Factory Technical Manager
Location: Kirby, West Yorkshire
Salary: £45,000 – £50,000
Hours: Monday–Friday, 7:00am–15:30pm (40 hours per week)
Are you an experienced Technical Manager with a strong background in food safety, quality, and leadership within the meat or chilled food sector? We’re recruiting for a Factory Technical Manager to lead the technical, quality, and food safety functions at a well-established meat processing site in West Yorkshire.
(Please note: this site is not an abattoir. It slices, dices, and packs lamb and beef for major meal-kit and retail customers.)
The Role
As Factory Technical Manager, you will play a pivotal role in safeguarding product integrity, driving technical excellence, and ensuring full compliance across the site. You’ll lead a high-performing team, manage all technical systems, and act as the primary contact for customers, auditors, suppliers, and regulatory bodies.
Key Responsibilities
Technical & Quality Leadership
Lead the technical and quality agenda across the factory.
Oversee and continuously improve QMS and technical standards.
Ensure all products meet internal, customer, and legislative requirements.
Food Safety & Regulatory Compliance
Maintain compliance with UK food law, FSA standards, BRCGS, Red Tractor, and customer COPs.
Ensure HACCP systems are maintained, validated, and effectively implemented.
Lead root cause analyses and implement corrective and preventative actions.
Factory Process & Continuous Improvement
Deliver CI projects focused on yield, efficiency, waste reduction, and consistency.
Use data and technical insight to influence operational decision-making.
Work cross-functionally with Production, Engineering, NPD, and Supply Chain.
Audits & External Assurance
Lead all internal audits, customer visits, BRCGS audits, and regulatory inspections.
Ensure perpetual audit readiness and close out non-conformances promptly.
Team Leadership & Development
Manage, mentor, and develop the Technical, QA, and Hygiene teams.
Support training, competency development, and succession planning.
Build a culture of accountability and continuous learning.
Documentation, Data Integrity & Reporting
Maintain accurate technical documentation, traceability, and testing records.
Manage non-conformance data and customer complaints.
Provide reports and insights to senior leadership.
Customer, Supplier & Regulatory Liaison
Act as the key technical contact for customers and suppliers.
Manage complaint investigations and corrective actions.
Oversee supplier and ingredient approval processes.
Risk Management & Crisis Response
Identify and mitigate emerging quality, legality, and food safety risks.
Lead responses to incidents, including traceability exercises and recalls if required.
The Ideal Candidate
Proven management experience.
Excellent knowledge of BRCGS, HACCP, UK food law, and customer COPs.
Strong communicator, with the ability to influence across departments.
Passionate about continuous improvement and technical leadership.
Benefits
Competitive salary: £45,000–£50,000
Standard weekday working hours
Opportunity to lead and shape technical strategy on a reputable site