Technical Manager

Haverhill, England, United Kingdom

We’re hiring hardcore talent.

KatKin – the UK’s first fresh cat food brand – is seeking a skilled Technical Manager to help us change the catfood industry and make hardcore love the new standard in cat care.

What we do at KatKin

For uncompromising cat parents who want the best, KatKin goes hardcore for cat health. We make the UK’s only fresh cat food: 100% human-quality meat, gently cooked, and frozen for freshness.

Where the competition cuts corners, catfishes customers and puts profits over health, we put cat wellbeing first. No shortcuts. No secret recipes. We’re cutting the fluff, thinking fresh and channelling hardcore love into industry-wide change. So cats live long and cat parents can love hard without compromise.

Why you’ll love working with us

We’re all-in for cats, and it shows: our energy will blow you away from day one. You’ll be surrounded by knowledgeable scientists, big creative thinkers, astute business brains, and a whole team of hardcore cat parents. All on a mission to make hardcore love the new standard in cat care – with a fresh take on every product in the cat industry.

About your role

Located in Haverhill, the KatKin Kitchen is where our fresh, 100% human-quality meat food is gently cooked and frozen. We are looking for an exceptional full-time Technical Manager to lead the technical function, delivering a first-class technical service across food safety, quality, legislative and customer requirements.

You’ll lead the technical team with clear communication, structured planning and disciplined supervision whilst engaging and influencing key stakeholders and teams across the site.

Key ownership areas:

Develop and execute our technical strategy whilst being hands-on to drive results with key stakeholders and teams across the site on a day-to-day basis

Lead the site readiness preparations cross-functionally to ensure the site is successful in the first BRC audit

Provide technical leadership and expertise to solve day to day challenges, risk assessments and crisis management when needed

Ensure that all technical standard customer codes of practice, technical policies, quality standards and food legislation are consistently adhered to

Ensure that all technical manuals, systems and processes are reviewed, updated, trained and communicated on frequently with key stakeholders and teams across the site

Ensure that the HACCP (HACCP/TACCP VACCP) program is maintained and aligned with best practice at all times

Ensure that the QMS is effectively implemented and amended to ensure product standards are maintained

Ensure the QA and Hygiene teams are run effectively and adequate technical resources are available

Ensure that all areas have adequate pest control mechanisms in place to limit the threat to food safety

Carry out, review and communicate trend analysis of quality issues e.g. customer complaints and TVC counts

Manage and coordinate internal audits by;

Implementing audits ensuring scope is applicable,

Planning and scheduling internal audits to the required frequency, and

Following up on issues raised and implementing relevant corrective action.

Ensure appropriate intervention and training takes place as required when a failure occurs in any areas, ensuring action points are taken and results communicated

Ensure KatKin has a robust supplier management system in place

Ensure any external and internal non conformance are investigated and any corrective actions are carried out in a timely manner.

Advise and provide information to site Management, ensuring compliance with statutory requirements by fully understanding company policy and procedures, current and future technical legislation and its implications on the business

Liaise with the Foods Standard Agency,  Environmental Agency, and APHA for external audits, whilst establishing a good working relationship and providing timely statutory reports as and when required

Develop a culture of teamwork and cooperation throughout the site and through your own influence and guidance to always put the customer and their cats first

Mitigate any risk of food recalls with robust food safety policies, systems and team training

Who you are:

Minimum of 5 years experience in a high care/risk ready meals or cooked meat product FMCG food manufacturing site

Educated to at least a degree level in food science or a related discipline

You’ll be comfortable with agricultural animal food production (chicken, beef, pork, fish, turkey, lamb, duck)

Experienced knowledge of health and safety/food safety systems & legislation:

Food Safety and Hygiene Level 3 minimum

HACCP Level 3 minimum

Food Safety Level 3 minimum

Listeria, Micro awareness knowledge

Effectively worked cross functionally with a range of teams (Technical, Production, Engineering, and Quality)

Highly organised and able to prioritise your workload within a pressurised environment

Are a strong communicator and able to communicate with internal teams,  external customers, suppliers, external authorities and visitors in a professional manner

Ability to reliably commute or relocate to CB9 7FD

What we offer:

Career-defining opportunity in being instrumental to scaling our brand, fast

No egos and a small close-knit team

33 days of holiday every year plus your birthday off

Discount on KatKin fresh meals

Comprehensive AXA health insurance including optical and dental after probation

Yearly personal development budget

Company pension

To Apply:

Send your CV and very brief sentences on the below questions to [email protected]

Tell us about a time you hustled in order to get something done

What are your blind spots as told by the person who knows you best?

Tell us the most important learning you’ve had in the food technical space

Which DTC brand has delighted you the most and what did they do?

Which piece of work are you most proud of and why?

If you have one, tell us your favourite thing about your cat(s)

Tips: Provide a summary of the role, what success in the position looks like, and how this role fits into the organization overall.

Responsibilities

[Be specific when describing each of the responsibilities. Use gender-neutral, inclusive language.]

Example: Determine and develop user requirements for systems in production, to ensure maximum usability

Qualifications

[Some qualifications you may want to include are Skills, Education, Experience, or Certifications.]

Example: Excellent verbal and written communication skills