Head of TechnicalFull-time | Permanent£60000 - £70000 + benefitsThe RoleThe Head of Technical is the guardian of technical excellence, ensuring products meet the highest standards of safety, legality, quality, and integrity.Working closely with the Production and Operations teams, you will embed robust technical governance into daily operations, balancing compliance and commercial priorities.Through leadership, continuous improvement and a strong floor presence, you will ensure technical standards are a cultural norm, not a tick-box exercise.Key ResponsibilitiesFood Safety & Quality LeadershipOwn and continuously develop the Food Safety & Product Integrity frameworkLead and maintain HACCP, including TACCP and VACCP, ensuring risk assessments are robust, current and operationally embeddedProvide expert oversight of allergen management, gluten control, traceability, raw material risk profiling, testing regimes and product verificationAct as the senior authority on food safety and legality, with the autonomy to stop production or dispatch where necessaryCertification & Audit ManagementLead technical strategy for BRCGS Food Safety and other relevant systems/processesAct as senior technical representative during third-party audits, customer visits and regulatory inspectionsEnsure audit findings drive meaningful improvements rather than reactive complianceTechnical GovernanceOversee supplier approval, raw material risk assessments and finished product specificationsApprove and technically sign off critical documentation and specificationsLead investigations into significant food safety or quality incidents, ensuring root cause analysis and preventative actions are robustLead the annual Management Review for the Food Safety & Quality Management SystemCollaboration & Continuous ImprovementPartner with various operational teams to ensure technical standards are integral to daily practiceSupport process optimisation, grain performance analysis and product consistency improvementProvide technical direction for NPD, reformulation and process changesDrive continuous improvement initiatives that strengthen product performance and customer confidence.People LeadershipLine manage and develop Technical and Hygiene team membersOversee hygiene contractors and ensure the effectiveness of hygiene systemsDefine and maintain technical and food safety standards for induction and ongoing trainingFoster a culture where technical discipline and artisan craft complement one anotherWho We're Looking ForA technically strong, commercially aware food manufacturing professional who combines deep food safety expertise with practical, hands-on leadership.You’ll be credible on the production floor, comfortable leading audits, and confident making decisions that protect product integrity. You recognise that technical excellence underpins both compliance and premium product performance.Personal AttributesHigh attention to detail and strong professional integrityPragmatic and solutions-focusedStrong technical judgement with a commitment to continuous learningExcellent communicator across all functions and levelsNaturally analytical, curious and improvement-drivenCalm, credible and decisive under pressureThrives in hands-on production environmentsQualifications & ExperienceEssentialDegree (or equivalent experience) in Food Science, Food Technology, Microbiology or related fieldSignificant technical leadership experience within food manufacturingStrong working knowledge of BRCGS Food Safety and food safety management systemsPractical HACCP experience, ideally as a leader or chairpersonExperience leading external audits and delivering strong audit outcomesHands-on experience in a production environmentDesirableExperience within an SME or artisan food business.Lead Auditor qualification and/or Advanced HACCP certification.