Factory Technical Manager

Factory Technical Manager
Location: Kirby, West Yorkshire
Salary: £45,000 – £50,000
Hours: Monday–Friday, 7:00am–15:30pm (40 hours per week)

Are you an experienced Technical Manager with a strong background in food safety, quality, and leadership within the meat or chilled food sector? We’re recruiting for a Factory Technical Manager to lead the technical, quality, and food safety functions at a well-established meat processing site in West Yorkshire.
(Please note: this site is not an abattoir. It slices, dices, and packs lamb and beef for major meal-kit and retail customers.)

The Role

As Factory Technical Manager, you will play a pivotal role in safeguarding product integrity, driving technical excellence, and ensuring full compliance across the site. You’ll lead a high-performing team, manage all technical systems, and act as the primary contact for customers, auditors, suppliers, and regulatory bodies.

Key Responsibilities

Technical & Quality Leadership

• Lead the technical and quality agenda across the factory.

• Oversee and continuously improve QMS and technical standards.

• Ensure all products meet internal, customer, and legislative requirements.

Food Safety & Regulatory Compliance

• Maintain compliance with UK food law, FSA standards, BRCGS, Red Tractor, and customer COPs.

• Ensure HACCP systems are maintained, validated, and effectively implemented.

• Lead root cause analyses and implement corrective and preventative actions.

Factory Process & Continuous Improvement

• Deliver CI projects focused on yield, efficiency, waste reduction, and consistency.

• Use data and technical insight to influence operational decision-making.

• Work cross-functionally with Production, Engineering, NPD, and Supply Chain.

Audits & External Assurance

• Lead all internal audits, customer visits, BRCGS audits, and regulatory inspections.

• Ensure perpetual audit readiness and close out non-conformances promptly.

Team Leadership & Development

• Manage, mentor, and develop the Technical, QA, and Hygiene teams.

• Support training, competency development, and succession planning.

• Build a culture of accountability and continuous learning.

Documentation, Data Integrity & Reporting

• Maintain accurate technical documentation, traceability, and testing records.

• Manage non-conformance data and customer complaints.

• Provide reports and insights to senior leadership.

Customer, Supplier & Regulatory Liaison

• Act as the key technical contact for customers and suppliers.

• Manage complaint investigations and corrective actions.

• Oversee supplier and ingredient approval processes.

Risk Management & Crisis Response

• Identify and mitigate emerging quality, legality, and food safety risks.

• Lead responses to incidents, including traceability exercises and recalls if required.

The Ideal Candidate

• Proven management experience.

• Excellent knowledge of BRCGS, HACCP, UK food law, and customer COPs.

• Strong communicator, with the ability to influence across departments.

• Passionate about continuous improvement and technical leadership.

Benefits

• Competitive salary: £45,000–£50,000

• Standard weekday working hours

• Opportunity to lead and shape technical strategy on a reputable site