Head of Technical

Due to continued business growth, this role was created as the Head of Technical Account Management. This position serves as an interface between the business and major retailers. You will oversee a mid-sized team of Technical Account Managers, foster strong relationships with customers, including managing one retailer account directly, and act as the point of escalation for any issues.

This is a hands-on yet strategic role that ensures the product supplied meets high standards of quality, aligns with the company's vision, and complies with customer requirements.

• This position sits at the intersection of Technical, Commercial, and Supply Chain teams, providing exposure to various stakeholders both internally and externally.
• You'll be part of a well-established business with the infrastructure of a large organization and the agility of a smaller business, driving innovation in the industry.
• Genuine career progression opportunities within the UK, EMEA, and globally.
• A competitive salary accompanied by excellent company benefits, including healthcare and a bonus scheme.
• If you're currently handling Factory Technical Management and Technical Accounts, this could be an opportunity to transition into a more commercially driven role, moving away from day-to-day factory tasks.

• Act as a point of escalation to resolve customer issues, ensuring strong outcomes for the business, suppliers, and customers.
• Develop strong working relationships with customers and internal stakeholders, including commercial counterparts.
• Facilitate retail customer visits to growers/packhouses.
• Oversee the preparation of management reports for internal leadership, suppliers, and customers.
• Lead food safety, social, and environmental initiatives, working closely with commercial and marketing teams on crisis management plans and customer communications.
• Collaborate with teams to reduce quality complaints, promoting a culture of quality consistency.
• Work with the R&D team on innovation and R&D projects.
• Implement continuous improvement initiatives, using KPIs and data to inform decision-making.
• Recruit, onboard, develop, and retain your department members.

• Senior leadership experience as a Head of Technical Accounts or Senior Technical Account Manager in a relevant industry (preferably fruit but also considering the wider food industry).
• Experience in people management.
• A pragmatic approach, identifying risks and developing solution-focused action plans.
• Strong knowledge of food safety and product integrity.
• Effective communication skills, adaptable to different teams both internally and with customers/suppliers.
• A commercial mindset, understanding the intersection of Technical, Commercial, and Supply Chain operations.