Technical Compliance Manager
LOCATION OF ROLE: Dunstable, UK
DEPARTMENT: Technical
Our client is an award-winning, high quality authentic flatbreads and morning goods. It has bakeries situated in Dunstable (UK) and Nashik (India) employing over 2,000 employees. It supplies branded and own label products to supermarkets, QSR's, food manufacturers and other food service establishments.
ROLE SUMMARY
Our client is seeking a self-motivated, organised, resourceful, and hands-on Technical Compliance Manager with previous experience in a food environment.
You will be responsible for developing and maintaining all policies and procedures that form the Quality Management System, ensuring the business meets its requirements and those of our customers and third-party standards.
You will also continuously drive improvements in site standards by advising the Operations and Engineering teams on technical matters, identifying issues, problem-solving, and ensuring root causes are identified, and corrective and preventative actions are taken
REPORTING AND KEY RELATIONSHIPS
The role reports to the Head of Technical - Operations with other key contacts include:
Head of Technical - Customers
DUTIES WILL INCLUDE
- Provide leadership and ownership for the Quality & Food Safety management systems associated with food production, ensuring compliance with safety, legal, and quality standards.
- Developing systems and processes to ensure quality and food safety in the production facility, while effectively implementing programs related to hygiene, food safety, pest control, allergens, and foreign bodies.
- Maintain high factory standards through rigorous auditing.
- Communicate effectively on all technical matters with customers, suppliers, and internal teams to build strong relationships.
- Ensure systems and records are audit-ready and comply with customer and third-party audit standards.
- Lead and fully understand the site HACCP, evaluate risks, and define controls prior to introducing new processes, products, or raw materials. Ensure HACCP requirements are implemented, maintained, and achieved.
- Lead customer and third-party audits, and verify and close all non-conformance's arising from these audits.
- Drive a Quality Assurance culture within the business, providing practical support and guidance.
- Create and maintain all technical schedules and report discrepancies.
- Update and issue weekly/monthly reports.
- Provide holiday cover for Factory Technical Managers.
REQUIRED SKILLS & EXPERIENCE:
- Minimum 5 years of experience in managing a Quality Department within the food manufacturing or food retail sector
- Minimum 3 years of experience related to work in Quality Management Systems
- Experience and knowledge of food production, technology and quality systems, quality control, hygiene requirements
- Strong people management and leadership skills
- Extensive knowledge of HACCP, BRC, & retailer codes of practice and food law
- Systematic problem-solving abilities
- Strong influencing and challenging skills
- Proficiency in managing customer and enforcement authority relationships.
- Proficient in Microsoft Office
- Independence, responsibility, and the ability to make decisions in difficult situations
DESIRABLE:
- Award in Food Safety in Manufacturing (Level 3 or above).
- Award in HACCP in Food Manufacturing (Level 4).
- Knowledge of production technology and the specifics of the food production industry
- Bakery product knowledge.
- Health & Safety knowledge.
- Experience with pest control responsibilities.
PERSON SPECIFICATION:
- Ambitious and passionate about career progression.
- Strong work ethic and high attention to detail.
- Adaptable and responsive to change in a fast-paced environment
This position requires availability to work one day during the weekend to ensure operational continuity. The salary for this position ranges from £40,000 to £55,000, depending on experience. Holiday entitlement is 28 days per calendar year, including bank holidays, increasing to 33 days on a sliding scale after 10 years of service. The candidate will be eligible to join the bonus scheme after six months, which can be up to 15% of their annual salary. Eligibility may be granted sooner based on performance.
The ideal candidate would be a QA manager looking to advance their career.