Job Description
Fresh Direct are currently recruiting for a Site Technical Manager to support the Fresh Kitchen team. This role reports to the Technical Manager for fresh manufacturing and focuses on Product Quality, Safety, Legality, and Integrity.
The Site Technical Manager of Fresh Kitchen will primarily ensure the safety, quality, and legality of our high-risk products (including sauces, dressings, cooked rice and pastas, ice creams, sorbets, and gelato, mousses, and pickles).
This position will guarantee that Fresh Kitchen complies with current legislation, customer requirements, and company standards. The role maintains the Quality Manual, including QMS, product, and raw material specifications, ensuring all products meet these specifications, and communicates with relevant parties to achieve this. It also involves managing and maintaining company due diligence to ensure produced products are safe and legal.
This is an on-site position based in our Bicester depot, with occasional travel to meet customers and suppliers. Ideally, you should live within commuting distance and be comfortable traveling.
Key Responsibilities:
* Ensure compliance with necessary accreditation, legislation, customer codes of practice/requirements, and Sysco standards (our parent company).
* Prepare for, organize, and lead site audits by customers, BRC, local and central government agencies, or similar bodies, and internal audits, taking corrective action when required.
* Manage production technical requirements to ensure products meet specifications and customer, legislative, and industry requirements.
* Log, investigate, and resolve customer complaints internally or externally as needed, implementing trend analysis into customer complaint analysis to identify recurring issues and develop corrective action strategies.
* Ensure regular product shelf life/surveillance testing and conduct product trials, organoleptic, and microbiological testing.
* Bring suppliers into the business in a controlled manner and officially audit or assess them on a predetermined basis, including food and non-food lines.
* Manage raw material/product specifications and databases.
* Control and manage the review of the Company Quality Management Systems, including work processes, procedures, HACCP/allergen management, and accreditation requirements, and customer-specific requirements.
* Manage the site Quality team.
* Establish and manage policies relating to due diligence, product safety, and integrity to ensure internal and external (supplier) compliance.
* Manage GMP and hygiene quality within the production environment, monitoring cleaning efficacy through a predetermined micro testing and audit schedule.
* Manage site pest control.
* Drive continuous technical improvement throughout.
About You:
Prior experience with high-risk products, particularly in areas like sauces, dressings, cooked rice and pastas, ice creams, sorbets, and gelato, mousses, and pickles, is essential for this role.
To succeed in this position, you must hold a full clean Driver's License, have a Food Science/Technology degree or equivalent, and be minimum HACCP level 3 certified and preferably Lead Auditor qualified.
This is an excellent opportunity for a Technical Manager or Quality Manager with several years' experience looking to advance their career within food production. You will have demonstrated industry experience and knowledge of relevant food safety legislation, QMS, BRC standards, and audits. Strong communication skills are crucial, as you will be customer-focused, well-organized, and proficient in project management. Experience dealing with Trading Standards and Environmental Health and working in high-care/high-risk food premises is also vital.
Your Benefits:
* A competitive salary £60,000 - £70,000 per annum
* Car allowance of £5,500 per annum or Company Car
* Generous holiday allowance with the option to purchase 5 additional holiday days
* Pension scheme
* Huge discounts on lovely food and award-winning products through our staff shop
* Discounts on Cinema tickets and shopping
* Recognition awards and incentives
* Career progression opportunities within Fresh Direct and the wider Sysco group, offering a world of possibility.