Technical Manager

Description:

Join Keelings! You will be part of a passionate team of people and a growing business. Come on the journey with us where you will grow and develop and truly feel a sense of belonging. At Keelings, we don't just grow quality fresh produce, we also nurture people and their professional development. The Keelings family always employ the best people for the job, the key to our success is the quality of the people we employ.

Our Strategic Priorities

Better Food - We make our products better and inspire more people to enjoy produce.

People - We support our people to learn, be at their best, contribute and deliver on their commitments, using One Keelings' standards.

Better Ways - Every year we improve our competitiveness, efficiency and delivery through insight, technology and One Keelings.

Better World - We improve our environmental and social impact to make a positive difference in our world.

Partnerships - Working with Keelings creates value and long-term relationships with our customers & suppliers.

Growth - We invest in and deliver insight led, focused, profitable growth into the future.

Keelings Values

People Matter - We support and treat each other in a clear, fair and respectful way. We all learn, develop and encourage everyone to contribute

Teamwork - We inspire and help each other to deliver our ambitions together as One Keelings

Integrity - We do the right thing and deliver on our commitments

Passion for Achievement - We motivate ourselves and each other to achieve our ambitions with energy, knowledge and courage. We are always striving to be better.

Purpose Of The Role

You will manage all aspects of product quality, safety, and legality from production to the customer. The role will be highly customer focussed, ensuring strong relationships with our customer technical and policy teams are maintained. Engaging with all department to deliver our customers’ expectations across our business and our supply base in a cost-effective manner.

Key Accountabilities & Responsibilities
 

• Drive and build a technical customer facing strategy which supports our commercial business.
• To develop/maintain trust, confidence, and effective working relationship with all customer contacts, providing timely responses to requests and delivering excellent customer service.
• Effective management of customer complaints and rejection investigation.
• To manage customer visits that relate to product quality, safety and legality and ETI and the environment.
• Provide expertise and advice to the business on quality, technical customer requirements, shelf life, waste ensuring compliance with legal and food safety standards.
• Communicate timely and accurate updates, providing technical expertise and insight into the latest technical, quality and safety developments within the industry.
• Manage technical continuous improvement across the business.
• Develop and maintain documentation, records, and reports related to product quality, safety, and compliance, ensuring accuracy and completeness.
• Lead the Technical Department in relevant Retailer Audits. To develop and maintain systems, ways of working, procedures for audit compliance.
• To manage internal projects agreed with the business or external parties.
• Where required, create the conditions to continually optimise the motivation, engagement, development, and performance of the team.
• Ensure compliance with health and safety guidelines and regulations whilst prioritizing colleague well-being; cultivate a culture of accountability and excellence organization wide.
• Live our One Keelings Values and facilitate an inclusive environment where all can excel.
• To liaise with the relevant retailer for supplier visits
   

Experience And Skills Required
 

• Proven track record working with customers (ideally retailers) within the Food/Fresh Produce industry
• Knowledge of third-party auditing to a minimum of BRC standards
• Relevant accreditations or qualifications in food safety and technical
• To have directly worked or to have a clear understanding of relevant accreditation standards, F2F, TN10, Global Gap, Bord Bia, BRC, Food safety
• Ability to balance customer demands with the best interests of Keelings
• Excellent customer engagement skills with a passion for delivering for the customer
• Attention to detail and able to work at pace
• The ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment, managing multiple priorities and deadlines
• Excellent communication, influencing, negotiation, and presentation skills.