Technical Manager - Ruskington Site (Retail Packing)
📍 Location: Ruskington ¦ Division: Retail Packing ¦ Reports to: Site Director
Grade: Senior Manager ¦ Direct Reports: 6
About Us
At Pilgrim’s Europe, we’re committed to delivering the highest standards in food safety, quality, and integrity.
Our Ruskington site plays a key role in our Retail Packing operations, and we’re now looking for an experienced Technical Manager to lead our technical team and maintain our position as an industry leader.
The Role
As Technical Manager, you will be fully accountable for all technical elements of the site, ensuring consistent compliance with customer, legal, and industry-leading standards.
You’ll develop and deliver a site technical strategy aligned with the TFC technical vision, create a culture of technical excellence, and build strong, collaborative relationships with our retail customers.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead all technical functions on site, driving a consistent approach to food safety, product quality, and integrity.
- Maintain and improve customer approval status and third-party accreditations (e.g., BRCGS).
- Act as the primary technical contact for customers, building trust and influence.
- Develop and deliver a step-change technical improvement plan.
- Set direction and performance standards for the technical team, ensuring succession plans are in place.
- Represent Pilgrim’s Pride Ltd and TFC on relevant industry and trade bodies.
- Actively contribute to the development of the wider technical strategy.
Essential
What We’re Looking For
- Minimum 5 years’ experience in the chilled food industry.
- Proven leadership experience with direct reports.
- Strong knowledge of risk-based food safety and integrity systems.
- Experience with BRCGS and other accreditations.
- Category-relevant product/process knowledge (e.g., thermal processing, listeria management, meat curing).
- Technical account management experience for major retailers.
- Strong stakeholder management, influencing, and communication skills.
- Degree in Food Science/Technology or related biological science.
- Level 4 HACCP & Lead Auditor qualification.
Desirable
- Leadership/management qualification.
- Experience with continuous improvement tools and techniques.
Our Values
We live by our values of Determination, Simplicity, Availability, Humility, Sincerity, Discipline, and Ownership - and we’re looking for someone who embodies these behaviours to lead by example.
Why Join Us?
This is an opportunity to shape the technical direction of a key site within Pilgrim’s Europe, working with a passionate team and some of the UK’s leading retailers. You’ll have the autonomy to make an impact and the backing of a supportive leadership team.
📅 Apply now to take the next step in your technical leadership career.