Technical Manager

Technical Manager Location: Leeds, UK Salary: £37,500 - £45,000 (dependent on experience) Advocate Group is working in partnership with a growing food manufacturing business to recruit a Technical Manager. This is an exciting new opportunity within a fast-paced FMCG environment, supporting a well-established and expanding consumer brand. Role overview This position is responsible for ensuring product safety, quality, and regulatory compliance across a diverse food product portfolio. You will act as a key link between suppliers, manufacturers, and retail partners, ensuring all products meet required legal, safety, and customer standards. Key responsibilities - Own and manage technical compliance across the full product range - Build and maintain effective relationships with retail customers on all technical matters - Ensure supplier approval processes are robust, compliant, and consistently maintained - Oversee product specifications, artwork approval, and regulatory sign-off - Lead investigations into quality issues, complaints, and support product withdrawals or recalls where necessary - Monitor and interpret changes in UK and EU food legislation and ensure compliance - Conduct supplier audits and ensure adherence to recognised food safety standards (e.g. BRCGS) - Drive continuous improvement across quality systems and technical processes Experience and qualifications - Degree in Food Science, Food Technology, or a related discipline - At least 3 years' experience in a technical or quality role within FMCG or food manufacturing - Strong understanding of UK retailer technical standards - Experience conducting or supporting audits (BRCGS, retailer, or third-party) - Working knowledge of UK/EU food legislation and labelling requirements Skills and attributes - Strong attention to detail with a solid understanding of regulatory compliance - Confident communicator with the ability to manage external stakeholder relationships - Proactive approach to risk management and problem solving - Highly organised with a process-driven mindset - Committed to maintaining high product quality and safety standards This is an excellent opportunity to join a business focused on quality, innovation, and sustainable growth within the FMCG sector. For more information or to apply, please get in touch with Advocate Group directly. If this sounds like the right fit for your next career move, I'd love to speak with you! Erin@advocate-group.co.uk Or click "Apply Now" to be considered for this vacancy. The Advocate Group is a leading recruitment partner to the FMCG and consumer product sectors. We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all suitably qualified individuals, regardless of race, sex, disability, religion/belief, sexual orientation, or age. By applying for this role, you are agreeing to our Privacy Policy, which can be found on our website. Please note that The Advocate Group is acting as an employment agency in relation to this vacancy.

Hygiene Manager Bradford | Onsite The Advocate Group are proud to be partnering with a global food and beverage manufacturing business to recruit a Hygiene Manager for a key production site. This is a high-impact leadership role where you'll take ownership of hygiene strategy, systems, and standards across a fast-paced manufacturing environment. You'll play a critical role in food safety, audit readiness, and continuous improvement, while leading and developing a high-performing team. The role Reporting to the Manufacturing Manager, you will be responsible for all hygiene-related activities across the site, including factory environments, storage, and hygiene systems. You'll define, implement, and continuously improve hygiene and CIP processes, ensuring compliance with food safety, health & safety, and environmental standards. Key responsibilities Lead and manage all site hygiene operations, ensuring standards are consistently met Define and validate hygiene and CIP processes across daily, weekly, and periodic cleaning Develop HACCP-aligned hygiene systems, including escalation procedures Monitor performance through ATP testing, swabbing, and microbiological analysis Own calibration systems for hygiene equipment, ensuring compliance with national standards Lead GMP, hygiene, CIP, and internal audits, ensuring audit readiness at all times Drive continuous improvement across hygiene performance, cost, and efficiency Manage hygiene budgets including chemicals, consumables, and equipment Lead, coach, and develop the hygiene team to deliver best-in-class standards Support investigations into non-conformance, audit findings, and out-of-spec results Collaborate cross-functionally with technical, operations, engineering, and external partners CIP & systems ownership Lead validation and ongoing performance of CIP systems Conduct annual CIP health checks including fail-safes, alarms, and set points Define testing regimes and critical parameters aligned to product and regulatory requirements Identify opportunities to improve efficiency, reduce cost, and optimise performance Ensure SOPs and procedures support a right-first-time approach About you HACCP Level 3 and Food Safety Level 3 qualified Strong working knowledge of CIP systems and hygiene validation Experience in food manufacturing within a hygiene, technical, or operations role Understanding of microbiology and food safety principles Internal audit and root cause analysis experience Knowledge of COSHH and health & safety standards Strong leadership and team development capability Continuous improvement mindset with a data-driven approach Benefits Cash car allowance 25 days annual leave plus your birthday off 14.5% pension (5% employee / 9.5% employer) Private medical insurance Life assurance and critical illness cover Enhanced family-friendly and carers policies Learning and development opportunities If you're looking for a role where you can shape hygiene strategy, lead a team, and make a real impact in a global manufacturing environment, this is a fantastic opportunity. If this sounds like the right fit for your next career move, I'd love to speak with you! Erin@advocate-group.co.uk Or click "Apply Now" to be considered for this vacancy. The Advocate Group is a leading recruitment partner to the FMCG and consumer product sectors. We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all suitably qualified individuals, regardless of race, sex, disability, religion/belief, sexual orientation, or age. By applying for this role, you are agreeing to our Privacy Policy, which can be found on our website. Please note that The Advocate Group is acting as an employment agency in relation to this vacancy.

