Technical Manager, Americas

En Route is the global partner of choice for some of the world's leading airlines and airline caterers. Part of dnata, one of the world's largest air services providers, we combine global scale with an agile, innovative mindset. Backed by 24 years of industry expertise, we're growing rapidly and have ambitious plans for the future.

We're a people-first, customer-focused business that values collaboration, accountability and continuous improvement. If you're looking to make a real impact in a fast-growing international organisation, we'd love to hear from you.

The Role

We are seeking an experienced Technical Manager, Americas to lead food safety, quality, compliance and supplier management across our Americas operation.

Reporting to the General Manager, Americas, with support from the Global Head of Technical, you'll work closely with Procurement, Product Development, Operations and Commercial teams to ensure the highest standards of food safety, quality and regulatory compliance throughout the supply chain.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and continuously improve the regional Quality Management System (QMS), ensuring compliance with GFSI standards, customer requirements and food safety regulations.
• Manage supplier approval, auditing, risk assessment and performance programmes.
• Lead technical delivery of new product launches, including factory trials and first production runs.
• Develop and maintain product specifications, quality standards and technical documentation.
• Investigate non-conformances, conducting root cause analysis and implementing CAPA programmes.
• Ensure compliance with FDA, USDA, CFIA, FSVP, labelling and microbiological requirements.
• Support recall readiness, incident management and audit programmes.
• Drive food safety culture and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Act as the regional technical expert, supporting customers, suppliers, tenders and audits.

What We're Looking For

Essential

• Degree (or equivalent) in Food Science, Food Technology or a related discipline.
• Proven experience in a senior Technical, Quality or Food Safety role within food manufacturing, airline catering or a similarly regulated environment.
• Strong knowledge of HACCP, GFSI, FDA and CFIA requirements.
• Experience managing supplier approval programmes, audits, risk assessments and supplier performance.
• Experience leading new product launches, factory trials and first production runs.
• Experience developing and maintaining product specifications, quality standards and technical documentation.
• Good understanding of food manufacturing processes, ingredient functionality and shelf-life requirements.
• Experience managing non-conformances, root cause analysis and CAPA programmes.
• Knowledge of North American food legislation, labelling requirements and regulatory compliance.
• Familiarity with crisis management, product recalls and incident response procedures.
• Experience working cross-functionally with Procurement, Product Development, Operations, Supply Chain and Commercial teams.
• Willingness to travel across North America and internationally as required.

Desirable

• Lead Auditor qualification or equivalent.
• Experience with Halal certification programmes and dietary/religious meal requirements.
• Knowledge of export compliance programmes, including CFIA and FSVP.
• Experience supporting customer audits, presentations and tender processes.

Personal Attributes

We're looking for someone who is:

• A confident communicator who can translate technical requirements into practical solutions.
• Skilled at building relationships and influencing stakeholders.
• Comfortable challenging constructively to protect food safety, quality and compliance.
• Highly organised and able to manage multiple priorities.
• Proactive, solutions-focused and committed to continuous improvement.
• Collaborative, culturally aware and able to work across international teams.
• Detail-oriented, with a strong risk-based approach to decision-making.

Why Join Us?

This is an exciting opportunity to shape food safety, quality and supplier performance across a strategically important region. You'll work with global colleagues, leading suppliers and major airline customers while helping drive the future technical strategy of our Americas business.

We are committed to creating an inclusive, equitable, and diverse workplace where everyone feels valued and empowered to contribute their best. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, identities, and experiences, and we are dedicated to ensuring a fair and accessible recruitment process for all candidates. If you require any adjustments or support during the application or interview stages, please let us know – we’re here to help!

Regrettably, due to the high volume of applications we receive, we are unable to respond individually to every candidate. If you have not heard from us within 10 working days of submitting your application, unfortunately you have not been successful on this occasion.

We take your privacy seriously. Any personal data you share with us during the application process will be handled in accordance with applicable data protection laws and used solely for recruitment purposes. Your information will be stored securely and retained only for as long as necessary.