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Job Title:Customer Technical Manager (Fresh Produce)
Salary:45,000
Location:Spalding, Lincolnshire(Office Based)
Type:12 month FTC // Full Time Hours Monday to Friday
*July Start Available*
Overview:
The Flavour Network are excited to be partnered with a leading fresh produce grower and supplier to help find them a Customer Facing Technical Manager. This is a highly customer-facing role, perfect for someone confident in managing retailer relationships and engaging directly with growers across the UK and EU. The successful candidate will lead on technical compliance, quality assurance, and supply chain performance - ensuring the consistent delivery of safe, high-quality produce while supporting innovation and growth. This is an excellent opportunity for a technically strong professional with fresh produce experience and a collaborative, hands-on approach.
Responsibilities for the Customer Technical Manager
- Act as the main technical contact for key retail customers, ensuring their standards and expectations are consistently met across the supply chain.
- Build strong, confident relationships with UK and EU growers to ensure compliance, quality, and ethical standards are maintained.
- Monitor and manage product quality from field to final dispatch, supporting packhouse teams with technical guidance and improvement plans.
- Lead technical aspects of customer and supplier visits, audits, and reviews, ensuring readiness and professionalism at all times.
- Analyse technical and performance data to support decision-making, trend reviews, and reporting for internal and customer purposes.
- Drive continuous improvement projects across the supply chain, identifying efficiencies and supporting category innovation (e.g., varieties, packaging, sustainability).
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams including commercial, compliance, and sourcing to align on technical and strategic goals.
- Manage and maintain all technical documentation and customer data platforms, ensuring accurate and timely reporting.
- Support site audits (Including BRC) and ethical compliance programs, working closely with growers to meet and exceed customer requirements.
- Escalate relevant supplier ESG issues.
Requirements for the Customer Technical Manager
- Previous experience in a technical customer-facing role within the fresh produce or Food Sector is essential.
- Proven experience conducting, preparing for, and supporting technical audits (e.g. customer, third-party, or internal audits).
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to influence and build trust across all levels of the supply chain.
- Confident in working directly with retail customers and growers, representing the business with professionalism and clarity.
- Sound understanding of technical compliance, food safety, and quality standards in a fresh produce environment.
- Commercially aware, with the ability to align technical decisions with wider business objectives.
- Data-literate, with the ability to analyse and interpret technical information (advanced Excel or similar tools preferred).
- Able to manage multiple priorities and make informed decisions quickly in a fast-paced environment.
- Knowledge of customer-specific compliance platforms and supply chain systems.
- Exposure to ethical and sustainability standards relevant to food production.
