Technical Manager

 Technical Manager

Location: Leek

Reporting to: General Manager, Ornua Trading UK

Salary: Generous salary for this role

Benefits: Company Pension, Discounted Company Shop, Bike and Tech Scheme, Subsidised Staff Canteen, Life Assurance, Free Parking and many more

Ornua (meaning “new gold”) is Ireland’s largest exporter of Irish dairy products, proudly bringing the unique taste of Irish dairy to the world for over 55 years.

Are you a detail orientated Technical Manager looking for the challenge of taking a mission driven organisation to its next level of success?

Ornua is actively seeking a Technical Manager to join our Butter and Powder Trading team (Ornua Nutrition Ingredients ) as we continue our growth trajectory.

As our Technical Manager, you will manage all technical requirements for the Ornua Nutrition Ingredients Trading Business, driving technical excellence, to assure product quality and microbiological safety, meeting customer needs and expectations in line with all relevant quality, service, legal and regulatory standards and obligations.

Why Ornua?

• Ornua operates from 10 business units worldwide, including 16 production facilities, and has sales and marketing teams working in-market across all four corners of the globe.
• The Group is structured across two divisions: Ornua Foods and Ornua Ingredients.
• Ornua Ingredients is responsible for the procurement of Irish and non-Irish dairy products and for the sale of dairy ingredients to food manufactures and foodservice customer across the world.
• Our co-operative ethos lies at the heart of how we do business as a purpose and values-led organisation, creating value for Irish dairy farming families.
• Our Values lie at the core of everything we do. Our five values encourage us to Seek and Embrace New Ideas, Make It Happen, Be Our True Selves, Show You Care, and Achieve Great Things Together.
• We invest in our people and foster a culture of continuous learning and improvement.
• Dynamic Working policy in place which facilitates flexible hours and hybrid working.
• Career Progression including Global Mobility opportunities.
• Comprehensive Benefits with regional specific offerings.

Why This Role Is Valuable:

The Technical Manager will;

• Lead the technical function, optimising allocation of resources to ensure that targets and objectives are met within the agreed budget and timelines.
• Support group technical including involvement in group audits / projects including managing and maintaining the Internal Audit Plan and driving corrective and preventative actions
• Set, manage and report against Technical KPIs, operating within the business unit budget, executing actions required to address any performance issues and / or to capitalise on opportunities (customer complaints, non-conformance etc.).
• Develop, implement, maintain and ensure adherence to a Quality Management System which drives associated best practice for quality and safety and is in line with customer, GFSI & regulatory requirements.
• Implement and lead the onsite HACCP, TACCP and VACCP plan in accordance with customer, GFSI & regulatory requirements.
• Maintain company external accreditations with BRC Global Standard for Agents & Brokers and other customer external accreditation bodies such as Ecovadis. Kosher, Halal , RSPO and Informed Manufacturer. Look to move BRCGS audit to unannounced audit in 2025
• Lead the maintenance of all Specifications ensuring they remain up to date – both within internal systems and within customer platforms.
• Own the supplier approval process to ensure suitability of supply to all required standards.
• Complete all required customer documentation in accordance with defined customer segmentation requirements. Inclusive of completing safety, quality & sustainability documentation.
• Audit supply base as required including 3rd party suppliers of raw materials, warehouses or haulier suppliers.
• Lead and manage the onsite traceability and mass balance schedule to ensure that it is maintained 100% of the time.
• Own the resolution and response for customer complaints and internal rejections, leading the investigation, undertaking root cause analysis, overseeing corrective actions and preventative measures in a timely manner that meets with customer expectations and prevents recurrence.
• Maintain compliance with ways of working defined within Global platforms such as M3 & Foods Connected.
• Drive the development of improvements in the effectiveness of operations & supply chain through contribution to cross-functional working, performance improvement initiatives and the development of operational process. 
• Foster a culture of quality and safety within the team, effectively communicating and educating all team members to ensure products are always delivered to the highest standards.

What You Bring To The Role:

• Advanced Food Safety level 4 or equivalent / higher related science subject
• Advanced HACCP Level 4 or equivalent.
• Lead Auditor Qualified – minimum Internal auditing qualification.
• Experience of leading, managing and coaching team of technical experts, including Quality and Microbiological testing
• Experience of driving quality and food safety excellence across an organisation
• Experience of managing customer complaint issues, including root cause analysis and devising corrective and preventive measures
• Detailed knowledge of quality and food safety systems and processes
• Demonstrable experience of developing strong working relationships with Trading Standards, Environmental Health, Customer Technical representatives and other bodies
   

Ornua has ambitious growth plans and we’re building a team to help enable and accelerate that growth. We are looking for people who share our values, are curious, forward-looking, take ownership and work together to build a future for themselves and Ornua.

Would you like to make an impact?

To learn more, please visit Ornua at www.ornua.com

Ornua values diversity and inclusion and welcomes applications from candidates with diverse backgrounds. We also strongly encourage women and other underrepresented groups in the manufacturing industry to apply. Your unique perspectives and experiences are highly valued and will be instrumental in driving our company’s continued success. Join us in shaping a more innovative, inclusive, and sustainable future.

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