Location: On-site, Bedwas

Department: Technical / Quality

Reports To: Site Technical Manager

Direct Reports: Q.A Manager

Contract Type: Full-Time, Permanent

Working Pattern: Monday - Friday, typically 08:00 - 16:00 / 09:00 - 17:00 (flexibility required to meet business needs)

Travel Requirements: Occasional

Company Overview:

Peter's Food Service is a leading food manufacturing business with a strong reputation for quality and innovation. Our manufacturing operation spans two core value streams—Bakery and Sausage House—serving a diverse customer base across retail and foodservice sectors. We are committed to excellence in food safety, sustainability, and continuous improvement.

Role Summary:

The Factory Technical Manager is responsible for leading the operational technical agenda across the Bakery and Sausage House manufacturing value streams. This role ensures the effective implementation of food safety, quality assurance, and technical standards, while acting as the primary technical interface for factory-based teams.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Technical Management

Ensure delivery and maintenance of all technical standards within the manufacturing facility, in line with company, customer, and regulatory requirements.
Lead the factory-based technical team, overseeing Q.A processes across Goods In, Manufacturing, and Finished Product stages.
Conduct and maintain factory-based food safety risk assessments, ensuring risks are identified, assessed, and mitigated appropriately.
Conduct internal audits within the manufacturing environment to assess compliance with food safety and quality standards.
Facilitate external site audits from a technical and quality perspective, ensuring audit readiness and effective follow-up on findings.
Serve as the primary technical contact for factory-based teams including Operations, Hygiene, and Engineering, providing expert support and guidance.
Escalate significant technical issues, risks, or non-conformances to the Site Technical Manager as required.
Deputise for the Site Technical Manager in all operational aspects, ensuring appropriate day-to-day technical support.

2. Quality Assurance & Food Safety

Maintain and continuously improve operational food safety & quality management systems.
Participate in food safety and food defence teams, contributing from an operational, technical, and product quality perspective.
Ensuring CCP compliance within the factory through robust monitoring, verification & validation processes.
Drive resolution of quality issues through structured root cause analysis and implementation of corrective and preventive actions.
Lead robust cross-functional investigations into customer complaints and outcomes from quality panels and assessments, ensuring delivery of corrective and preventive actions.
Support and prepare for customer visits, regulatory inspections, and certification audits, ensuring readiness and compliance.
Develop and drive a positive food safety & quality culture across both value streams and operational facilities.

3. Team Management & Development

Manage and develop the Q.A Manager and wider Q.A team to build technical capability and foster a culture of continuous improvement.
Oversee resource planning and allocation to ensure effective coverage and capability.
Provide coaching, training & mentoring - supporting professional development and facilitating succession planning across the Q.A team.
Participation in training and development activities as required by the role to ensure effective completion of duties and continuous development.
Assisting in the generation of food safety & quality based training materials along with the practical delivery of basic training in key food safety & quality disciplines.
Leading by example, prioritizing food safety & quality at all times, ensuring adherence to company policies.

4. Continuous Improvement

Identify opportunities for improvement of technical / quality processes across both value streams.
Implement changes that enhance product quality, consistency, and operational efficiency.
Collaborate with Operational and Culinary teams to support and drive quality improvement initiatives.

5. Project & Change Management

Actively co-ordinating and participating in the technical aspects of factory trials and change control processes.
Commissioning of new equipment and processes within the factory from a technical, food safety and quality perspective.

6. Health & Safety

Ensure factory technical / Q.A team comply with business H&S policies and requirements.
Conduct task based risk assessments to support safe working practices.

7. Stakeholder Engagement

Act as the main operational technical point of contact for internal stakeholders within the manufacturing environment.
Communicate effectively with internal departments including senior leadership, operations, culinary, commercial, and technical compliance.

Qualifications, Skills & Experience:

Degree or equivalent in Food Science, Microbiology, or a related discipline OR demonstrable experience in a technical / quality management role within food manufacturing.
Minimum 3 years experience in factory based technical / quality management.
Strong working knowledge of bakery and meat processing operations.
Experience with BRCGS, retailer standards, and regulatory compliance.
Excellent communication, management, collaboration and problem-solving skills.
HACCP & Food Safety Level 3 or above.
Suitably trained in internal auditing / inspection.

Benefits:

On-site canteen
Company pension
Cycle to work scheme
Discounted or free food
On-site parking

Peters Food Service

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Factory Technical Manager