Senior Technical Manager

Established in 1997 as the first manufacturer of sushi for the UK supermarket industry, Taiko has evolved into the most innovative manufacturer of Sushi, Food To Go, Prepared Meals and Snacking products in the UK, supplying Waitrose, Tesco and Sainsbury’s to name a few. Over the past 25 years Taiko has launched more first to market Sushi and Food to Go products than any other sushi manufacturer in the UK.

We are part of the Snowfox Group which includes the Taiko, YO! and Bento brands – we operate more than 1500 kiosks, 60 wholly owned restaurants, our grab and go sushi is available in over 3,700 locations and we have 50 major retail partners.
Our key markets are the USA, Canada and the UK with additional geographic presence in Europe and Australia. Our brands are:
• Snowfox - the franchisor of over 1,000 full-service sushi kiosks in 25 states throughout the continental U.S., Hawaii and Alaska
• Taiko - founded in 1997, Taiko was the first sushi manufacturer for UK supermarkets and has evolved into a highly innovative manufacturer of sushi, bento and snacks in the UK.
• Bento - founded in 1996 in Canada and provides quality grab & go sushi and hot Asian food in over 900 locations, including supermarkets
• YO! - the first to bring the ‘kaiten’ conveyor belt to the UK in 1997. Today, YO! is the UK's #1 Sushi
brand with over 50 restaurants, over 170 sushi kiosks and a popular YO! To Go range.

As a Senior Technical Manager, you will be the key technical interface for customers, internal teams, and suppliers, ensuring the highest standards of food safety, quality, and legal compliance. Reporting directly to the Head of Technical, you will lead the technical team, drive continuous improvement, and provide strategic direction to enhance technical operations and compliance.

Key Responsibilities:

• Strategic Leadership: Provide senior-level technical expertise, advising the business on food safety, compliance, and quality standards to align with company objectives and industry best practices.
• Technical Governance: Oversee all aspects of food safety, quality, and regulatory compliance, ensuring full adherence to legal, corporate, and BRCGS accreditation requirements.
• Supplier & Customer Engagement: Build and maintain strong relationships with key suppliers and customers, providing technical leadership and ensuring all products meet agreed standards.
• Quality Management System (QMS): Ensure the QMS is effectively managed, regularly reviewed, and continuously improved to drive operational excellence.
• Audit & Compliance Management: Lead customer and third-party audits, ensuring the business consistently meets certification and compliance standards.
• HACCP & Risk Management: Lead the HACCP team, ensuring effective risk assessments, reviews, and implementation of corrective and preventative actions.
• Supplier Assurance & Compliance: Oversee supplier audits and approvals, ensuring a robust supplier management system is in place to maintain product integrity and quality.
• Technical Team Leadership: Manage and develop the technical team, providing coaching, training, and succession planning to build capability and expertise.

Key Requirements:

• Extensive experience in a senior technical or quality management role within the food manufacturing industry.
• Strong knowledge of BRCGS, HACCP, food safety legislation, and retailer technical requirements.
• Proven experience in leading audits, managing supplier relationships, and ensuring compliance with industry standards.
• Exceptional leadership skills with experience in developing and managing high-performing technical teams.

We're proud to offer:

• Opportunity to grow your career alongside with us with available apprentice program
• Brilliant support services designed to enhance your physical, mental and financial wellbeing.
• Annual discretionary bonus subject to business and overall performance
• Discretionary Life Assurance
• Discretionary Income Protection
• Group Personal Pension
• Private Medical Cash Plan
• Bespoke reward platform including access to retail, cinema & gym discounts.
• 50% off your food every time you dine with us for you and 3 friends.
• Contribute towards our award-winning sustainability initiatives that delivers progress against 9 UN sustainability goals. We're committed to responsibly sourcing and all our seafood, therefore we only use source sustainable fish. All our packaging is recyclable and 80% of our packaging is already made from recycled plastic.
• Annual Awards ceremony celebrating our success and offering winning Managers free trips to Japan.

About us:

Come roll with us and be part of something big. Celebrate global success across:

• Over 1500 retail kiosks globally (YO!, Panku, Mai Taiko Snowfox & Bento)
• Our Taiko manufacturing and distribution centre
• 63 YO! restaurants
• 50 major retail partners
• 3700 locations globally From Hawaii to Aberdeen

Our Values

• Own it, Care About it, Make it Exceptional, Win Together

Ready to Roll?

Come roll with us and play a key role by bringing people together to celebrate better food for everyone the Japanese way...