Technical Manager

SUMMARY:
Technical Manager – Parow Industria, Cape Town
Manufacturing (Food Production) | Full-time | On-site
 
Our client, a well-established food manufacturing business supplying wholesalers, retailers, and commercial clients, is seeking an experienced and hands-on Technical Manager to take full ownership of food safety, quality, and technical operations within their factory environment.
 
This is a senior leadership role, forming part of the core operational management team, suited to an individual who can drive compliance, improve quality standards, and lead a multidisciplinary technical team in a regulated production environment.

POSITION INFO:
Key Responsibilities Take full accountability for all food safety, quality, and technical functions across the business Manage and lead the Quality and Technical team, including Food Safety, QC, and related functions Maintain and continuously improve the FSSC 22000 Food Safety Management System to ensure ongoing certification Ensure full compliance with all statutory, regulatory, and customer-specific requirements (including retailer standards) Oversee end-to-end product quality and food safety from raw material procurement through to final product delivery Drive reduction in customer complaints through root cause analysis and continuous improvement initiatives Ensure all product documentation is accurate and maintained (specifications, COAs, shelf life, nutritional data, etc.) Act as the primary point of contact for customers, suppliers, and regulatory authorities on all technical matters Lead all audits and inspections, always ensuring full readiness and compliance Develop and implement technical and quality strategies aligned with overall business objectives Establish and manage training and development plans across production, quality, and technical teams Monitor risks and opportunities related to food safety and quality, implementing mitigation strategies Support broader business performance, including contributing to operational efficiency and profitability Work cross-functionally with production, NPD, maintenance, and operations teams to ensure alignment Assist with social compliance requirements in collaboration with HR Requirements BTech \/ BSc in Food Technology, Food Science, or related field ISO 22000 Lead Auditor certification Strong working knowledge of HACCP, PRPs, and FSSC 22000 systems Minimum 5 years' experience in a similar Technical or Quality leadership role within food manufacturing Solid understanding of microbiology and food safety principles Experience within the meat or cold foods industry highly advantageous Strong knowledge of major retailer (e.g. Woolworths) standards and requirements Proven leadership ability with experience managing cross-functional teams Excellent communication, organisational, and problem-solving skills High attention to detail and ability to operate in a compliance-driven environment Email your CV to: Persona Staff (PTY) Ltd is POPIA (Protection of Personal Information Act, 2013) compliant.