Overview of role Location: West Bromwich A rare and exciting opportunity has arisen to lead our Technical Services team across one of our primary manufacturing bakeries and two depots, where you will also form part of the Site Leadership Team to drive a positive engaged culture. As part of FMCG, multi-diverse, matrix organisation, producing fresh, quality bread products feeding the UK. This role is pivotal in ensuring the delivery of exceptional technical service, driving consistent high technical standards, maintaining our high level of audit compliance and fostering internal and external customer and auditor relationships. Key Accountabilities What will I be doing? Safety Culture: Drive a safety culture by improving and maintaining a safe working environment, ensuring all team members are aware and complying with health and safety standards, legal and company requirements. Team Leadership: Effective leadership, coaching, development and motivation of the Technical Services teams, to ensure high levels of performance and that all their KPI’s are met or exceeded Technical Support: Oversee the delivery of quality management systems, operating practices, and controls, developing continuous improvements to technical operations and initiatives. Partnering with the operational team; manufacturing and engineering to deliver Technical excellence and high quality of your fantastic bread and snacks ranges. Develop and implement best practices to enhance service quality. Strategic Management: Collaborate with senior leadership to define and execute regional technical strategies. Monitor performance metrics and implement improvement plans where necessary. Customer Relations: Building effective professional internal and external customer relationships and auditor relationships, promoting good practices, compliance and expertise, resolving complex issues promptly and effectively. Delivering successful NPD and EPD introduction into site, delivering compliance to produce specifications. Operations Management: Coordinate with cross-functional teams to optimise service delivery. Manage budgets and resources for the technical services department in the region. The Right Person Who are we looking for? Preferably degree in food science qualification and HACCP qualification 5 years experience in a technical services or operations management role. Technical Expertise: Strong understanding of FMCG industry and knowledge of allergens, allergen control and microbiology products. Leadership: Exceptional leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills. Problem-Solving: Ability to resolve complex technical and operational challenges. Willingness to travel regionally as required. Understanding of Continuous Improvement techniques Strong IT skills with knowledge of retailer Codes of Practice and web based systems. Allied Bakeries are owned by Associated British Foods. ABF is a diversified international food, ingredients and retail group with sales of £13.9bn and 128,000 employees in 53 countries. It has significant businesses in Europe, Africa, the Americas, Asia and Australia Our sister companies in ABF UK Grocery produce products under many market-leading household brands, including Jordans, Ryvita, Pataks, Blue Dragon & Silver Spoon. We are proud of our brands: we make top 10 UK grocery brand Kingsmill as well as Allinson’s, Bürgen and Sunblest. You’ll know us best through our white, wholemeal and seeded market-leading loaves, as well as Kingsmill 50/50, the nation’s favourite Healthier White, and our delicious pancakes, crumpets, hot cross buns and other bakery products. The success of our business depends on us having the right people on the team. We are incredibly passionate about our business, but it isn’t for the faint-hearted – it’s pacey and demanding so our people need to have a positive attitude and to want to work inclusively. We take massive pride in what we do, not least in how colleagues based in our bakeries and depots have one of the best safety performance records in the industry. Our Grocery Service Centre, based near Liverpool, is a hub for transactional activity across multiple ABF companies within the ABF Grocery division. Supporting some of our well-known brands such as Kingsmill, Pataks, Blue Dragon, Jordans, Ryvita and Silver Spoon, amongst others. We deliver Shared Service activities across a wide range of disciplines including Customer Services, Consumer Care, Finance, Payroll, HR and IS. If you’re looking to join a business that is passionate, encourages you to be the best you can be, and values its people, we’d love to hear from you.