Technical Lead

Kepak is a global food company serving international retailers and food service household names with prime cuts of meat, on-trend food concepts and ready-for-market convenience foods. 

Kepak St. Merryn in Merthyr Tydfil has combined beef and lamb processing and packing facilities. We offer beef and lamb products ranging from retail ready cuts for butchers’ counters to branded packaged meat, all as part of our service; raised on open pastures, sourced from local farmers and hand-selected by our master butchers, we produce beef and lamb products with integrity and unmatched quality assurance. 

We are currently looking for a Technical Lead to work in our busy CPM Department.

This is a full time, permanent position working 4.45am to 6.15pm - 3 days on/3 days off with a competitive salary.

Job Description

To provide an auditing and support function within the Technical team ensuring compliance with customer and legislative requirements onsite.

Provide support to the Technical Management Team on the development and implementation of Technical Management systems and for ensuring that technical advice and support is available to the wider site team including Operations, Maintenance, Logistics, NPD, Supply Chain, Planning, Hygiene, Environmental, Human Resources and Health & Safety.

To ensure that the Quality Management System of the factory is fully implemented in accordance with legislation, BRC Global Food Safety Standards and customer requirements.

Requirements

Responsibilities / KPI’s:

In relation to Technical metrics, provide vital support to the Technical Management Team in the following ways:

• Auditing: Conduct a variety of audits including hygiene, GMP, fabrication, foreign body, and glass inspections, in addition to internal systems audits. Summarize your findings to pinpoint areas of both conformance and non-conformance with customer and legislative standards. Collaborate with department teams to ensure each member fully understands and acknowledges the audit results concerning non-conformance.
• Claims and Customer Complaints: Proactively communicate, track, and respond to customer complaints while analysing trends to identify recurring issues. Work on proposing and implementing lasting solutions within agreed timelines.
• Non-Conformances: Organize findings related to non-conformances, document actions taken, and report to the appropriate department managers and suppliers to guarantee corrective measures are executed for daily issues. Analyse trends in non-conformances to uncover persistent problems and recommend enduring solutions.
• CCPS, Operational Pre-Requisite Points Verification, Product and Process Inspections: Ensure timely completion of all necessary checks to meet set standards. Validate all labelling information to confirm compliance with both customer and legal mandates.
• Product Quality, Testing and Assessments: Guarantee that all raw materials and finished products align with specifications and quality documentation. Identify and suggest improvement opportunities. Collect, manage, and submit products for testing while tracking, trending, and documenting findings, including shelf-life assessments and reporting.
• Documents: Review factory documentation and propose enhancements. Assist in managing the document control system and issue approved documentation as needed.
• Specifications and Product System Management: Oversee the verification of product and raw material specifications. Ensure that product information systems are consistently updated, maintained, and verified. Handle the communication of price changes, barcode updates, and all labelling information.
• Audit Ready: Contribute to the maintenance of site standards, ensuring all areas are always prepared for audits. Accompany auditors during visits.
• Legislation, Customer Standards, Accreditation Standards: Aid the Technical Management Team in grasping, delivering, and sustaining the necessary standards within the business unit.
• Traceability and Mass Balance: Challenge factory systems to guarantee complete traceability for every product batch. Execute routine and on-demand assessments as per customer and legislative requirements.
• Label Claim Verification: Critically evaluate systems to confirm that all declared product claims and label information are accurately established and verified before production.
• HACCP and Quality Systems: Participate as a member of the HACCP team, aiding in the execution of HACCP and Food Safety Management Systems.
• SOPs: Create and review Technical-related procedures and toolbox talks, while recommending necessary improvements.
• Training: Deliver training on technical procedures as required.
• Operations Support: Assist the Operations team in daily activities, providing coaching and troubleshooting guidance aimed at improvement.
• NPD: Attend meetings, take actions, review, and spotlight improvement opportunities related to RACI, EPD, Specification Review and Management, Pre-Production, First Production, and Technical acceptance tests. Collaborate with the NPD team and customers on new product launches.

Benefits

• Company Pension

• Training and Development
• Employee Discount Platform - All Kepak employees are entitled to access to the WrkIt platform, which offers significant discounts and cashback with hundreds of brands.
• Refer a Friend Scheme - Get up to £500 for successfully referring a friend or family member to Kepak Group.
• Bike to Work Scheme - You can buy a bike and safety equipment through a salary sacrifice scheme which reduces your taxable income – meaning you pay less tax!
• Subsidised Canteen - Our on site canteen is serving multiple hot food options during the day
• Free Car Parking - Our Kepak site has a dedicated staff car parking facility which is free to use for all of our colleagues.
• Long Service Awards - We recognise, acknowledge and award the dedication and valuable contribution of long serving employees
• GroceryAid Employee Assistance Program - Providing emotional, practical and financial support for all Kepak colleagues.

To apply, please submit your resume and cover letter detailing your relevant experience and qualifications. We look forward to welcoming the newest member to our team.