Role Purpose
The Technical Manager is responsible for ensuring that all products are manufactured safely, legally, and to the highest quality standards. The role oversees food safety, quality management systems (QMS), technical compliance, audit readiness, and customer requirements within the manufacturing site. This position supports both operational teams and senior management in maintaining certification standards (e.g., BRCGS), meeting UK retailer codes of practice, and complying with Scottish and UK food legislation.
Key Responsibilities
Food Safety & Compliance
1. Lead the site’s Food Safety and Quality Management System (FSQMS), ensuring it meets BRCGS, retailer, and customer standards.
2. Ensure full compliance with FSS (Food Standards Scotland), UK Food Safety Act, HACCP requirements, TACCP/VACCP and allergen controls.
3. Maintain and update HACCP plans; chair HACCP review meetings.
4. Oversee site traceability, mass balance, and incident response procedures.
5. Ensure the site is always audit-ready (internal, external, customer and regulatory audits).
Quality Assurance & Product Standards
6. Lead and develop the QA/QC team (e.g., QA supervisors, technologists, auditors).
7. Oversee specifications, artwork approval and product labelling to ensure accuracy and legal compliance.
8. Manage micro, chemical and nutritional testing programmes with external labs.
9. Investigate customer complaints, root cause and corrective actions.
10. Ensure raw materials meet required quality, safety, and supplier assurance standards.
Technical Governance & Documentation
11. Maintain all technical documentation, QMS policies and procedures in line with BRCGS.
12. Implement continuous improvement across technical, quality, allergen and hygiene systems.
13. Manage supplier approval, risk assessments and supply-chain auditing.
14. Lead product recall/withdrawal processes and ensure regular mock recall exercises.
Operational Support
15. Support production teams with technical advice on hygiene, GMP, allergens, process controls and quality checks.
16. Provide coaching and training for HACCP, allergen awareness, food safety, and GMP.
17. Ensure environmental monitoring and cleaning validation programs are in place and effective.
18. Support NPD teams with product trials, shelf-life verification and technical sign-off.
Customer & Retailer Interface
19. Act as primary technical contact for UK retailers, foodservice customers, and auditing bodies.
20. Prepare and host customer technical visits and audits.
21. Ensure customer technical requirements, COPs (codes of practice), and KPIs are met.
Key Skills & Experience Required
22. Degree in Food Science, Microbiology or related discipline (or significant industry experience).
23. Strong working knowledge of BRCGS, HACCP, VACCP/TACCP, and UK food legislation.
24. Previous experience in a technical or quality leadership role within a food manufacturing environment.
25. Experience dealing with major UK retailers and their COPs.
26. Excellent communication skills and ability to manage cross-functional teams.
27. Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to perform detailed root-cause analysis.