Job title: Technical Manager (permanent, full-time)
Location: North West London, NW2 7HF
Salary: Competitive
Hours: Core working hours are 9:30am to 5:00pm, 40 hours per week, worked over five days, Monday to Friday.
Hybrid: 3 days in office, 2 days working from home
Start date: Immediate
Our business…
At Vitabiotics, you'll find a diverse bunch of talented folk who come from a wide range of backgrounds and possess an extensive array of experience. What brings us all together is a culture that thrives on innovation, mutual respect, team work and a sense of commitment. Vitabiotics is truly a great place to work!
Vitabiotics has pioneered advances in nutritional healthcare products for 55 years and the range includes many of Britain’s leading supplement brands such as Perfectil, Pregnacare, Wellman, Wellwoman and Menopace.
As the UK’s No.1 vitamin company, exporting to over 100 countries, Vitabiotics is widely acknowledged as leaders in innovation and in 2018 became the first vitamin company to twice receive the Queen’s Award for Innovation, awarded for its ground breaking clinical research.
As part of our commitment to innovation and development, we are looking for an experienced Technical Manager to join our quality control team. You will be responsible for leading technical and product development activities across the business, including product transfers, new packaging development, formulation of new products, and contributing to new product development (NPD). The role ensures that products are developed, transferred, and launched successfully while meeting quality, regulatory, cost, and customer requirements. The ideal candidate will have a strong technical background within the food, supplements, nutrition or health and wellbeing sector, excellent problem-solving skills and a proactive approach to delivering robust, commercially viable solutions.
Responsibilities will include…
Team Leadership
- Manage, coach, and develop a team of three direct reports.
- Set objectives, monitor performance, and conduct regular performance reviews.
- Foster a culture of collaboration, innovation, accountability, and continuous improvement.
- Ensure effective resource planning and prioritisation of project activities.
Product Transfers
- Lead and coordinate product transfer activities between manufacturing sites and external partners.
- Ensure successful scale-up and technology transfer from development to commercial production.
- Manage risk assessments and validation activities associated with product transfers.
- Work with Operations and Quality teams to ensure smooth implementation and continuity of supply.
New Product Development (NPD)
- Support the development of new products from concept through to commercial launch.
- Translate customer, market, and business requirements into technical solutions.
- Support product development timelines, budgets, and project deliverables.
- Drive innovation and identify opportunities for new technologies and products.
Product Formulation
- Develop and optimise formulations for new and existing products.
- Conduct formulation trials, stability studies, and performance evaluations.
- Ensure formulations meet quality, regulatory, customer, and manufacturing requirements.
- Maintain technical documentation and product specifications.
Packaging Development
- Lead the design and development of new packaging solutions.
- Evaluate packaging materials for functionality, sustainability, compliance, and cost-effectiveness.
- Coordinate packaging trials and validation activities.
- Work closely with suppliers and procurement teams to identify innovative packaging technologies.
Technical Project Management
- Manage multiple technical projects simultaneously.
- Prepare project plans, risk assessments, and progress reports.
- Ensure projects are delivered on time, within budget, and to agreed quality standards.
- Facilitate cross-functional project meetings and stakeholder communications.
Quality, Compliance & Continuous Improvement
- Ensure all products comply with relevant regulatory, safety, and quality requirements.
- Support audits, investigations, and corrective action activities.
- Drive continuous improvement initiatives related to products, processes, and packaging.
- Maintain accurate technical records and documentation.
- Facilitate cross-functional project meetings and stakeholder communications.
Requirements
Essential
- Degree in Chemistry, Food Science, Pharmaceutical Science, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, or a related technical discipline.
- Significant experience in product development, formulation, and technical project management.
- Experience leading product transfer and scale-up activities.
- Proven people management experience.
- Experience managing packaging development projects.
- Strong understanding of quality and regulatory requirements.
Desirable
- Postgraduate qualification in a relevant scientific discipline.
- Project management qualification (PRINCE2, PMP, APMP or equivalent).
- Experience within manufacturing, FMCG, pharmaceutical, healthcare, chemical, or related industries
Skills
- Leadership and people management
- Product development and formulation expertise
- Project management
- Technical problem-solving
- Stakeholder management
- Packaging technology knowledge
- Communication and presentation skills
- Risk assessment and decision making
- Continuous improvement mindset
- Commercial awareness
Benefits
- 24 days annual leave plus bank holidays.
- Birthday day off.
- 2 Charity days a year.
- Bupa dental cover.
- Private medical insurance.
- 50% staff discount on all Vitabiotics products.
- Staff skills training.
- Health and wellbeing programme.
- Pension contributions.
- Sick pay support.
- Free onsite parking.
- Enhanced maternity or paternity leave.
- Company events.
- Fresh fruit and snacks.
- Free EV charging station.