Technical and Food Safety Manager – Retail Operations

Location:
Crewe
Salary:
£60,000 + car allowance

Technical and Food Safety Manager – Retail Operations
Location: Crewe, with Travel across the UK | Full-time | Permanent

Are you a seasoned technical food safety expert with a passion for retail excellence and regulatory compliance? Do you thrive in fast-paced environments where your technical leadership can make a real difference to customer safety, product quality, and business reputation? If so, we’d love to hear from you.

Join us in a brand new role as our Technical and Food Safety Manager  – Retail Operations, where you’ll lead a vital function at the heart of our extensive retail, forecourt, van sales, and vending machine businesses. Reporting directly to the Group Technical Services Director and working closely with our Retail Operations function you’ll be responsible for shaping and safeguarding our food safety standards across our entire Retail Operations across the UK.

With brand new locations opening all the time with more planned for the future, this is an exciting role to really make your own.

What you will be doing:

1. Lead Food Safety and Legal Compliance

  • Champion compliance with UK food legislation (Food Safety Act 1990, HACCP, Natasha’s Law, etc.)

  • Oversee hygiene, allergens, and regulatory inspections across all outlets

  • Maintain robust food safety management systems and engage with EHOs and Trading Standards

2. Define and Enforce Technical Standards

  • Set rigorous product quality and safety standards from sourcing to sale – Auditing, approving, and monitoring suppliers and distributors

  • Manage allergen risks, microbiological safety, and labelling compliance

3. Proactive Risk Management

  • Identify and mitigate risks across our entire food chain

  • Further build robust traceability systems to enable swift incident response

  • Handle complaints, recalls, and investigations with precision and integrity

4. Drive Excellence in Auditing & Reporting

  • Conduct internal and external audits and lead audit readiness and report  key metrics to senior leadership

5. Empower Through Training and Culture

  • Design and roll out comprehensive food safety training across all levels at all retail locations

  • Embed a culture of food safety excellence through communication and accountability

6. Collaborate with Stakeholders

  • Work cross-functionally with supply chain, commercial, and ops teams

7. Support Sustainability and Innovation

  • Align safety systems with sustainability and ethical sourcing

  • Embracing technologies to enhance traceability and food safety innovation

What is in it for you? ?

  • Be our key voice in shaping our technical and food safety landscape across our entire Retail business

  • Work in a role that blends strategic impact with operational leadership

  • Join a fast growing, purpose-driven business committed to safety, quality, innovation, and customer trust

Benefits to Include:

  • Car Allowance
  • 33 Days annual leave
  • 2 Employee Volunteering Days per year
  • Online and High-street retailer discount scheme 
  • Employee well-being and community support groups
  • Informal and Formal training opportunities with personalised online LMS platform
  • Charity Initiatives and Team events
  • 24/7 Access to Grocery Aid (Free Financial, Emotional and Practical Support)
  • Physical Wellbeing Benefits – Free on demand exercise hub and various gym discounts.
  • Online Wellbeing benefits
  • Free Financial wellbeing – mortgage calculators, budget tools, financial aid tools
  • Holiday Discounts via Online Retail Discount

Who We’re Looking For:

Qualifications:

  • Degree in Food Science, Microbiology, or Food Technology

  • Level 4 HACCP Certification and Lead Auditor qualification (or equivalent)

Experience:

  • 5+ years in food safety or technical roles within UK retail or food manufacturing

  • Demonstrated success in managing audits, suppliers, and large teams

  • Deep understanding of UK regulations, allergens, and labelling laws

Skills & Attributes:

  • Strategic thinker with operational excellence

  • Strong leadership and communication across all levels

  • Data-driven and highly organized under pressure

  • Committed to safety, quality, integrity, and continuous improvement

  • Flexible approach to travel across the UK

  • Driving Licence

If you are ready for a fresh challenge, looking to lead from the front and make a meaningful impact in a brand new role in food safety in retail? Send your CV and short covering letter to apply for this newly created role – we would love to hear from you!

The Compleat Food Group fosters an inclusive, respectful culture where everyone feels safe, supported, and valued. We welcome diverse talent, knowing it drives exceptional results and a better workplace.

We are committed to Fairness, Equity, Inclusivity, and Respect, we ensure all colleagues can thrive by bringing their whole selves to work. As an equal opportunity’s employer, we provide all the support you need to succeed.

Contact us with any questions about Diversity & Inclusion or accessibility during the application process.

Recruitment Agencies: 

We have a small, active and trusted Preferred Supplier List to assist us if required. We do not acknowledge any speculative CVs or unsolicited candidate introductions. We only accept CV submissions for roles released to you directly by our Talent Acquisition team.

Apply now