Technical Manager
East Kent
£35,000

Job Purpose:

• To support the technical needs of the division
• To be responsible and accountable for the development, implementation and monitoring of all technical requirements in order to meet the Company, Suppliers and Customer’s needs
• To effectively build, manage and develop working relationships with customers, suppliers and third party service providers to successfully deliver the technical requirements for the Company
• To support the maintenance and development of a food quality and food safety system, which ensures all product supplied by the company is legal, safe to eat and complies with all requirements


Key Accountabilities:

• Provide technical expertise and guidance to the Company and team members, and ensure that all relevant technical requirements are accurately communicated and maintained
• Be responsible for the quality of product moving through the system
• Work with the Operations Manager together with the Quality Control, Stock and third party teams, to assure quality and quantity of produce, to include size, weight, appearance, and identifying defects etc.
• Monitor fruit quality together with QC work and oversee decisions relating to quality assurance of incoming fruits
• Be the technical point of contact within the Company for all customers and suppliers
• Provide strong communication from a technical perspective to ensure the company has credible commercial relationships
• Building strong proactive relationships with customer technical representatives. Answering requests for information promptly & ensuring all on going tasks are completed within set deadlines that in turn effectively manage expectations.
• Provide sound advice and support to suppliers on relevant legislative, market and customer requirements/information to ensure compliance
• Be responsible for the accurate creation, approval, maintenance and communications of specifications to suppliers and other relevant parties
• Maintain and update relevant systems as necessary
• Exchange information on quality and availability with customers
• Assist sources in difficult decisions relating to product quality
• Visiting and auditing suppliers, pack houses (UK and overseas) etc. as required to ensure compliance with Company and customer standards. Ensure corrective action as necessary
• Investigate rejections & complaints – communicating with suppliers & customers to understand the causes behind product issues. Producing corrective action plans and reports and ensuring implementation
• Quantify and report on technical data as necessary to help influence or support commercial decisions
• To evaluate both external and internal audit of the Company as a means of monitoring and improving product, suppliers and performances
• With the team, audit the Company’s Product Management System to maintain high standards of operation



Qualifications/ Knowledge & Experience


• A recognised qualification relevant to the position
• Demonstrative experience in a fruit technical role (customer facing and management of)
• Good standard of spoken and written English
• Knowledge of soft fruit preferred, but knowledge of fruit essential
• Extensive, hands on experience in managing customers (retailers) and suppliers to include visits, presentations, reports, plans and ad hoc requests as required
• Understanding of all aspects of product flow, from production through to customer delivery
• A basic knowledge of food safety, pesticide & hygiene legislation
• Knowledge of growing systems and management techniques such as IPM, ICMS, HACCP, BRC, GLOBAL GAP. Additionally knowledge of SEDEX (ETI Code) is preferable
• Experience with a company supplying a major retailer within the fruit sector
• Understanding how the supermarkets operate.
• Demonstration of strong interpersonal skills with the ability to negotiate and communicate with internal and external stakeholders
• Self organisation and an ability to plan workload
• Flexible. Willing to adapt ways of working to support team requirements
• Proven Time management skills: Accustomed to working with and meeting time critical deadlines
• Ability to work well under pressure and attentive to detail
• IT skills – proficient with Word, Excel and Microsoft Outlook