Head of Technical

Head of Technical
People HQ is delighted to be recruiting on behalf of a growing client for this pivotal role.

Are you ready to lead, inspire, and shape the technical function of a thriving business in the food production industry? This is a rare opportunity for an experienced professional to step into a senior leadership role and drive standards of excellence across quality, food safety, and hygiene in a dynamic environment.

As Head of Technical, you will play a crucial role in ensuring the highest standards of food safety and legal compliance while supporting and enhancing the technical, quality, and hygiene functions across the site. Your expertise will be instrumental in delivering robust quality management systems, collaborating with senior management, and fostering a culture of continuous improvement.

• Lead and provide technical leadership across the site, ensuring compliance with food safety, quality, and hygiene standards.
• Develop and maintain effective quality management systems to meet legislative requirements and exceed customer expectations.
• Analyse food safety and quality trends, implementing robust improvement plans to ensure site excellence.
• Act as the primary liaison with external stakeholders, including customers, the Food Standards Agency (FSA), and auditors, ensuring prompt resolution of non-conformances.
• Oversee internal and external audits, ensuring corrective actions are implemented effectively and sustained.
• Manage and develop the technical and hygiene teams, identifying training needs to enhance team capability.
• Maintain oversight of pest prevention systems and hygiene management, ensuring consistent delivery of high standards.
• Provide technical advice and support to the senior management team, site departments, and customers.
• Actively contribute to company-wide projects and initiatives, driving innovation and best practices.

This role requires an experienced and confident leader with a proven track record of managing technical and food safety functions in the meat industry. The ideal candidate will bring:

• A degree in Food Science or a related discipline (MSc preferred but not essential).
• HACCP Level 4 and Lead Auditor certification.
• Over 10 years’ experience in managing food safety and technical functions, specifically within the meat industry.
• Strong knowledge of microbiology and meat science disciplines.
• Exceptional communication skills and the ability to build and lead effective teams.
• Self-motivation, resilience, and a results-driven mindset.
• Solid numerical skills for KPI tracking and performance reporting.
• IOSH Managing Safety certification.

This is your chance to make a tangible impact, driving technical excellence in a fast-paced, innovative business. The successful candidate will enjoy:

• A leadership role where your expertise is valued and your contributions make a difference.
• The opportunity to shape and develop technical and hygiene teams to deliver exceptional results.
• A rewarding and challenging role within a growing and ambitious company.

If you are an experienced technical professional ready to take the next step in your career, at People HQ we would love to hear from you.

Apply now to take on this exciting challenge!