Job Description
TECHNICAL MANAGER (HUMDINGER HECKINGTON SITE)
Who Are Humdinger?
We are based in Heckington (Sleaford) and Hull and we are part of the Zertus UK & Ireland Snacking & Chocolate Market Unit partnered with other food manufacturers across the country.
About the Technical Manager role:
As a Technical Manager at Humdinger, you will work as part of the site leadership team to drive and implement robust food safety and quality systems for the site. You will manage our Quality and Hygiene teams, leading and inspiring them to drive excellent site standards. In this role, you will also work with external customers, with the goal of ensuring that we meet customer and industry standards as well as legal and regulatory standards.
Working hours: Monday – Friday 08:30 – 16:30 with a 30 minute break (37.5 hours per week)
Key responsibilities of a Technical Manager at Humdinger:
Resource management:
- Control day to day departmental resources to achieve technical control of site.
- Ensure day to day departmental spends are within allocated budgets.
Quality Management System – Ensure systems meet legal, customer & industry best practice:
- Responsibility for the documentation of system and procedures designed to control manufacturing and distribution processes, food safety control and input into quality consistency of finished products.
- Ensure systems are live in the Factory and that all staff have been trained against specific key duties
- Manage all third-party audits and visits
Customer relationships:
- Liaise with customer technologists on pro-active technical management.
- Be the main point of contact for specified external customers on any technical matter.
- For products made or packed on site, ensure that the customer’s requirements are correctly detailed in the specifications and Quality Attribute sheets and that these are available to the site production teams in an appropriate mode
- Work alongside NPD department to ensure that all of the customer’s requirements are incorporated into new products and their manufacture does not have a negative impact on the other products made on the site.
Process control:
- Develop and maintain factory processes for quality, safety and composition within current specification requirements.
- Liaison with external legal enforcement agencies to authorised level; liaison with third party agencies as appropriate.
- Be a member of the crisis management team and ensure that there are sufficient deputies available at all times.
Continuous improvement – Pro-actively contribute to improvement activities:
- Ensure thorough and effective corrective actions are taken.
- Review of site actions for out of specification results arising from microbiological sampling or other testing; non-conformances raised from internal audits; customer complaints and complaint trends.
- Report periodically as scheduled on current technical and quality management issues; liaise with NPD and Process Development on new/re-engineered products with regard to product safety and quality consistency.
- Leads and drive teams and initiatives to deliver performance improvement
Standard setting:
- Agree and set standards of acceptability for manufacturing and distribution process control.
- Review factory and distribution audit compliance against standards.
- Develop and Manage Site Quality Management Systems and technical standards to gain competitive advantage.
- Ensure that the packaging and allergen controls are regularly tested
- Ensure that Technical resource is distributed effectively to determine that compliance of product quality & safety standards is maintained at all times. Also, that the product that is manufactured meets the customer’s specification and is legally compliant in all aspects
- Ensure through audit that the site is audit ready and prepared for any unannounced audit both in terms of site facilities and personnel.
Other:
- Health & Safety – Ensure all Health & Safety procedures are followed
- Drive improvements in standards across all working areas and takes responsibility for team duties and staff
- HACCP Team Member (Site Leader)
- Control Pest Management System
- Internal Audit Team Member
- Humdinger Business Continuity Plan Team Member
- Possible Environmental Management Team Member
- Possible Health and safety Team Member
Skills you’ll need to succeed in our Technical Manager role:
- Credible food manufacturing technical expert with an easy communication style, able to effectively influence cross-functional teams and build sound rapport with customers to benefit the business.
- Enthusiastic and self-motivated and demonstrates continuous improvement, quality awareness and passion.
- Attention to detail coupled with ability to work at fast pace and manage multiple simultaneous projects
- Substantial experience within Quality / Technical Manager position in the food industry
- Good understanding and experience of developing quality management systems including HACCP systems/principles, GMP’s and administrative /commercial aspects.
- Knowledge of customer systems and retailer exposure, along with knowledge of retailer audit protocols and COP’s, to be very focused of Food safety and product Integrity.
- Able to motivate, and influence others.
- Administration and clerical skills required to fulfil the role including Microsoft office literacy.
- Well-developed communication skills.
- People management skills/competency.
- Allergen Awareness Training - Desirable
- HACCP level 4
- Food Safety / Hygiene Level 4
- Internal Audit Trained - Desirable
- Relevant qualifications within Food Technology or Food Science discipline
Rewards & benefits – what can Humdinger offer you?
- Attractive company Pension scheme and life assurance scheme at x4 basic
- Company paid Health Care Cash Plan via Paycare plus access to Paycare Perks for high street and retailer discounts
- 25 days annual leave + bank holidays
- Hybrid working opportunities
- Holiday purchase scheme – purchase an additional 5 days leave per year
- Charity fundraising and team events
- One additional day paid leave for charity/community work
- Discounts via our staff shops
- Employee values awards
- Referral bonus vouchers
- Training and development opportunities
- Bespoke training for new factory workers
- Free parking at all manufacturing sites/ offices
- Excellent facilities, canteen etc
- Ongoing commitment to our ESG strategy – protecting out people, communities and our planet
Access to Grocery Aid charity support
Job Types: Full-time, Permanent
Benefits:
- Company pension
- Cycle to work scheme
- Employee discount
- Free parking
- Life insurance
- On-site parking
- Store discount
Schedule:
- Day shift
- Monday to Friday
Licence/Certification:
- Food Safety / Hygiene Level 4 (preferred)
- HACCP level 4 (preferred)
Work Location: One location