Technical Manager – Food Safety / Manufacturing

Job Title: Technical Manager

Location: Cambridge or Liverpool

Salary: Competitive

Job Type: Full time, Permanent

About the Company:

S&B Herba Foods Ltd source and import rice and grains (and other raw materials) from across the globe to produce a wide range of ingredients to the specification of UK manufacturers and wholesalers. Our core purpose is to “Feed the nation and be a place where everyone can reach their full potential”.

Last year, we were awarded the Investors In People standard and are embarking on a new era to attain Silver with our ultimate goal Platinum. In order to do this, we need people that are willing to drive our Goals and Ambitions and continually improve and develop themselves as individuals, with our full support.

We are looking to build on our Team of great people by employing individuals that are aligned to our Company Values of; Hungry (driven and ambitious); Can Do attitude (resilient, solution focused); Proactive (forward thinking, strategic) and We Before I (caring for their colleagues/team; collaborative).

We have been trading for over 100 years and have a great heritage. Come and join us – it’s a great place to work!

We are looking for a Technical Manager to be responsible for coordinating all elements relating to Quality, Safety, Legality and Integrity for the milling sites and the trading business. You will report directly into the Managing Director and support the Senior Management Team on all Technical matters. You will have a Team of 10 people to manage across the 2 sites.

We have 2 Manufacturing sites, one based in Cambridge and one in Liverpool which manufacture rice, rice flour and peas. In addition to this, as part of Ebro Foods Group, the Company also trades products manufactured from our sister companies.

Responsibilities:

• To promote and embrace company culture and values, rules and processes across the team at all times.
• To develop and lead the company food safety, quality and compliance standards.
• To support the Senior Management Team on main technical pillars covering COMPLIANCE, QUALITY and ETHICAL & SUSTAINABILITY.
• To establish the strategy for all areas covered by the Technical Department including Sustainability and to offer support to the technical team to achieve KPIs, and improve systems.
• To lead the technical department. To establish food safety and technical policies and procedures, ensuring fit for purpose, scalable, and aligned with regulatory and industry best practice.
• To promote and develop a Quality Management System with continuous improvement at heart of the company culture and help establishing a proactive approach versus a reactive one by aiming to establish Total Quality Management with emphasis on reducing no-quality costs.
• Promote a positive Food Safety and Quality Culture and ensure the activities of direct reports in relation to food safety, authenticity, quality and legality are carried out according to procedures in place.
• Supporting Operations, Commercial, Supply Chain and the business with management of all technical aspects within S&B Herba. Liaising with wider team to drive change and improve ways of working.
• Support and collaborate with Operation teams so that standards are met and there is proper understanding of Food Safety Culture on site.
• To communicate and liaise with wider European sister companies within Ebro and participate in any working team at group level.
• Promote the awareness of customers’ requirements throughout the organisation.
• Main point of contact for customers’ technical support and advice and complaint resolution. Good understanding on retailers’ COP.
• To prepare and meet annual budget and achieve KPIs set as part of S&B Herba Foods strategy.
• Implementing and maintaining S&B Herba specifications and making sure specifications of non-food products are met upon delivery as per requirement, in collaboration with the wider technical team.

Essential Requirements:

Work Experience:

• At least 5-year experience on senior Food Safety Quality Managerial position for food manufacturing, ideally as Technical Manager.
• Proved experience Knowledge of Food Safety Regulation UK, EU.
• Experience on risk assessments.
• Auditing experience on suppliers.
• Good commercial awareness.
• CSR reports including carbon footprint reporting.

Education:

• Relevant degree in food science.
• HACCP level 4 minimum
• Strong background and expertise in HACCP, QMS, GFSI, allergens, food compliance, supplier management, sustainability, TACCP, VACCP
• Practical knowledge of industry audit standards (e.g. BRC, AIB etc.)
• Knowledge of Food Safety Regulation UK, EU including food labelling.

Technical Skills:

• Meticulous attention to detail
• Organisation/prioritisation skills
• Report generation and data interpretation
• Proficient literacy and verbal communication skills.
• Strong management of people and the team’s development skills.
• PC literate
• Full driving license

Professional Attitude:

• Meeting company values on a daily basis
• Successful team player
• Professional and Personal Development
• Working on own initiative
• Methodical and organised

Flexibility:

• To attend technical visits to customers or suppliers
• To meet audit schedules and agendas
• To attend possible issues at production sites

Benefits:

• Car Allowance
• 25 days holiday
• Pension
• Private medical
• Life assurance
• Income protection

Please click the APPLY button and to submit your CV and Cover Letter.

Candidates with experience of: QHSE Manager, Food Safety Inspector, Food Safety Auditor, SHEQ Coordinator, Health and Safety Auditor, Food Safety Supervisor, Quality Auditor, Technical Manager, Manufacturing Technical Manager may also be considered for this role.