Job Description

English Provender Company produce award-winning dressings, condiments and marinades for many of the UK's leading food manufacturers and retailers as well as nurturing our own brands: English Provender(TM), Very Lazy and Newman's Own.

Job Overview

This is a high-impact leadership role, responsible for overseeing all technical, product quality, and process implementation aspects of food manufacturing and product lifecycle management for our diverse client base, which includes most major UK Retailers, Quick Service Restaurants (QSR), and Business-to-Business (B2B) partners across the UK as well as a growing export business.

Leading a team of food customer technical managers, product technologists, and Process Technologists to ensure excellence in product safety, quality, regulatory compliance, and the successful launch of products through manufacturing scale-up.

Responsibilities

Customer related Technical & Quality Leadership

Be the voice of the customer across our manufacturing sites driving customer standards, right first-time mentality, creating strong customer relationships at senior levels and regular customer KPI reviews to maintain high levels of trust. Define and execute the overall Customer Technical Strategy, ensuring alignment with business goals and client-specific requirements (e.g., retailer technical standards, BRCGS, etc.). Serve as the senior technical point of contact for strategic clients, regulatory bodies where required (e.g., FSA, Trading Standards), and auditing organisations. As a senior member of the technical team always driving a culture of Food Safety and Quality excellence throughout the organisation. Supporting the Central Technical Team in the development of technical documentation, specifications, and process control procedures where required.

Product Launch & Process Scale-Up Management

Lead the technical team in the end-to-end product development and launch process, from concept approval to factory trials and final sign-off. Direct the Process Technology function to ensure the successful, safe, and efficient scale-up and implementation of new products and processes into full-scale factory production. Ensure manufacturing process parameters are robustly defined, documented, and consistently replicated to deliver products that meet quality and safety specifications upon launch. Ensure all new products are legally compliant (e.g., labelling, composition, claims) and meet customer specifications prior to launch. Manage the process for raw material and packaging supplier approval, ensuring robust technical agreements and quality standards are in place.

Team Management & Development

Lead, mentor, and develop the Customer Technical and Process Technology teams, fostering a high-performing and collaborative environment. Set clear objectives, conduct performance reviews, and manage resource allocation across product launches, manufacturing support, and compliance projects. Ensure the team maintains up-to-date knowledge of UK/EU food law, industry best practices, and all client-specific standards.

Manufacturing Safety & Compliance

Support the implementation and maintenance of robust HACCP plans and all necessary prerequisite programs. Ensure the manufacturing facility consistently meets requirements for accreditations such as BRCGS Global Standard for Food Safety, and customer-specific audits. Drive continuous improvement in food safety and quality management systems (FSMS). Manage all finished product testing and results data trending and take relating action for out of speciation product.

Complaint and Incident Management

Establish and manage a robust process for the effective investigation and resolution of product complaints from retailers, QSRs, and B2B clients. Lead the management of all technical incidents, including potential product withdrawals or recalls, ensuring timely communication and full regulatory compliance. Analyse complaint data to identify trends and implement corrective and preventive actions (CAPA).
Please note that the company does not offer sponsorship for roles that have an imminent start and therefore no sponsorship will be offered for this role. Only those candidates who have a legal right to work in the United Kingdom [without requiring sponsorship from us] will be considered.

Job Types: Full-time, Permanent

Benefits:

Canteen Company pension Discounted or free food Employee discount Free flu jabs Free parking Health & wellbeing programme On-site parking Store discount
Work authorisation:

Reino Unido (required)
Location:

Thatcham (preferred)
Willingness to travel:

* 25% (required)