Technical Manager

Technical Manager - Chilled Food

Job Type: 6-month fixed-term contract
Location: Barnsley
Salary: £60,000–£62,000 + car allowance

A leading food manufacturer is looking for an experienced Technical Manager to join its site team on a 6-month fixed-term contract. This Technical Manager position is a key factory-facing role, taking day-to-day responsibility for technical performance across the site and working closely with senior leadership to maintain exceptional standards in food safety, quality and compliance.

Day to day of the role

• Lead and manage the factory technical team, maintaining high standards across the site.
• Take ownership of daily technical performance and deputise for the Head of Technical when required.
• Drive continuous improvement across food safety, quality and factory standards.
• Ensure products are safe, legal and consistently produced to the required quality standards.
• Develop and deliver technical plans in line with customer, retailer and business requirements.
• Build strong customer relationships and provide effective technical customer management.
• Lead and support customer visits, retailer audits and certification audits.
• Use technical KPIs, complaints and performance data to identify trends and implement improvements.
• Lead root cause investigations and ensure corrective and preventative actions are completed effectively.
• Work closely with Operations, NPD, Engineering and Supply Chain to support product launches and process improvements.

Required Skills & Qualifications

• Previous experience as a Technical Manager, Factory Technical Manager or in a similar senior technical role within food manufacturing.
• Strong technical and quality management experience in a fast-paced manufacturing environment, ideally within chilled food.
• Experience leading a factory-facing technical or quality team.
• Good knowledge of major UK retailers and retailer Codes of Practice.
• Strong BRCGS experience, including leading retailer and certification audits.
• Sound understanding of HACCP, food safety, quality systems, allergens and GMP.
• Proven ability to use KPIs, complaints data and trend analysis to drive continuous improvement.
• Confidence to challenge standards and influence stakeholders across all levels of the operation.
• Strong people management, coaching and stakeholder management skills.
• Ideally a food-related degree, HACCP Level 3, Food Safety Level 3, Lead Auditor qualification and a full UK driving licence.

Benefits

• Salary of £60,000–£62,000
• Car allowance
• 6-month fixed-term opportunity with a leading food manufacturing business
• Exposure to a key leadership role within the site technical function
• Opportunity to work cross-functionally with senior stakeholders across the business