Technical Manager

We are looking for a Technical Manager within the Food Manufacturing industry in the Bapsfontein area in Gauteng. You will be in charge of the technical side of the food manufacturing (fresh produce production). Responsible for food safety and food quality and legal requirements of the food business. Manage the technical department, as well as helping to develop and oversee the team who is working in quality assurance and quality control. This job role covers **all aspects of food** legislation, food safety, labelling, quality assurance, quality control and post-harvest handling of fresh vegetables.

**Qualifications and Skills**:

- Understand, speak, read and write English.
- Degree in Food-related discipline and Science - Microbiology, Food Science, Food Technology.
- Experience working in Food production, FMCG, QC, QA, Food Safety, Testing, Production / Manufacturing, Auditing and Administration
- Good understanding of Agriculture, fresh produce and post-harvest technology and cold chain management.
- Good understanding of fresh produce quality control inspections and systems
- Good understanding and experience in quality assurance management
- Excellent knowledge of FSMS (ISO 22 000, FSSC 22 000, BRC, FSSC 22 000, ISO 9001, TQM, HACCP, PRP’s, Hygiene)
- Minimum of 5 to 8 years’ experience working in technical / QA management role in production
- Minimum of 5 to 10 years food safety management role and implementation
- Managing staff, department, and teams
- Proficiency in Microsoft office and computer programs including MS Office and database systems.
- Excellent verbal and written communication.
- Work hard, plan well, hands on operational skills.
- Excellent Leadership and Management skills
- Understand HR relevant disciplines to manage technical team and staff.
- Data & Trend analysis
- Good interpersonal skills
- Good understanding of various cultures and especially agricultural / fresh produce
- Highly conscientious and diligent
- Attention to detail.
- Problem solving skills.
- Good understanding of customer requirements especially Woolworths and their FPI system and Retail requirements.
- Understanding and experience in GlobalGAP documents, audits and implementation to achieve certification.
- Health and Safety (OHS) standards like SIZA and SMETA is beneficial.
- Knowledge of environmental, sustainable farming and farming for the future requirements and assessments will be beneficial.

**Job Summary**:

- Strong hard working technical manager reporting to the CEO of a large commercial vegetable farm in Bapsfontein. Responsible for the Technical department consisting of Quality Control, Quality Assurance, Food Safety, Customer requirements, processing, audits, certification, integrated management systems, administration, etc.
- Responsible for maintaining, controlling and coordinating all functions within the technical department for all vegetables grown, packed and processed on the commercial farm.
- Manage and control the technical department to ensure compliance to regulations, standards and requirements to ensure food safety certification and quality compliance.
- Lead, train, guide and develop an integrated food safety and quality management system for the farm and packhouse in cooperation with the management team.
- Lead the Food safety team and relevant team members and departments.
- Ensure raw material suppliers and service providers are monitored for compliance.
- Ensure packhouse maintenance, production and cold chain is monitored, controlled and improved to acceptable levels for audits and certification.
- Enforce and train technical, quality and food safety rules, standards and regulations in the packhouse and farm.
- Reporting, trend analysis audit planning.
- Understanding regulations and analysis of pesticide residues (chemical analysis) in order to interpret results, liaise with farm managers, corrective action reports and actioning customer out of specs results.
- Ensure hygiene, housekeeping, food safety and quality standards are maintained at required levels and readiness for any audit and visit.
- Ensure that internal audits are carried out as per FSMS.
- Ensure all audits are booked and carried out as well as readiness for the audits (FSSC 22 000, GlobalGAP, SIZA, Farming for the future)
- Maintain record keeping, document control and procedures to ensure food safety certification.
- Liaise with management and customers on rejections, complaints, corrective action reports and continual improvement.
- Manage technical department budget and services.
- Manage and plan analysis of products and production (microbiological and chemical testing and schedules)
- Plan and coordinate training for hygiene, quality, food safety and relevant technical aspects.
- Maintain sound relationships with other individuals, departments, and staff.
- Ability to work autonomously, take decisions, work under pressure individually and within a team.

**Responsibilities**:

- Lead and manage the t