Full-Time | Senior Leadership Role
We are seeking an experienced and dynamic Head of Technical to lead our Technical, Quality, and Food Safety agenda across our dairy operations. This is a key leadership position responsible for ensuring our products meet the highest standards of safety, legality, and quality while maintaining strong collaborative relationships with all major UK retailers, and export..
Key Responsibilities Lead and develop the Technical & Quality teams across multiple sites within the dairy category. Own the technical strategy to ensure full compliance with food safety, quality, and regulatory requirements. Act as the primary technical interface with all major grocery retailers, ensuring exceptional service, responsiveness, and transparency. Drive continuous improvement across quality systems, auditing programmes, supplier assurance, and manufacturing standards. Oversee product specifications, artwork approval, and technical elements of NPD/EPD projects. Maintain and continually enhance retailer audit performance, including BRCGS and customer-specific standards. Provide technical leadership during retailer visits, audits, and crisis management situations. Champion a strong food safety and quality culture across the organisation.
Customer & Stakeholder Engagement Act as the senior technical representative with customers, retailers, third‑party auditors, and regulatory bodies. Build strong relationships with internal stakeholders including Operations, NPD, Commercial, and Supply Chain. Provide clear communication and updates to senior leadership on technical performance, risks, and opportunities.
Continuous Improvement Lead initiatives to strengthen food safety culture and embed best practice across all departments. Support operational teams in identifying risks, improving processes, and enhancing product quality. Identify future capability needs and ensure the technical function evolves with business growth and customer expectations.
Leadership & People Management Lead, manage, and inspire the Technical and Quality teams to deliver exceptional performance. Build capability through structured coaching, mentoring, succession planning, and development programmes. Set clear objectives and performance expectations, providing regular feedback and conducting performance reviews. Foster a high‑performance, open, and collaborative culture across sites. Ensure teams are equipped with the right skills, tools, and training to meet business and customer requirements. Champion employee engagement and lead team development initiatives.
About You Significant experience in Technical, Quality, or Food Safety leadership roles within the dairy sector (e.g., milk, cheese Strong knowledge of UK retailer technical systems (e.g., Waitrose, Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Asda, Morrisons, M&S, Aldi, . Previous success in managing customer relationships at a senior level. Expert understanding of BRCGS, HACCP, QMS, and regulatory requirements for dairy. Excellent leadership, communication, and influencing skills. Strategic thinker with a hands-on approach and strong problem‑solving capability.
What We Offer Competitive salary and benefits package. Opportunity to shape technical strategy within a market‑leading dairy business. Collaborative, innovative working environment. The chance to work closely with major UK retailers and influence category growth.
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Applications to Jane Marfleet by e-mail with your CV