Vickerstock are delighted to be working in partnership with a well-established red meat processor that operates to the highest industry standards. With a BRCGS Food Safety AA rating, this site based in Antrim area has built a strong reputation for quality, compliance, and continuous improvement. They're proud of their tight-knit, collaborative team and are now looking to bring on a Technical Manager to support ongoing food safety and quality assurance activities.

As the successful Technical Manager you will have full accountability for the leadership, performance and continuous improvement of the site's Food Safety and Quality Management System. This hands-on role is responsible for ensuring compliance with BRCGS Food, regulatory requirements and customer standards, while safeguarding product safety, legality, and quality across all operations.

What your day to day will look like:

• Lead and continuously improve the Food Safety and Quality Management System (FSQMS) to ensure compliance with BRCGS, legal and regulatory standards.
• Act as the site lead for food safety, quality, legality and compliance providing expert technical leadership and decision-making.
• Lead external audits and inspections, including BRCGS, regulatory authorities and customer audits ensuring strong preparation, execution and close-out of any corrective actions.
• Oversee and maintain the HACCP system, ensuring effective risk assessment and OPRP management.
• Manage and drive the internal audit programme (GMP, hygiene, traceability, systems).
• Lead the investigation and resolution of any customer complaints, non-conformances and food safety incidents, including root cause analysis, CAPA and trend reporting.
• Oversee product specifications and supplier approval processes to ensure alignment with customer and legal requirements.
• Manage sampling and testing programmes, including microbiological monitoring, shelf-life validation, environmental swabbing, and water quality testing.
• Build and maintain strong working relationships with customers, regulatory bodies, certification bodies, and suppliers.
• Undertake induction and ongoing SOP training of staff ensuring operational teams understand and follow food safety, hygiene and SOP requirements.

What you'll need to succeed:

• Proven experience in a technical role within food manufacturing, ideally red meat, meat processing, or high-risk food environments.
• Strong working knowledge of BRCGS Food Safety Standard and regulatory compliance requirements.
• Experience either leading of being involved in external audits and regulatory inspections.
• Experience managing supplier approval, specifications, raw material compliance and traceability systems.
• Confident in interpreting food safety legislation, retailer standards and industry best practice.

Desirable Criteria (it would be great if you have these but don't worry if you don't!)

• A Degree / HND or equivalent in Food Science, Food Technology, Microbiology or a related discipline or appropriate technical experience.
• Formal HACCP qualification (Level 3 or Level 4 preferred)
• Lead Auditor or Internal Auditor qualification

What we hope you do next:
Sound like the career move you've been after and would like to hear more, pick up the phone to Anna now on T 028 9031 3720, or send an updated CV - in Word format - via the link on the page (or email).

If this opportunity doesn't quite get the taste buds flowing but like me you are passionate about food, let's get a chat and see how I can help grow your career.

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