Technical Manager

Are you a driven and experienced professional ready to take on a leadership role? Our client, a well-established manufacturer and importer of ambient foods and specialist ingredients is seeking an experienced Technical Manager to lead the food safety and quality function across two UK production sites and a growing trading operation. The business supplies a wide range of raw materials and finished products to manufacturers, wholesalers, and retailers throughout the UK.

The company is part of a larger international food group, offering a collaborative and progressive environment where values such as ambition, proactivity, teamwork and resilience are key to success.

The Role

This position is responsible for overseeing all aspects of compliance, quality, legality, and product integrity, ensuring that technical standards are maintained and continuously improved. Reporting directly into the Managing Director and working closely with the Senior Leadership Team, the role offers a high level of autonomy and the opportunity to influence long-term strategy.

The Technical Manager will lead the Technical Department and act as the main point of contact for customer audits, technical support, and quality improvements across the supply chain.

Key Responsibilities

• Drive a culture of food safety and quality across both manufacturing sites.
• Lead the development and implementation of robust technical and food safety strategies.
• Oversee quality systems and compliance with UK/EU regulations, GFSI standards and customer Codes of Practice.
• Provide technical leadership across key pillars including compliance, quality, and sustainability.
• Support cross-functional teams including Operations, Commercial and Supply Chain with all technical matters.
• Establish and maintain KPIs to monitor performance and cost of quality.
• Act as the key contact for customer audits, technical support, and complaints resolution.
• Ensure specifications for food and non-food products meet regulatory and customer standards.
• Develop the technical team and promote continuous improvement in systems and culture.

Person Profile

• Previous experience in a senior technical or quality role within food manufacturing.
• Strong understanding of UK and EU food safety legislation.
• HACCP Level 4 qualified.
• Proven experience managing audits, QMS, and supplier compliance.
• Excellent communication, organisation, and stakeholder management skills.
• Full UK driving licence.
• Experience working with major UK retailers and their audit requirements.
• Degree in Food Science or a related discipline.
• Background in milling or dry ingredient manufacturing would be advantageous
• Flexible to travel between manufacturing sites and external partners.

PR/013119

To apply, please e-mail in strict confidence, with a comprehensive CV, including salary details, quoting the above reference and for the attention of liane.stockman@thepeopleco.comDue to a high volume of responses, we cannot reply to each application individually. If you have not had a