About the position
Introduction
The Group Technical Manager will lead and oversee quality assurance, food safety, and compliance functions across all manufacturing and Logistics sites. The role ensures that products meet legal, regulatory, and customer requirements while maintaining the highest standards of safety, quality, and consistency. This position will drive the implementation of robust food safety systems, certification standards and continuous improvement initiatives across our business.
Duties & Responsibilities
Responsible for ensuring that the Famous Brands TQFSM system is implemented and adequately managed by competent unit based TQFSM Managers in all relevant the Famous Brands Business Units (BU) to ensure that the food and packaging products supplied to the Famous Brands network that are safe for the consumer and that they meet regulatory and customer requirements through:
- Ensuring the development and implementation of an effective Food Safety and Quality Management systems throughout the extended supply chain
- Ensuring and driving ownership of the BU specific TQFSM system by Business Unit TQFSM Managers and BU Top Management through effective communication, support, and competence development
- Support the development of a Food Safety Culture at Business Unit level
- Providing an effective independent compliance assessment system through effective and non - biased verification, internal audit, and review processes
- Continuously ensure legislative and regulatory compliance of all products supplied to the Famous Brands network
- Manage the SQA (Supplier Quality Assurance) programme and the introduction and/or listing of new and potential suppliers
- Providing technical and advisory support to all Famous Brands business units (Brands, Manufacturing and Distribution centres) as required
- Manage the Central Testing and Verification Laboratory
- Lead problem solving to drive overall quality improvement
- Manage and lead the technical department
- Track complaints and identify trends and assist business units in resolving consumer and customer complaints where required.
- Represent Famous Brands in relevant industry and legislative Food Safety forums.
- Compliance to internal, legal, and industrial standards - maintenance of certification status
- Resolution of complaints
- Improvement in Quality Assurance key performance indicators
- Value improvement and functionality of existing products
- Other duties as per individual score card or as required by the Manufacturing & Technical Executive
Desired Experience & Qualification
- At least 7 - 12 years' experience within the food industry in a food safety role
- Proven experience in developing and implementing Food Safety Management Systems
- Extensive knowledge of food and food safety standards and regulations
- Extensive knowledge of HACCP and its implementation with a specific focus on hazard and risk identification and management
- Proven knowledge of process engineering and management
- 5 years' experience in a managerial role (including financial management skills)
- Certified Food Safety Auditor within an ISO framework
- Knowledge of other relevant ISO standards (Quality, OHS, Environment)
- Experience / understanding of a food franchising environment will be beneficial
- Relevant tertiary science / food science education
- Patience
- Strong and wide food product knowledge with focus on meat, dairy, sauces and spices, vegetables and ready to eat products
- Excellent inter-personal skills
- Attention detail
- Problem solving & Resilience
- Ability to deliver trough cross functional teams
- Works well under pressure
- Ability to travel
- Strong continuous improvement mind set
- Computer literate
