Technical Manager

Job Description

Position: Technical Manager

Reports to: Head of Operations

Staff reporting to this position: Food Technologists

Absence cover: Food Technologists

Contract type: Permanent, Full-time

Weekly hours: 40 hours per week, Monday to Friday.

Location: Unit B, Provender House, Paddock Wood Distribution Centre, Paddock Wood, Tonbridge, Kent, TN12 6UU
(on regular basis)

Salary: £…K per annum

Rowcliffe is Britain's leading importer and distributor of fine foods to the specialist independent trade. The company began in 1967 when Anthony Rowcliffe set out to change British attitudes to cheese, bringing artisanal cheeses from Europe to the UK. Rowcliffe now has a turnover of around £20M, with half of this in premium multiples to M&S, Waitrose, Booths and Ocado, and the other half to independents and food service.

To support the growth of the business, the Technical Manager (a role within the Lactalis Group) will work with retail, independent and food services customers, numerous suppliers and internal teams to ensure product meets customer specifications and company policy requirements for food safety, quality and legality. This includes compliance with BRC food standards, customers’ Code of Practice (COPs), suppliers & agents approval and effective, efficient processes in place.

The Technical Manager is a key senior team member, responsible and accountable for shaping the technical vision, driving food safety and quality culture on site, continuous improvement, and acting as the primary interface customers suppliers and internal teams.

• Maintain and progress audit performance against BRC, organic, Sedex and retailer COPs.
• Manage food safety, food quality and integrity including risk assessments, development and implementation of procedures, policies and work instructions and follow up on any non-compliances.
• Ensure company and own label producers comply with relevant new requirements.
• Ensure producers of own label products comply with and are auditable against specific technical requirements and retailer COPs.
• Monitor, update and manage web-based customer information systems.
• Support suppliers on site where relevant to develop their continuous improvement approach.
• Develop effective partnerships with colleagues at every level and key raw material suppliers.
• Arrange and carry out audits of non-BRC suppliers according to schedule.
• Manage timely and accurate completion of technical tasks within NPD process including retailer specifications and artwork.
• Work with suppliers and the commercial / operations team to ensure full awareness of current supply and communicate any issues with future supply.
• Lead the site technical, QA and compliance functions.
• Work with QA Technologist to review internal systems for effectiveness and efficiency.
• Develop and maintain internal audits schedule and take part in internal audits at Anthony Rowcliffe & Son Ltd.
• Approve suppliers and raw materials, including approval audits of new suppliers when required.
• Lead HACCP and food defence initiatives.
• Provide internal and external KPI reporting, technical insights and trend analysis to support operational and strategic decision-making.
• Travel domestically and internationally, including overnight stays, mostly planned but may be at short notice.
• Prepare for customers/supplier technical/quality visits and audits.
• Identify and implement continuous improvement in quality, processes and site standards; embed a right-first-time culture across production.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with Production, NPD, Engineering and Supply Chain to deliver safe, compliant, high-quality products consistently.

• 5 years of relevant experience in a similar role.
• HND or BS/University degree in Food Science or related technical field.
• UK driver’s licence.
• Knowledge of quality management processes, including auditing and lead auditing.
• Working knowledge of BRC.
• Food safety and food processing experience.
• Intermediate knowledge of MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook.
• Solid verbal and written communication skills.
• High accuracy with good attention to detail.
• Relationship building with supply base and customers/internal…