We are working with a fast-paced entrepreneurial led company with over 25 years’ experience in manufacturing and supplying both ambient food and non-food consumer goods to retailers in the UK, South Africa & Australia.
Offices are based in Christchurch, (Dorset), Hong Kong and Cape Town and they currently manufacture in both the UK and China. Due to business grows they are looking to strengthen the ambient food technical team with an experienced ambient food technical expert who has a positive attitude, excellent communication skills, experience in customer and ambient food manufacturing facing roles and has a solution driven approach.
The role requires strong leadership, problem-solving, and deep knowledge of ambient food standards.
Job Description
As a senior ambient food technical & quality manager you will oversee ambient food safety, quality, and legal compliance, and implement a robust Quality Management System (QMS). You will be expected to drive continuous improvement, handle customer audits, and together with regulatory experts ensure product legality for all ambient food products. You will function as a key link between production, customers, and internal stakeholders. You will provide technical guidance during the NPD process and will lead on any incident management requirements.
The role is based in the UK, ideally office based in Christchurch but hybrid/remote working will be considered. There is an expectation that the role requires travel within the UK to retail customers and manufacturing sites, (once or twice per month) and travel to China to manufacturing sites, (once or twice per year). There may also be travel to customers in South Africa.
Key Responsibilities for the Food Technical & Quality Manager:
* Technical Leadership: Execute a technical strategy, promote a strong ambient food safety culture, and function as a senior company representative.
* Quality & Safety Systems: Maintain, and improve an ambient food QMS, ensuring customer & legal compliance.
* Auditing & Compliance: Manage internal/external audits (customers, regulatory bodies), ensuring exacting standards and ensuring manufacturing sites implement and close out corrective actions.
* Customer Liaison: Serve as a primary technical contact for major customers, advising on technical aspects of NPD and innovation, managing complaints, ensuring alignment, and fostering strong relationships.
* Technical Guidance: Provide expert advice on product labelling, innovative technologies, product development, and process improvements.
* Cross-Functional Support: Collaborate with New Product Development (NPD), production, and commercial team members to ensure ambient food safety and quality are integrated into all process changes and new product launches.
* Operational Integrity: Ensure all products meet customer specifications, legal requirements, and ambient food safety legislation.
* Incident Management: Lead investigations into any major incidents, serious complaints and/or recalls, conduct root cause analysis, and ensure manufacturing sites implement preventative measures.
* Reporting: Monitor and report technical performance, driving KPIs and continuous improvement.
* Supplier Management: Approve and manage suppliers based on risk.
Key Requirements & Attributes for the Food Technical & Quality Manager:
* Education: Degree in Food Science or related field (essential).
* Knowledge: Deep understanding of HACCP, UK/EU Ambient Food law, GMP and Quality Management Systems.
* Experience: Proven senior role in ambient food manufacturing, FMCG, with auditing experience. Usually 5–6+ years in a senior technical or quality management role within the ambient food manufacturing industry, ideally with experience of collaborating with major retailers.
* Soft Skills: Decisive leadership, and the capacity to communicate complex technical data to non-technical stakeholders. Excellent communication, negotiation, and relationship-building abilities. Logical, assertive, with strong problem-solving and decision-making skills.
Desirable Requirements & Attributes for Food Technical & Quality Manager:
* Project management and coaching skills.
* Experience with specific customer standards (M&S, Tesco, ASDA).
* Experience with specific customer specification & compliance databases (M&S, Tesco, ASDA)
* Specialised knowledge with Food Vitamins & Supplements
* HACCP Level 4 or Advanced Diploma in Applied HACCP Principles.
* Lead Auditor qualification (e.G., BRCGS Lead Auditor).
* Level 4 Ambient Food Safety certification.
Salary £60,000 - £70,000 per annum
Remote / Hybrid available with travel as needed to Christchurch, Nottingham and London