> Markdown version of [/jobs/ext/80572-head-of-technical-quality](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/jobs/ext/80572-head-of-technical-quality). Every page supports `.md` or `Accept: text/markdown`. Links point to the HTML versions so they work for humans too. Agent guide: [/agents.md](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/agents.md). --- # Head of Technical & Quality - **Company:** Avondale Foods - **Location:** Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon, UK - **Experience:** Expert - **Contract:** Temporary contract - **Skills:** Agile Methodology, Encodings, BRCGS Standards Knowledge - **Published:** May 20, 2026 - **Apply:** https://find.jobs/jobs-near-me/head-of-technical-quality-craigavon-county-armagh/2777237766-2/ ## About the Role * Degree qualified in Food Science, Food Technology, Microbiology, Chemistry, Engineering, or a closely related technical discipline. * Extensive technical leadership experience within a complex, highly regulated FMCG environment, ideally food manufacturing supplying major UK retailers. * Proven track record of leading food safety, quality, and compliance functions with zero tolerance standards covering BRCGS, retailer COPs, allergens, microbiology, traceability, and GMP. * Experience designing and embedding governance frameworks, internal audit programmes, and risk based technical systems that deliver repeatable audit success. * Strong background in leading technical teams through cultural change, capability uplift, high performance expectations, and disciplined execution. * Proven ability to partner effectively with Operations to drive factory standards, improve manufacturing discipline, and ensure joint ownership of compliance. * Experience supporting NPD, commercial, and supply chain functions with robust technical assessments, risk evaluations, and retailer technical sign off. * Demonstrated capability in crisis management, root cause investigations, incident reporting, and implementing sustainable corrective/preventive actions (CAPA). * Comfortable operating in fast paced, high pressure environments with highvisibility to senior leadership and retailers., * Experience working across multiple sites or international operations * Exposure to different product categories (e.g. chilled, frozen, ambient, high-risk) * Experience supporting or leading site start-ups, restructures, or major transformations * Formal training in Lean, Six Sigma, or CI methodologies * Proven track record of delivering measurable improvements (e.g. complaint reduction, audit scores, waste reduction) * Experience implementing digital quality or traceability systems * Direct experience working with major UK retailers such as Tesco, Sainsbury's, or Marks & Spencer at a senior technical level * Experience leading or supporting customer visits, audits, and critical issue resolution * Ability to influence commercial decisions using technical insight * Coaching and mentoring future technical leaders * Experience building a strong food safety culture across an organisation * Evidence of influencing at board or executive level, * Agile, decisive and adaptable - able to operate in a dynamic, high pressure environment while maintaining clarity, control, and excellent judgment. * Structured, disciplined, and methodical in approach, with strong governance instincts and a commitment to audit ready every day standards. * Scientifically rigorous with a deep understanding of microbiology, food safety systems, and risk based decision making. * High personal accountability - sets uncompromising standards for themselves and others; does not tolerate mediocrity or repeated non compliance. * Strong leadership presence, able to influence cross functional teams, challenge constructively, and hold people to account at all levels. * Clear, confident, and transparent communicator, skilled at explaining technical issues concisely to internal stakeholders and external partners including retailers. * Calm under pressure, especially during audits, incidents, or escalations; brings stability, clarity, and evidence based reasoning to decision making. * Proactive and prevention focused, constantly seeking to strengthen systems, anticipate risks, and eliminate root causes-not firefighting. * Collaborative, building strong technical operational alignment and promoting joint ownership of standards. * Resilient, determined, and improvement driven, with the tenacity to lead transformation, raise standards, and embed a new technical culture across the business. KPIs & Success Measures * Zero failed audits within 12 months * Grade A/B BRC results * Significant reduction in non conformances (major/minor) * Demonstrable year on year improvement in hygiene, micro, and environmental monitoring trends * All non conformances closed on time with verified CAPAs * Internal audit scores improved and stabilised above set targets * Reduction in repeat findings to near zero * Reduction in customer complaints (rate per million units) * Improved GMP audit scores across factories * Consistent allergen, traceability, and CCP compliance * Clear uplift in capability, discipline, and