Site Technical Manager
Norwich
Interim - 3 months - Immediate start required
The role
The Site Technical Manager will lead and champion a strong food safety and quality culture across the site, ensuring standards are embedded across both technical and operational teams. You will be accountable for ensuring compliance with customer, retailer, and certification requirements, while supporting the delivery of customer, brand, and business objectives.
This role sits as part of the site leadership team and works closely with operations, commercial, and central technical functions.
Key responsibilities
Leadership and management
Lead and promote cross-functional ownership of food safety and quality across the site
Provide clear leadership and direction to the technical function
Contribute to site technical strategy, vision, and continuous improvement
Lead technical response during product incidents and recalls
Act as a member of the site senior leadership team and technical leadership forum
Lead and maintain HACCP systems, including review and evolution
Coach, mentor, and develop technical capability across the site
Standards and compliance
Drive a risk-based approach to food safety management
Ensure compliance with customer policies, retailer codes of practice, and external certifications
Set, embed, and validate GMP and factory standards through training and audit
Manage the internal audit programme to drive improvements in standards and quality
Ensure effective management of incidents, recalls, and traceability
Lead data-driven investigations with clear root cause analysis and sustainable corrective actions
Maintain and challenge prerequisite programmes
Own and maintain the QMS and food safety systems in line with BRC and retailer standards
Lead day-to-day management of BRC and retailer audits, including close-out of non-conformances
Support and challenge co-packers to meet accreditation and customer requirements
Manage external laboratory testing programmes for raw materials and products
Oversee allergen management, risk assessment, verification, and validation
Manage site hygiene standards, GMP audits, non-conformances, and concessions
Ensure effective investigation, communication, and reporting of customer complaints
Validate and verify shelf-life parameters for new and existing products
Quality systems and KPIs
Measure, trend, and report performance against internal and customer KPIs
Ensure the QMS evolves in line with customer requirements, industry standards, and technical developments
Customer and stakeholder management
Lead all technical aspects of customer visits and audits
Build strong, collaborative relationships with customers
Develop and deliver robust customer quality plans
Ensure customer complaints and technical queries are managed effectively
Work closely with commercial and operational teams to manage customer requests
About you
Qualifications and experience
Degree or equivalent in Food Science or a related discipline
Minimum 10 years’ experience in FMCG or a similar manufacturing environment
Strong experience leading technical teams
HACCP Level 3
Experience working with retailer quality systems
BRC audit and compliance experience
Project management experience
Skills and personal qualities
A credible and confident people leader
Excellent communication and presentation skills
Strong relationship-building capability
Highly organised with strong attention to detail
Solutions-focused with strong problem-solving skills
Passionate about developing people and building capability
Up-to-date knowledge of food safety, quality, and consumer trends
Resilient, driven, and comfortable operating in a fast-paced environment
If this sounds like the right fit for your next career move, I’d love to speak with you!
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The Advocate Group is a leading recruitment partner to the FMCG and consumer product sectors. We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all suitably qualified individuals, regardless of race, sex, disability, religion/belief, sexual orientation, or age. By applying for this role, you are agreeing to our Privacy Policy, which can be found on our website. Please note that The Advocate Group is acting as an employment agency in relation to this vacancy