Technical Manager

About Kepak:

Kepak is a leading food company with manufacturing sites across Ireland and the UK. The Group operates across three divisions: the Foods Division, Meat Division UK, and Meat Division Ireland. Guided by our values—Responsibility, Ambition, Passion for Food, and Teamwork—we are committed to operating as a successful, sustainable, future-ready business that is a great place to work. We supply fresh and value-added meat-based products to retail and foodservice through private label and our own brands, including Rustlers, Big Al's and John Stone.

As Technical Manager, you will be responsible for the following key metrics:

• Leads the site Food Safety and Quality team in managing all food safety and quality processes, ensuring all products meet regulatory, customer, and internal standards with a focus on food safety excellence.
• Responsible for food safety compliance at the site, working alongside the operational and wider teams to promote a culture of compliance across all departments, protect brand reputation while delivering consistent product quality
• Lead the implementation of site food safety and compliance programs to align with HACCP, TACCP, VACCP, BRCGS, and customer standards.
• Support the evaluation and implementation of new equipment to align with food safety, quality, and operational goals.
• As a senior manager, the Site Technical Manager is responsible for the health, safety and wellbeing of their team and is expected to lead by example in promoting a culture of positive and inclusive employee engagement. 
• Ensure full compliance with health and safety policies and procedures.
• Promote a culture of safety-first across the Food Safety and Quality team and wider site teams
• Legislation, Customer Standards, Accreditation Standards: Assist the Site Managers in understanding, delivering and maintaining the required standards within the business units.

• Operations Support: Support the Operations team on day-to-day activities, coach and trouble shoot activities for improvement.
• Customer and Supplier Management: Liaise and provide support to the customer and suppliers as required. Coordinate requested reporting, KPIs, visits, reviews, calls and meetings. Communicate, track, respond to, report and trend to identify reoccurring issues on claims, complaints and rejection and recommend permanent solutions within the agreed timeframes.
• DAFM Management: Liaise and provide support to DAFM as required ensuring all documentation and sampling requirements for the Business unit are achieved.
• Audits and Visits: Lead site audits, customer visits, supplier visits, and visits from regulatory bodies. Coordinate non-conformance findings including actions taken and report to relevant department managers and suppliers ensuring completion of any required corrective actions from day-to-day issues.
• Build and maintain positive and professional relationships with site teams, including operations, engineering, NPD, procurement, purchasing and commercial teams, to educate and embed food safety and quality compliance into all processes.
• Embodies the company values by promoting an inclusive, respectful and high-performing culture focused on employee health, safety and wellbeing
• Other duties will be part of the role and will be specified by the Site Manager

What we need from you?

• Qualification in Food Science, Food Technology, or related discipline
• Level 6 QQI Advanced HACCP certification an advantage
• Auditing experience required
• Strong knowledge of HACCP, BRCGS, GMP, TACCP, VACCP, and EU food safety regulations
• Experience in managing audits and liaising with external stakeholders
• Proven track record in food safety compliance and quality systems management
• Knowledge of animal welfare standards a distinct advantage
• Strong leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills

What can we offer you?

• Incremental Annual Leave Entitlement
• Contributory Company Pension Scheme
• Company phone
• Company laptop
• Subsidised canteen
• Free parking
• Discounted meat products
• Flexibility of holiday planning
• Permanent contract