Technical Manager

Location: Exeter Area (occasional travel to West Sussex)
Salary: Competitive + Benefits

About the Company:
Our client is a leading manufacturer of premium food products with a strong reputation for quality, innovation, and customer satisfaction. As part of their continued growth, they are seeking an experienced Technical Manager to lead all technical, quality, and food safety activities across their Exeter site and provide technical oversight to their sister site in West Sussex.

The Role:

Reporting directly to the Directors, you will be responsible for ensuring the highest standards of food safety, quality, and compliance across both sites. You will lead and develop the Technical teams, drive continuous improvement, and act as a key liaison between production, customers, and senior management.

This is a hands-on role for a commercially minded technical professional who can balance compliance with practical solutions in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.

Key Responsibilities:

Lead and develop the Technical teams across both sites, driving high performance and accountability.
Promote a strong culture of food safety, quality, and continuous improvement.
Oversee and manage all internal and external audits (including BRC), ensuring full compliance and accreditation maintenance.
Ensure robust systems for private label compliance, customer specifications, and supplier approval.
Partner with Operations to resolve production issues with practical, commercially viable solutions.
Own and continually improve the Group Quality Management System (QMS).
Lead HACCP activities, ensuring up-to-date and effectively implemented plans.
Manage non-conformances and complaint investigations, identifying and eliminating root causes.
Support NPD projects with technical sign-off for both branded and private label products.
Represent the business during customer visits, site audits, and Board updates.

Skills & Experience Required:

Proven experience in a senior technical or quality role within food manufacturing.
Strong knowledge of BRC standards and retailer compliance requirements.
Hands-on understanding of factory operations and real-time problem solving.
Experience with private label and customer audits.
Minimum Level 3 HACCP & Food Safety qualification (Level 4 preferred).
Excellent communication, leadership, and stakeholder management skills.
Calm, decisive, and pragmatic approach under pressure.

This is an excellent opportunity for a driven Technical Manager who wants to make a tangible impact in a growing, high-quality food manufacturing business.