accountability across technical teams * Strong cross functional alignment with Operations, NPD, and Supply Chain * Recognisable shift toward a proactive, prevention focused technical culture **NO AGENCIES PLEASE** ## Description Lead Food Safety & Compliance with Zero Tolerance Standards * Own the full technical governance framework for BRC, retailer COPs, microbiological standards, allergen control, traceability, and GMP. * Implement a robust, audit ready every day environment-no pre audit clean ups, no surprises. * Introduce strict internal monitoring, validation and verification systems. Strengthen Customer Relationships and Audit Performance * Lead immediate and long term recovery plans to re establish customer confidence. * Hold weekly technical-operational alignment sessions specifically focused on customer issues and improvement actions. * Bring heightened visibility to customer COP compliance, micro performance, and factory standards. * Ensure all customer feedback, audit findings, and non conformances are closed out fully, on time, and with sustainable fixes, not temporary patches. Transform Internal Audit Rigor and Technical Governance * Redesign the internal audit programme to mirror retailer expectations. * Implement a risk based audit model with unannounced internal audits and follow up verification. * Introduce clear escalation protocols when audit findings are repeated, unresolved, or high risk. * Ensure all sites operate to the highest performing site's standard-no variation tolerated. Strengthen Technical Leadership, Capability and Team Behaviour * Raise performance expectations for all technical managers, QA teams, hygiene, and compliance roles. * Build technical capability through structured training (COPs, root cause analysis, HACCP, customer standards). * Address under performance quickly with coaching, development, or realignment of roles. * Shift the culture from reactive firefighting to proactive prevention. Partner with Operations to Improve Factory Execution * Work hand in hand with the Head of Operations to deliver consistent factory discipline. * Strengthen daily factory technical presence and visibility on the floor. * Ensure GMP, hygiene, allergen control and traceability procedures are adhered to at all times. * Hold Operations accountable for technical compliance as a shared ownership model. Lead Technical Support for NPD and Commercial * Oversee accurate specifications, robust validation, and manufacturability assessments. * Ensure technical sign off for concept feasibility, trials, and launches. * Support commercial discussions on quality requirements, risk assessments, and retailer expectations. Crisis Management & Incident Response * Lead investigation and root cause analysis for any food safety incident, customer complaint spike, or audit failure. * Communicate transparently with customers during incidents with factual, science based reporting. * Put in place permanent corrective and preventive actions (CAPAs) to prevent recurrence. * Contribute to the development of a culture of Integrity, collaboration do the right thing' approach in all interactions. * Ensure Food Safety compliance with company policies and regulatory requirements to remain audit-ready at all times. ## Related Videos - [One Pipeline, Three Regulator - SBOM Compliance for the Developer](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/100169-one-pipeline-three-regulator-sbom-compliance-for-the-developer) - [ShapeShift: Reinventing Agile for a B2B SaaS Scale-Up](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/1655-shapeshift-reinventing-agile-for-a-b2b-saas-scale-up) - [A Brief History of Data Storage](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/974-a-brief-history-of-data-storage) - [The user in the eye of the Cargo1492 storm](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/96-the-user-in-the-eye-of-the-cargo1492-storm) - [Security Pitfalls for Software Engineers](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/726-security-pitfalls-for-software-engineers) - [How to build the best Food service in the world](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/520-how-to-build-the-best-food-service-in-the-world) ## Related Articles - [UK Business Culture and Etiquette](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/326-uk-business-culture-and-etiquette) - [Best Companies to work for in London: Top 25 Companies in 2023](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/187-best-companies-to-work-for-in-london-top-25-companies-in-2023) - [Data Analyst Salary in the UK](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/278-data-analyst-salary-in-the-uk) - [Best Companies to Work For in The UK: Top 25 Companies in 2023 ](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/186-best-companies-to-work-for-in-the-uk-top-25-companies-in-2023) - [Data Engineer Salary UK](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/253-data-engineer-salary-uk) - [Now is the time for industrialized software development](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/601-now-is-the-time-for-industrialized-software-development)