Job Description

Technical Quality & Compliance Manager

Industry – Fresh produce

Location: West London, UK
Shifts: Monday to Friday, 8 AM – 5 PM

Are you an experienced Technical Manager with a passion for the fresh produce industry? Do you thrive in a fast-paced environment and have a strong track record in ensuring product quality, safety, and compliance? If so, this could be an excellent opportunity for you.

Our client is a leading supplier of fresh produce, committed to delivering the highest quality products from seed to fork. The business focuses on technical excellence, innovation, and consistently high standards across the supply chain.

Role Scope & Responsibility

This is a senior leadership role within a large-scale storage and distribution site, responsible for:

• 24/7 technical and quality operations oversight across the site (low care site)

• Direct management of 15 team members (direct reports) within the Technical & Quality function

This is a highly visible leadership position requiring proven experience in managing large teams in a complex, fast-moving fresh produce storage / distribution environment.

Job Purpose

As a Technical Manager within the Brand and Operational Excellence framework, you will be responsible for driving the site's Technical & Quality objectives. You will design, implement, and maintain a robust Quality Management System to ensure all products are safe, legally compliant, and consistently meet both customer and industry standards.

Strong leadership capability is critical, as this role carries full responsibility for the site's technical function and its 24/7 operational standards.

Key Responsibilities

Quality Management:

Develop and maintain a robust FSQM system, lead the site HACCP team, manage internal audits, and ensure full compliance with the Group Quality Manual.

Team Leadership:

Lead, manage, and develop a team of 15 direct reports, ensuring strong performance, engagement, and succession planning within the technical function. Previous senior leadership experience in a similar scale environment is essential.

Operational Oversight (24/7 Site Responsibility):

Provide technical governance and leadership for 24/7 site operations, ensuring continuous compliance, escalation management, and support for operational decision-making.

Customer Relations:

Act as the primary technical contact for key customers, managing complaints and ensuring consistent delivery of safe, high-quality products.

Continuous Improvement:

Analyse complaint data, conduct root cause analysis, and lead continuous improvement initiatives to reduce issues and enhance product quality and efficiency.

Supplier Management:

Conduct risk-based supplier audits and oversee corrective actions where required.

Technical Expertise:

Act as the subject matter expert for the product range, supporting sourcing, distribution, shelf-life, and quality optimisation.

KPI & Reporting:

Develop and monitor KPI dashboards, technical reports, and improvement plans, ensuring accurate and timely communication to senior stakeholders.

Qualifications

• Degree in Food Science, Horticulture, Agriculture, or equivalent

• HACCP Level 3/4, Food Safety Level 3, Internal & External Auditing certifications

• Fluent in English (additional languages beneficial)

• Full UK driving licence and willingness to travel to UK and overseas sites

Experience Required

• Strong proven senior leadership experience, ideally in a large-scale, multi-site or 24/7 operational environment

• Background in fresh produce or food/horticultural manufacturing

• Strong knowledge of quality management systems and data-driven decision making

• Experience leading BRC and customer audits

• Strong project management and NPD/EPD exposure

Benefits

• Salary up to £60,000 per annum (depending on experience)

• 25 days holiday + bank holidays

• Pension scheme

• Staff discounts

This is a senior leadership position requiring someone confident operating at scale, managing complex 24/7 operations, and leading a sizeable technical team. Previous experience in a similar level of responsibility is essential.

If you are a proactive, resilient Technical Manager ready for a high-impact leadership role, we would like to hear from you.