Job Description

This isn't just another technical role. At Laila's Fine Foods, you'll be the guardian of food safety and quality--preserving our artisan, small-batch standards while producing at large-scale volumes. We need a Technical Manager who understands that these two things aren't contradictory - they're our competitive advantage.

The Opportunity

Following exceptional growth driven by our relentless focus on innovation and quality, we're looking for an experienced Technical Manager to join our senior leadership team and own our food safety and quality strategy across rotational shifts.

This is a pivotal, high-impact role where you'll be the technical authority across the site, ensuring every single one of our 80,000 daily meals meets the exacting standards that our customers and consumers expect - and that we demand of ourselves.

You'll work across rotational shift patterns, providing visible leadership and technical excellence when it matters most. This means being present during critical production periods, leading by example, and ensuring our technical standards never slip, regardless of the time of day.

Shift Pattern:

Days based but overall responsibility for technical leadership presence during all production periods Flexibility required to support critical audit and customer visit requirements Your leadership ensures technical excellence around the clock
What You'll Be Doing

Leading with Authority:

Build, develop and inspire a high-performing Technical team with the skills, structure and culture to drive excellence Act as the technical authority for all food safety, quality, legality and compliance matters across the site Be the go-to expert for customers, suppliers, and internal stakeholders - enhancing Laila's reputation with every interaction Provide visible leadership across shifts, ensuring technical standards are maintained 24/7

Driving Excellence:

Own and execute the site's food safety and quality strategy - from HACCP to BRC and beyond Lead internal and external audits with confidence, turning findings into opportunities for improvement Embed robust controls that guarantee food safety, legality, quality and customer satisfaction in every product Champion continuous improvement - constantly asking "how can we be better?"

Protecting What Matters:

Maintain and enhance HACCP systems that keep consumers safe and our reputation intact Ensure BRC standards aren't just met but exceeded - making them part of our DNA, not just audit requirements Develop and implement corrective action plans that address root causes, not just symptoms Support production teams with proactive technical expertise and problem-solving

Building for the Future:

Create technical training programmes that develop capability across all levels Work with NPD teams to ensure new products are technically robust and scalable Support our ambitious growth plans with systems, processes and people that can scale with us Collaborate with Operations to ensure technical standards enhance rather than hinder productivity
Who You Are

The Essentials:

Proven experience as a Technical Manager in chilled or frozen food manufacturing - you've done this role at scale Deep expertise in BRC, HACCP, and major UK retailer technical standards - you know what excellence looks like Track record of leading technical teams through audits, customer visits, and continuous improvement Strong understanding of both high-care and high-risk food production environments

The Difference Makers:

You've worked with major UK retailers and understand their exacting technical requirements Natural leader who builds teams that take pride in quality and safety Commercial awareness - you balance technical perfection with operational reality Project management skills that turn strategy into action Excellent communicator who can explain complex technical matters to diverse audiences Proven ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced, high-volume environment

What Sets You Apart:

Experience in ready meal manufacturing - understanding the complexity of multi-component products Track record of taking sites through successful BRC upgrades or retailer audits You see food safety as non-negotiable but find ways to make compliance easier, not harder Passion for developing people - you create technical experts, not just manage them You understand that artisan quality and industrial scale can coexist
Why Join Laila's?

Make a Real Impact:

This isn't a corporate role where you're 12 layers from decision-making. As part of our senior leadership team, your voice matters. Your expertise shapes strategy. Your standards become our standards.

Culture & Values:

Family ownership

means decisions are made with long-term thinking, not quarterly targets

"Large enough to deliver, small enough to care"

- experience tells you this is rare and valuable

Growth & Development:

Join us during an exciting growth phase with ambitious expansion plans Be part of a business investing in lean manufacturing, systems, and people Opportunities to shape technical strategy as we scale Work on NPD projects bringing innovative products to market Real career progression potential as the business grows

The Package:

Competitive salary

reflecting your experience and the scope of the role

Company pension

scheme

Free on-site parking

Referral programme

- share success with your network Work for an

award-winning, BRC AA+ accredited

manufacturer Join a team that's genuinely passionate about food quality
The Reality Check

Let's be honest about what this role requires:
?

High standards

- we don't compromise, and neither can you
?

Pace

- 80,000 meals/day means decisions happen fast
?

Accountability

- you own technical excellence across the site
?

Audit pressure

- major retailers expect perfection, and so do we

But here's what you get in return:

? A role where your expertise genuinely matters every single day
? Leadership opportunities in a business that's going places
? The satisfaction of maintaining artisan standards at industrial scale
? A family business culture that values people as much as products
? The chance to say "I helped build this" as we continue growing

Ready to Own Technical Excellence?

If you're a Technical Manager who's ready to step into a role where your standards become the company's standards, where your leadership shapes culture, and where you'll have the authority and support to drive real change - this is your opportunity.

This role is perfect for you if:

? You want to work for a business with values, not just targets ? You're ready for a senior technical role with genuine influence ? You believe quality and productivity can coexist ? You want to build something, not just maintain it ? You're comfortable with the visibility and accountability that comes with rotational shift leadership

This role isn't for you if:

? You see technical management as a box-ticking exercise ? You're uncomfortable making high-stakes decisions ? You prefer working in isolation rather than leading visible teams
How to Apply

Think you're the Technical Manager who can protect and enhance our reputation for excellence?

Click the

Apply

button now and show us why you're the technical leader who'll help write the next chapter of Laila's success story.

Laila's Fine Foods is an equal opportunities employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: 50,000.00-60,000.00 per year

Benefits:

Company pension Free parking On-site parking Referral programme
Work Location: In person