We’re currently recruiting a permanent Technical Manager for a food manufacturer based in Devon with an immediate start.

The hours would be office hours so 8:30am-5pm or 9am-5:30pm, Monday to Friday, as the factory is open earlier there may be some movement on start times.  The salary is circa £40,000 however there may be some movement on that as well.

JOB PURPOSE:

To be responsible for ensuring compliance to all appropriate Food Safety, Legality and Quality requirements, including but not limited to: BRC Accreditation, HACCP, Quality Management Systems and Good Manufacturing Practises thus enabling the business to deliver outstanding performance against all customer product and process expectations. To manage and ensure all NPD is carried out in a timely manner and reflects all customer and process requirements.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• To ensure that the Quality Management Systems are maintained and kept up to date, with particular focus on Internal auditing and the development of an auditing team.

• To ensure the BRC accreditation is maintained to at least a Grade A standard
• To ensure the food safety, legality and quality of finished goods and to continually challenge and improve the system.

• Oversee and maintain technical systems, including BRC, HACCP and Codes of Practice.
• Oversee and maintain the HACCP function to ensure products are manufactured safely and to customer specifications.

• To ensure effective communication with the Production functions on site and be the first point of contact for technical queries ensuring these are resolved in a timely and efficient manner, managing all day to day quality issues, ensuring support is provided in line with all technical agendas for the sites and that the appropriate level of technical support is in place in all areas.
• Oversee the enhancement of existing Quality Management System (QMS), procedures, product protection, processing etc. and the introduction and training  of new systems, procedures etc. ensuring the QMS is kept up to date with legal and customer requirements
• Ensure clarity of production operating standards ensuring these are met and carry out independent documented audits as required.
• To manage ad hoc customer audits together with the General Manager, Managing Director and Planning & Procurement Manager.

• To implement, maintain and improve Technical KPIs in line with customer’s requirements ensuring site achieve the highest possible attainable Customer Audit levels.
• Ensure clarity of site hygiene standards ensuring these are met and carry out independent documented hygiene audits.
• To attend daily production meeting and discuss technical/operational issues.
• Investigate customer complaints and non-conformances, with a view to a reduction in numbers.
• To seek to improve all internal processes to industry leading standard.
• Validate and approve raw material, product and process specifications with the General Manager, Managing Director and Planning & Procurement Manager.
• To maintain an integrated and proactive working partnership with Managers, Supervisors and the rest of the team
• To ensure that the site is proactive in implementing and advising on technical best practice and any legislative changes across the product ranges.

• To ensure that customer’s technical service, specification systems and Codes of Practice requirements are understood and that the company complies.

• To support customer visits to the site and to support the Managing Director / General Manager with factory tours and document presentation.

• To deliver outstanding and relevant new product development by effectively leading all new product development activity, including the planning, organisation and control of new product and process development activity around existing and innovative new products against customer product and process expectations and to create business advantage and a competitive point of difference for the company.
• Manage and rectify any issues arising from product launches and modify systems as appropriate to prevent recurrence.

• To ensure effective communication with the technical functions of customers and be the first point of contact for the customer’s technical queries and complaints in respect of live products and to ensure these are resolved in a timely and efficient manner

• Significant functional and cross-functional interfaces with peers and customer, often at more senior levels.
• Undertake any technical project work as required.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Qualifications/Experience:

• Minimum of 5 years’ previous experience in technical management roles preferably within the Confectionery industry or within a fast paced food manufacturing business
• Experience of dealing with major food retailers and discounters
• Experience of the retailer customer’s technical manufacturing standards and audit systems.
• Strives for high standards, seeks innovative solutions, drives continuous improvement and demonstrates a high degree of intellectual curiosity
• Understanding of Food Science, Food Engineering and Manufacturing relating to products and processes

IF YOU'D LIKE TO APPLY, PLEASE EMAIL A COPY OF YOUR CV TO: info@jkrecruit.co.uk