Solent Group work with a diverse portfolio of Retailers and supply bespoke products within various categories, including Health & Beauty, Household Impulse Snacking and Reusable Bags. We are proud to be best-in-class when it comes to own-label product innovation. Our Categories are fast-paced with ever-evolving trends and a host of ground-breaking products coming to market on a regular basis – we add value to retailers by leading and owning each category.
Here at Solent we want people to be extraordinary. We pride ourselves on creating and producing amazing products and brands for our Global Customers. You will be joining a company with offices globally across South Africa, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Vietnam, and the UK.
DIVISION/DEPT: Technical - Foods
REPORT TO: Head of Technical – foods
LINE MANAGEMENT: Food Technologist
LOCATION: Hybrid Christchurch (Minimum 1 day a week in the office)
TRAVEL: Regular European and UK overnight travel ( often at short notice)
We are seeking a dynamic and experienced Senior Technical Manager to join our team. This is a customer-facing role that requires a strong technical background in food safety and quality, exceptional communication skills, and the ability to build and maintain robust client relationships. The successful candidate will serve as the technical expert for key customers, ensuring product compliance, addressing technical queries, and driving continuous improvement initiatives.
Responsibilities:
Customer Relationship Management:
* Serve as the primary technical contact for key customers, maintaining strong, trust-based relationships.
* Proactively address customer queries, complaints, and concerns, ensuring swift and effective resolution.
* Provide technical presentations, reports, and updates tailored to customer requirements.
* Escort customer visits to manufacturing partners. This will include where necessary attending factory trials, pre-production and product launches.
Technical Oversight:
* Lead product specification reviews and ensure compliance with relevant food safety standards, regulations, and customer codes of practice.
* Conduct risk assessments and provide guidance on raw materials, allergens, product testing and product labelling.
* Collaborate with internal teams and manufacturing partners to ensure products meet or exceed customer and regulatory expectations.
Continuous Improvement & Innovation:
* Drive continuous improvement initiatives in quality and technical processes internally and with the key manufacturing partners.
* Work closely with NPD, supply chain, and manufacturing partners teams to develop innovative, customer-focused solutions.
* Deliver Solent sustainability programmes.
Auditing and Compliance:
* Support customer and third-party audits, ensuring readiness and compliance at all times.
* Support and guide manufacturing partners ensuring readiness and compliance to the customers standards and policies.
* Oversee and perform regular manufacturing partners audits in monitoring of their compliance to customers own standards and policies.
* Monitor changes in industry standards and regulations, advising customers, manufacturing partners and internal stakeholders as necessary.
Leadership & Collaboration:
* Mentor and guide junior members of the technical team.
* Act as a liaison between customers and manufacturing partners, fostering alignment and shared goals.
About you:
* Proven experience in a senior technical or quality role within the food industry.
* Strong knowledge of food safety standards (e.g., BRCGS, IFS), customer standards ( M&S, Tesco) and UK/EU food regulations.
* Retail supplier experience
* Demonstrated ability to manage and influence relationships with key customers.
* Excellent problem-solving skills and the ability to work under pressure.
* Strong organizational skills with attention to detail and the ability to prioritize effectively.
* A degree in Food Science, Microbiology, or a related field (or equivalent experience).
**Please note: This role involves regular tasting/handling of food products, including dairy, nuts and other allergens. Please consider this when applying if you have severe food allergies.
What we offer:
* Competitive salary with annual salary reviews
* 25 days holiday per annum, increasing to 27 days after 3 years’ service and 30 days after 5 years’ service
* Extensive benefits programme including buying additional holiday, medical cash plan, access to mental health support and many other benefits
* Flexible hours and work from home available to all staff
* Great learning and development and progression opportunities · Yearly bonus structure (based on company targets)
* Enhanced Maternity and Paternity Leave
* Generous Company Sick Pay
* Pension Scheme Contribution
* Solent social events run by our inhouse Social Team
* Cycle to Work scheme
* Dress down Fridays
* Free parking on Christchurch Quay