Technical Manager

Technical Manager

Job title:                         Technical Manager

Location:                        Foods UK, Leek

Salary:                            Generous salary depending on experience

Hours:                             36.25 hours per week

Benefits:                         Matched pension scheme up to 8%, Generous holiday allowance increasing with length of service, Subsidised staff canteen, Company shop offering discounts on Ornua products, Sports & Social Club, Staff Lottery, Discount on Bikes & Tech Scheme, Confidential Employee Assist Programme, Free onsite parking

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 passionate, energetic and motivated Technical Specialist looking for the challenge of taking a mission driven organisation to its next level of success?

Are you a collaborative, agile and transformative people leader with experience leading technical colleagues to success?

Ornua is actively seeking a Technical Manager to join our technical department as we continue our growth trajectory.

The Technical Manager will play a key role in providing a professional “Best in Class” Technical function by, managing technical aspects of the operation on a day to day basis and ownership of all products, product improvements for their relevant customer groups. Including, maintaining, developing & continuously improving all aspects of quality management systems (HACCP) on - site. It is key that our technical systems are capable & in place to facilitate an ever-changing environment. 

An instrumental role within the business, with our aim to be the industry leader in technical standards for our chosen categories. 

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 Foods is responsible for the marketing and sales of Ornua’s consumer brands including Kerrygold, Pilgrims Choice.
• 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.
• Career Progression including Global Mobility opportunities.
• Comprehensive Benefits with regional specific offerings.

Why This Role Is Valuable:

As our Technical Manager you will be responsible for leading on;

• Effective management of the activities and professional development of the Quality Assurance and Supplier Assurance teams to ensure best practice is achieved consistently in a timely manner
• Manage the site Quality Management System (FSQMS) ensuring compliance with Legislation, Customer Codes Of Practice, BRC Versions & Group Technical Codes of Practice & Guidelines 
• Through the QA team, ensure that site technical & quality standards are maintained at all times
• Working closely with Operations & Engineering, management of non-conformances and trending data on site leading to timely & effective resolution (i.e., Micro & chemical, pest control & factory standards)
• Working collaboratively to reduce the incidents of customer complaints to within budgeted targets

• Maintenance & review of the all the FSQMS (including HACCP) documentation to ensure relevant critical systems (including CCP’s) are included in factory standard operating procedures & product specifications
• Maintain compliance with Technical KPI targets 
• Active participation and lead in Food Safety, BRC & Customer Audits as required. 

Managing and maintain the external laboratory, managing the relationships ensuring satisfactory service is provided within budgetary costs       

• Work with Hygiene functions to improve cleaning processes and resolve any issues. 
• Drive Food Safety and Quality improvement through on site initiatives to improve site objectives and work with the supply base to implement and drive supplier performance improvements
• Management of various aspects of Technical including Quality Assurance, Supplier Assurance along with knowledge of working with Hygiene teams and systems
• In conjunction with the Technical Controller develop the site Technical Systems to exceed industry technical standards and drive continuous improvement through the site systems
• Support the delivery of the HACCP across all activities, driving food safety & product quality and legality at all times
• Deputising for the Technical Controller in their absence

What You Bring To The Role:

• Experience in chilled food manufacture in the UK retail environment & management of quality systems
• Computer literate with good working knowledge of Microsoft applications. 
• HACCP Trained to level 3 or above
• Good standard of written and oral communication

Our interview process is designed to be thorough yet supportive. This process includes a first stage via Teams to allow us to get to know you better and to understand your skills and experiences and, if successful, a second stage face-to-face interview that will build upon the first stage and give you the opportunity to get a feel for Ornua and the environment in which you will be working.

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.