Technical Manager Food, Maidstone

Role - Technical Manager - Fresh Produce A leading fresh produce business supplying major UK retail customers is looking to recruit an experienced Technical Manager to join its growing technical team based in Kent. This is an exciting opportunity for a commercially aware and hands-on technical professional who enjoys working closely with suppliers, growers, customers and internal teams to drive quality, compliance and continuous improvement across the supply chain.The role offers strong exposure across retailer-facing technical management, supplier engagement, product quality, innovation and sustainability initiatives within a fast-paced fresh produce environment. Key Responsibilities Manage day-to-day technical, quality and compliance activities across suppliers and product categoriesBuild strong working relationships with suppliers, growers, technical teams and commercial stakeholders Support retailer requirements, policies, standards and audit expectations Lead supplier visits, improvement plans and technical follow-up actions Monitor complaints, rejections, shelf life and KPI performance, driving corrective actions and improvementsMaintain specifications, technical documentation and compliance systems Support product trials, benchmarking, packaging developments and innovation projects Work closely with procurement, product management and operational teams to ensure customer expectations are achieved Support audits, due diligence and compliance activities across the supply baseDrive continuous improvement across product quality, systems and processes Experience Required Previous Technical Manager, Technical Account Manager or Technical Compliance experience within fresh produce, food manufacturing or FMCG Strong experience working directly with customers, suppliers and growersKnowledge of retailer standards, specifications and compliance requirements Experience managing complaints, rejections, audits and quality performance Strong communication and stakeholder management skills Organised, proactive and capable of working within a fast-paced environment Desirable Fresh produce experienceExperience working with M&S, Tesco, Waitrose, Ocado or similar retail standards BRCGS knowledge Internal auditing experience Experience with technical portals, specifications and ERP systems Whats on Offer Excellent exposure across retail-facing technical operations Opportunity to influence supplier quality, innovation and continuous improvementSupportive and collaborative working environment Long-term career development within a growing business To apply, please send your CV for confidential consideration. TPBN1_UKTJ