.
Job requirements:
Skills & Experience required to do this role...
* Significant experience in a senior technical leadership role within FMCG food manufacturing, ideally within chilled, short shelf-life products and high care/high risk environments.
* Proven track record of leading BRCGS and customer audits and maintaining strong compliance with regulatory and customer standards.
* Demonstrable experience working with UK retailers and food industry bodies, managing technical relationships and expectations.
* Strong technical knowledge of HACCP, BRCGS, auditing, traceability and food safety management systems within a manufacturing environment.
* Experience driving continuous improvement in food safety, quality and factory compliance standards.
* Degree (or equivalent) in a science, food science or related technical discipline.
* HACCP Level 4 and Lead Auditor qualification.
* Strong leadership, communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to engage, influence and challenge where required.
* Highly organised, collaborative and resilient, with the ability to operate effectively in a fast-paced, retail-facing manufacturing environment.
* Willingness to be contactable outside of core business hours when required to support site operations.
Company Benefits:
* 25 days holiday plus Bank Holidays
* Health Scheme (Westfield Health)
* Private medical insurance
* Life assurance up to 4x annual salary
* Pension contributions 5%