Technical Director - Food manufacturing

About the role

This Board‑level Technical Director role is with a privately owned, multi‑site food manufacturing business undergoing major transformation and growth. The position sits on the Executive Leadership Team and is responsible for shaping the technical agenda across several sites, including the shift to chilled and higher‑care manufacturing.

Key responsibilities

• Define and deliver the technical vision and strategy for the organisation.
• Lead, develop and inspire a large multi‑disciplinary technical function.
• Drive food safety, quality and compliance standards across multiple sites.
• Lead technical workstreams linked to higher‑care manufacturing evolution.
• Build capability, succession pipelines and a high‑performing technical culture.
• Act as senior technical representative with customers, retailers and external stakeholders.
• Influence cross‑functional peers to embed technical excellence.
• Support investment decisions on facilities, processes and future growth.
• Provide strategic input as a member of the Executive Leadership Team.

Required profile

• Minimum degree educated, ideally with further study in microbiology.
• Significant senior technical leadership experience in complex food manufacturing, preferably at board level.
• Strong retailer‑facing credibility with major UK retailers.
• Experience operating in chilled and/or higher‑care manufacturing environments.
• Demonstrable experience leading technical transformation.

Required skills

• Microbiology
• Food safety
• Quality assurance
• Compliance
• Higher‑care manufacturing processes

What we offer

• Salary range £125,000‑£150,000 per year.
• Executive benefits including car allowance and bonus.
• Relocation support or accommodation options for living away from home.