Technical Expert

This role, Technical Manager, involves a blend of customer relations, product expertise, and compliance with technical standards, especially within fresh produce supply chains.

Key responsibilities primarily focus on enhancing customer satisfaction by delivering quality and innovation, maintaining safety and legal standards, and providing technical insights that support internal teams and customer needs.

Customer-Facing Responsibilities:

• Addressing customer queries, complaints, and crises proactively to maintain brand reputation.
• Attending meetings, audits, and conferences with customers, ensuring clear communication of action plans.
• Regularly updating customers on product developments, compliance, and seasonal product variations, partnering with procurement to enhance sourcing options and product specifications.
• Sharing industry trends, legislative changes, and competitor insights to maintain competitive positioning.
• Assisting in product launches and managing technical activities including shelf-life testing and packaging validation.

Internal Support Responsibilities:

• Cross-departmental collaboration to ensure alignment on customer requirements and delivery standards.
• Understanding and supporting supply chain costing, product yield, and wastage metrics to assist in effective sourcing and trade planning.
• Maintaining up-to-date technical documentation, managing supplier audits, and ensuring regulatory compliance.
• Oversight of the quality of packed products against customer standards through production monitoring and store visits.
• Engagement with regulatory bodies and produce industry groups to keep abreast of best practices in the fresh food sector.

Qualifications & Requirements:

• Degree-level qualification in a relevant field.
• 3-5 years' experience in a technical, commercial, or procurement role within the fresh produce industry, with regular customer engagement.
• Project management, customer relations, Microsoft Office expertise, and strong organizational skills.
• Flexibility to travel as needed and a clean UK driving license.

This position reports directly to the Head of Technical and collaborates extensively with cross-functional teams. It's ideal for a proactive candidate ready to drive customer satisfaction through technical expertise, relationship building, and quality assurance within a dynamic, fast-paced environment.

We estimate the salary for this position to be around £45,000 - £55,000 per annum, depending on experience, plus benefits and career development opportunities.