Job Title: Employee Relations Manager Location: Remote / National Reports to: Head of HR Summary and Main Purpose: The Employee Relations Specialist is responsible for leading and delivering a consistent, high-quality employee relations service across the entire business, supporting both operational sites and Head Office functions. Acting as the organisation's subject matter expert for employee relations, the role partners closely with managers to proactively and reactively manage ER matters, ensuring fair, legally compliant and commercially sound outcomes. The role combines a hands-on operational approach, including national travel to sites, with a strategic remit focused on identifying trends and driving improvements across key people metrics such as absence, attrition, performance and capability. Key Duties: Act as the national subject matter expert on all employee relations matters across the business. Partner with managers across operations and Head Office to provide expert guidance on disciplinary, grievance, absence, performance, capability and other ER cases. Travel nationally to operational sites to support and coach managers through complex ER issues, ensuring consistency and best practice. Lead and manage complex, high-risk and sensitive ER cases, providing clear recommendations and ensuring timely resolution. Ensure all ER activity is compliant with current employment legislation and company policies and procedures. Develop, review and update ER policies, procedures and guidance in line with best practice and legislative changes. Take a proactive approach to reducing absence and attrition by identifying root causes and implementing targeted interventions. Support the business in improving performance and capability through robust and fair processes and manager coaching. Deliver training and upskilling for managers on employee relations topics to build capability and confidence across the business. Support organisational change initiatives, including restructures, consultations and TUPE processes where required. Promote and embed the business's values, ensuring a positive and fair employee experience across all locations. Provide regular reporting and updates on ER activity, trends and risks to HR leadership. Undertake regular site visits and maintain visibility across the business to ensure a consistent approach to ER. Participate in and lead HR and business improvement projects related to employee relations and people performance. Complete all necessary administration for the effective management of the role. Undertake all other reasonable duties as required by the business. Candidate Requirements: Specialist expertise in Employee Relations, with a strong track record of managing complex ER matters. Experience within a healthcare-related or similarly highly regulated, compliance-driven industry. Proven experience in a dedicated Employee Relations role, ideally within a multi-site or national organisation. Strong knowledge of UK employment law and its practical application. Demonstrable experience managing complex and high-risk ER cases end-to-end. Experience of supporting both operational and corporate/Head Office stakeholders. Confident coaching managers on ER best practice and building capability. Experience of supporting organisational change, including restructures and TUPE. Highly organised with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment. Willingness and ability to travel nationally on a regular basis. CIPD qualification (Level 5 or above) or equivalent experience preferred. If this sounds like the right fit for your next career move, I'd love to speak with you! Erin@advocate-group.co.uk Or click "Apply Now" to be considered for this vacancy. The Advocate Group is a leading recruitment partner to the FMCG and consumer product sectors. We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all suitably qualified individuals, regardless of race, sex, disability, religion/belief, sexual orientation, or age. By applying for this role, you are agreeing to our Privacy Policy, which can be found on our website. Please note that The Advocate Group is acting as an employment agency in relation to this vacancy.

Job Title: Employee Relations Specialist Location: Remote / National Reports to: Head of HR Summary and Main Purpose: The Employee Relations Specialist is responsible for leading and delivering a consistent, high-quality employee relations service across the entire business, supporting both operational sites and Head Office functions. Acting as the organisation's subject matter expert for employee relations, the role partners closely with managers to proactively and reactively manage ER matters, ensuring fair, legally compliant and commercially sound outcomes. The role combines a hands-on operational approach, including national travel to sites, with a strategic remit focused on identifying trends and driving improvements across key people metrics such as absence, attrition, performance and capability. Key Duties: Act as the national subject matter expert on all employee relations matters across the business. Partner with managers across operations and Head Office to provide expert guidance on disciplinary, grievance, absence, performance, capability and other ER cases. Travel nationally to operational sites to support and coach managers through complex ER issues, ensuring consistency and best practice. Lead and manage complex, high-risk and sensitive ER cases, providing clear recommendations and ensuring timely resolution. Ensure all ER activity is compliant with current employment legislation and company policies and procedures. Develop, review and update ER policies, procedures and guidance in line with best practice and legislative changes. Take a proactive approach to reducing absence and attrition by identifying root causes and implementing targeted interventions. Support the business in improving performance and capability through robust and fair processes and manager coaching. Deliver training and upskilling for managers on employee relations topics to build capability and confidence across the business. Support organisational change initiatives, including restructures, consultations and TUPE processes where required. Promote and embed the business's values, ensuring a positive and fair employee experience across all locations. Provide regular reporting and updates on ER activity, trends and risks to HR leadership. Undertake regular site visits and maintain visibility across the business to ensure a consistent approach to ER. Participate in and lead HR and business improvement projects related to employee relations and people performance. Complete all necessary administration for the effective management of the role. Undertake all other reasonable duties as required by the business. Candidate Requirements: Specialist expertise in Employee Relations, with a strong track record of managing complex ER matters. Experience within a healthcare-related or similarly highly regulated, compliance-driven industry. Proven experience in a dedicated Employee Relations role, ideally within a multi-site or national organisation. Strong knowledge of UK employment law and its practical application. Demonstrable experience managing complex and high-risk ER cases end-to-end. Experience of supporting both operational and corporate/Head Office stakeholders. Confident coaching managers on ER best practice and building capability. Experience of supporting organisational change, including restructures and TUPE. Highly organised with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment. Willingness and ability to travel nationally on a regular basis. CIPD qualification (Level 5 or above) or equivalent experience preferred. If this sounds like the right fit for your next career move, I'd love to speak with you! Erin@advocate-group.co.uk Or click "Apply Now" to be considered for this vacancy. The Advocate Group is a leading recruitment partner to the FMCG and consumer product sectors. We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all suitably qualified individuals, regardless of race, sex, disability, religion/belief, sexual orientation, or age. By applying for this role, you are agreeing to our Privacy Policy, which can be found on our website. Please note that The Advocate Group is acting as an employment agency in relation to this vacancy.