The Wonderfield Group
Head of Technical
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Head of Technical – Sushi & Prepared Meals Manufacturer (Taiko, Acton)
Contract Details
- Contract: Full time, down from London (Acton location)
- Salary: Up to £80,000 PA
- Hours: 45 per week
About Taiko
Established in 1997 (the UK’s first sushi manufacturer for supermarkets), Taiko has grown into the most innovative producer of sushi, food to go, prepared meals, and snacking products in the UK.
Over the past 25 years, Taiko has launched more first-to-market products than any other sushi manufacturer in the UK, supplying brands like Waitrose, Tesco, and Sainsbury’s.
About the Role
This is a strategic leadership position for an experienced head of technical or food safety professional wanting to step into a senior management role. You will:
- Lead all technical, quality, and food safety activities across the site.
- Foster a culture of continuous improvement, quality, and compliance, aligning with customer, legal, and regulatory standards.
- Work collaboratively with Operations, R&D (NPD), Supply Chain, and Commercial teams to maintain and enhance Taiko’s reputation for safe, legal, and high-quality products.
Responsibilities
Leadership & Strategy
- Lead and develop the Technical, Quality, and Food Safety teams.
- Set and enforce benchmarks for a strong food safety and quality culture across the business.
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Compliance & Audits
- Ensure 100% compliance with:
- Customer standards
- Retail codes of practice
- Legal and regulatory requirements (HFSS, allergens, traceability requirements, etc.).
- Manage customer, third-party, and regulatory audits, including BRCGS and retailer audits.
- Liaise with customers, regulators, and certification agencies.
Process Improvement & Risk Management
- Optimise Food Safety and Quality Management Systems (FSQMS) to meet evolving standards.
- Lead incident management, recalls, and crisis response from a technical and compliance perspective.
- Oversee HACCP, allergen management, traceability, and product integrity programmes.
Performance & Technical Oversight
- Monitor and drive technical KPIs, resolving non-conformances and root-cause investigations.
- Work closely with customer care, education, and commercial teams to troubleshoot issues and improve processes.
- Support product launches and process changes, ensuring compliance at every stage.
Key Challenges Addressed
- Ensuring all products meet quality, food safety, and legal standards.
- Continuously improving operational efficiencies and regulatory compliance.
- Lean operations to reduce food waste.
- Balancing customer expectations against internal capability.
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We Offer
Career Growth
- Opportunity to uprime with our apprenticeship programme (paid tech/apprenticeships available).
Wellbeing & Benefits
- Comprehensive support services for:
- Financial wellbeing (pensions, bonus etc.)
- Mental health and physical wellbeing support
- Group Personal Pension + Life Assurance / Income Protection (Discretionary)
- Private Medical Cash Plan
Discounts & Rewards
- 50% off catering (for you + 3 friends) every time you dine at our facility.
- Bespoke rewards platform offering discounts for retail, cinema, gyms, fuel, and more.
Sustainability & Values
- Fully committed to responsible sourcing – all Taiko seafood is Sustainable Fisheries approved (MSC or ASI).
- Contribution to sustainability initiatives, advancing against 9 UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Note: Job highlights suggest flexibility and opportunities for career progression beyond just a gathering or recipe process role - we are looking for an experienced Head of Technical role to join this strong performance-team-wide leadership badly needed.
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