Site Technical Manager

Fresh Direct are currently recruiting for a Site Technical Manager to join the Fresh Kitchen team. Reporting to the Technical Manager for fresh manufacturing, you'll work as part of the Technical team to lead and support elements relating to Product Quality, Safety, Legality, and Integrity.

As Site Technical Manager of Fresh Kitchen, a primary focus will be on the safety, quality and legality of our added value high risk products (including sauces, dressings; cooked rice and pastas; ice creams, sorbets and gelato, mousses and pickles).

This role will ensure that Fresh Kitchen comply with all current legislation, customer requirements, and company standards. You will maintain the Quality Manual inclusive of QMS, product and raw material specifications and ensure that all products prepared within the businesses meet these specifications - communicating with any parties necessary to achieve this. It will also be your responsibility to manage and maintain company due diligence and to ensure products produced are safe and legal.

This is an on-site role based in our Bicester depot with infrequent travel to meet with customers and suppliers, so ideally you will live within a commutable distance and be comfortable travelling.

Key Accountabilities & Responsibilities:

• Responsible for ensuring the companies compliance to all necessary accreditation, legislation, customer codes of practice / requirements and Sysco standards (our parent company)
• Prepare for, organise and lead site audits by customers, BRC, Local and central government agencies or similar bodies and also including Internal Audits - taking the necessary corrective action where required.
• Manage the Production Technical requirements ensuring at all times that product is supplied to the necessary specifications and meets customer, legislative & industry requirements.
• Log, investigate and follow up on all customer complaints and resolve internally/externally as required. Implement trend analysis into customer complaint analysis to identify re-occurring issues and put in place corrective action strategies as a result.
• Ensure regular product shelf life / surveillance testing is carried out and conduct all product trials, organoleptic and microbiological testing.
• To ensure all the company's suppliers are brought into the business in a controlled manner and officially audited or assessed on a predetermined basis, to include all food and non-food lines.
• Management of raw material / product specifications and relevant databases
• To control and manage the regular review of the Company Quality Management Systems, to include all work processes and procedures, HACCP / Allergen management and all accreditation requirements, and any customer specific requirements.
• Manage the site Quality team.
• Establish and manage policies relating to due diligence, product safety and integrity ensuring internal and external (supplier) compliance.
• Manage GMP and hygiene quality within the production environment including the monitoring of cleaning efficacy through a predetermined micro testing & audit schedule.
• Manage site pest control.
• Drive continuous technical improvement throughout.

About you:

Previous high risk product experience is essential for this role in products ideally covering sauces, dressings; cooked rice and pastas; ice creams, sorbets and gelato, mousses, and pickles.

To be successful in this role you must hold a full clean Drivers Licence, have a Food Science/Technology degree or equivalent and be minimum HACCP level 3 certified and preferably Lead Auditor qualified.

This is a great role for a Technical Manager or Quality Manager with a few years' experience looking to take the next step in their career within food production. You will have demonstrable industry experience and knowledge of all relevant food safety legislation, QMS, BRC standards and audits. It is key to have excellent communication skills as you will be customer focused, be well organised and use effective project management skills. You will also have experience dealing with Trading Standards and Environmental Health and have high care/ high risk food premises experience.

What you'll receive:

• A competitive salary
• Car allowance of £5,500 per annum or Company Car
• Generous holiday allowance, with option to purchase 5 additional holiday days
• Pension scheme
• Huge discounts on all sorts of lovely food and award-winning products through our staff shop
• Discounts on Cinema tickets and shopping
• Recognition awards and Incentives
• Career progression opportunities - being part of Fresh Direct and the wider Sysco group, the world's leading foodservice business, opens up a world of possibility.