Role Overview

This organisation operates within the specialist food supply sector, working closely with a diverse network of producers, customers, and internal teams. The business places a strong emphasis on product quality, safety, and regulatory compliance across a broad portfolio supplied to retail, independent, and foodservice channels.

The Technical Manager plays a critical leadership role, with responsibility for overseeing food safety, quality, legality, and integrity across the business. The position acts as the central technical authority, ensuring that products, processes, and suppliers meet all relevant legal standards, certification requirements, and customer expectations.

As a senior member of the management team, the role is accountable for setting technical direction, embedding a strong food safety and quality culture, driving continuous improvement, and maintaining effective relationships with customers, suppliers, auditors, and internal stakeholders.

The Technical Manager leads and develops a team of technologists, ensuring that technical activities support commercial objectives while maintaining the highest standards of compliance and best practice.

Key Responsibilities:

Food Safety, Quality & Compliance

Maintain and improve performance against recognised food safety and ethical standards, including third-party and customer audits
Lead food safety, quality, authenticity, and risk management activities, including the development and maintenance of policies, procedures, and work instructions
Own and manage HACCP systems, food defence, and vulnerability assessments
Ensure ongoing compliance with relevant legislation, standards, and customer codes of practice
Monitor emerging regulatory and customer requirements and ensure timely implementation

Supplier & Product Assurance

Manage supplier and raw material approval processes, including risk assessments and on-site audits where required
Ensure own-label and branded products meet defined technical specifications and audit requirements
Support suppliers in driving continuous improvement in quality and food safety performance
Conduct audits of non-certified suppliers in line with internal schedules

Audit & Customer Interface

Lead preparation for internal, external, customer, and supplier audits and technical visits
Act as the primary technical contact for customers, responding to queries, managing technical systems, and providing accurate information
Maintain customer-facing technical data via relevant online platforms

New Product & Change Management

Oversee technical delivery within new product development and product change processes
Ensure specifications, artwork, and approvals are completed accurately and on time
Work cross-functionally to manage technical risk during product launches and changes

Leadership & Continuous Improvement

Lead and develop the technical and quality team, setting clear objectives and fostering capability growth
Review and improve internal systems to enhance efficiency, effectiveness, and compliance
Develop and maintain internal audit programmes and participate in audits
Analyse technical KPIs and trends, providing insight to support operational and strategic decision-making
Champion a right-first-time, continuous improvement mindset across the business

Collaboration & Communication

Work closely with operations, supply chain, engineering, and commercial teams to ensure safe, compliant, and high-quality products
Communicate current and potential supply or compliance risks clearly and proactively

Travel

Travel within the UK and internationally as required, including occasional overnight stays

Knowledge, Skills & Experience

Essential

Minimum of 5 years’ experience in a senior technical or quality role within the food industry
Degree or equivalent qualification in Food Science or a related discipline
Strong working knowledge of food safety standards, auditing, and quality management systems
Experience of HACCP leadership and risk-based decision-making
Confident communicator with strong written and verbal skills
High level of accuracy and attention to detail
Proven ability to influence stakeholders and build effective working relationships
Competent user of Microsoft Office and technical data systems
Full UK driving licence
Willingness to travel

Desirable

Experience working with retail and customer-specific technical standards
Lead auditor qualification
Commercial awareness and ability to balance technical risk with business needs

Personal Attributes

Proactive and solutions-focused
Strong organisational and time-management skills
Analytical, with sound judgement and decision-making ability
Flexible and adaptable in a fast-paced environment
Confident leader who promotes a positive food safety culture
Collaborative team player with a “can-do” attitude

If this role would be of interest to you, please send your CV over to jack.thomson@drnewitt.com or call 0131 226 5060.