OverviewAccountable for ensuring the technical integrity of the Sites and compliance to relevant legal retailer and corporate technical standards. Contribute to the development of the overall Business plan and other appropriate technical policies. Drive and achieve change in this context. Influence Colleagues to deliver functional KPI's to levels required. Protect the integrity of the materials delivered to the Site and to the customer working with all functions to ensure technical excellence. Matrix management and Leadership of the Sites Technical population.To provide inspirational leadership to the site technical teams and ensure we demonstrate a leading-edge position in these fields to our customers.ResponsibilitiesProvide technical leadership for the Naas and Longford sites and to ensure effective quality management systems are in place to guarantee both food safety and legal compliance at Birdseye Pizza sitesLiaise with key technical people in delivering the right quality product to customers – own label and brandedResponsibility for the management and implementation of BRC and other customer manufacturing standards, policies and compliance requirements To ensure customer focus is managed and all requirements in relation to customer compliance is managed to an industry leading standard To define, lead and implement programmes to deliver the Company and Group Technical Strategy which gives Naas & Longford sites a competitive advantageTo deliver continual positive change to the business by the application of best technical practice, technology, science and innovationFood Safety and Quality Management:Designs, manages and reviews process to deliver and continuously improve the Companies food safety and quality management systemActively co-ordinates and engages others to deliverAwareness and implementation of legal requirements, codes of practice etc.Participates fully on any crisis management group involving goods and technical servicesDelivers technical data collection services that allow us to respond by exception and trend performance to direct our energies in to worthwhile change programmesDevelops supplier and customer relationships in alignment with our business goalsCompliance:Manage all aspects of Food safety and quality across the Naas & Longford sitesBRC and customer manufacturing standards to be fully implemented and managed to leading industry standards Customer focus is at the heart of all activities and all customer policies and required KPI's are met in a timely fashion Explores opportunities and capitalises on internal and external advances to benefit the application of compliancy within the businessEnsures the business compliance strategies are implemented and aligned with group and statutory directivesProduct and Raw Material Expertise:Uses knowledge of equipment, recipes, ingredients and processes that improves performance or marginUnderstands key ingredients and their role in the various conversion processes and advises on value analysis and usage optimisationDefines activities which are required to ensure compliance with relevant COP'sCommunicates cost saving opportunities and identifies links to other business groupsInfluence and help define group strategy in response to global ingredient and packaging materials developmentSupport programmes of work to deliver process improvements and cost savingsSupports supplier engagement programmes that allow us to grow our competencies through best use of our supplier's knowledge Data and Knowledge Management:Communicates technical information with conviction and authority to meet the needs of the target audience QualificationsEssentialDegree level qualification in Food ScienceMinimum of 5 years practicing as Quality/technical Manager within the Food sectorPrevious experience of representing a company on external bodies and committeesExtensive experience in leading teams and implementing successful continuous improvement programmesWorking knowledge of retail practicesKnowledge and understanding of BRC standardsKnowledge and understanding of main UK retailer Own Label requirementsTrack record of driving technical strategy across a food businessInspirational leaderChallenges and is restless in the status quoInquisitive and enquiringDemands and earns respect from colleagues, customers and suppliersCommercially interprets the technical agendaDelivers change through his/her staffDesirableTechnical relationship with UK MultiplesIs able to influence effectively across the matrix to drive business performance