Regional Technical Manager

Refresco Careers•Fort Worth, TX

About The Position

The Regional Technical Manager provides multi-site technical leadership and hands-on support across an assigned region, reporting to the Senior Regional Technical Manager. The role focuses on end-to-end process auditing, QMS execution, process performance, sanitation, water treatment, startups, and sustainable corrective action. The manager partners with Quality, Operations, Maintenance, Engineering, suppliers, OEMs, and Corporate teams to verify controls and testing, resolve recurring manufacturing issues, close audit findings, improve process capability, and strengthen plant capabilities through training and standardization. The position supports food safety and quality systems, including SQF and HACCP programs, and may escalate risks or recommend stopping production, placing product on hold, or delaying startup when technical controls are inadequate. It leads process audits and corrective actions, troubleshoots beverage processing and packaging systems, supports sanitation and water-treatment validation, and participates in launches, trials, equipment installations, and significant process changes. The role also develops and delivers technical training and standardizes procedures and troubleshooting resources across the network. The position regularly involves manufacturing environments, plant-floor inspections, and travel of 50%–75% or more within the assigned region and other North American locations, including frequent overnight travel and extended plant support as business needs require. The work environment may include wet areas, elevated temperatures, noise, chemicals, moving equipment, and required PPE. Compensation is $122,360–$149,995, with eligibility for performance-based bonuses. The position is exempt.

Requirements

Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering, Food Science, Microbiology, Chemistry, or a related technical field.
At least 5 years of technical, engineering, quality, or manufacturing experience in food or beverage manufacturing.
Demonstrated experience with end-to-end process auditing, corrective action and effectiveness verification, process troubleshooting, CIP/sanitation validation, water treatment, and equipment or line startups.
HACCP trained or certified.
Working knowledge of SQF, cGMPs, FDA/CFIA requirements, and GFSI schemes.
Strong knowledge of beverage processing and packaging systems, including filling, blending, carbonation, thermal processing, and process controls.
Strong working knowledge of CIP/COP, sanitation validation, microbiological controls, cleanability, and hygienic design.
Strong working knowledge of beverage water-treatment systems, including GAC, RO, UV, chlorination/oxidation, storage, distribution, and online instrumentation.
Excellent root-cause problem-solving, process troubleshooting, data analysis, and trend/SPC skills.
Proficiency in SAP, Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and technical data tools; ability to interpret process flow diagrams, P&IDs, and equipment documentation.
Strong auditing, communication, training, facilitation, coaching, and influencing capabilities across plant and corporate functions.
Ability to build credibility and influence plant-level leaders through technical expertise, clear communication, collaboration, and sound recommendations without direct reporting authority.
Demonstrated ability to plan and conduct end-to-end manufacturing process audits, evaluate execution against QMS requirements, and translate findings into effective, sustainable corrective and preventive actions.
Ability to work in manufacturing environments requiring standing, walking, and plant-floor inspections.
Ability to travel 50%–75% or more within the assigned region and other North American locations, including frequent overnight travel and extended plant support as needed.

Nice To Haves

Multi-site support experience preferred.
SQF Practitioner training preferred.

Responsibilities

Provide hands-on technical support across assigned plants and prioritize work according to food safety, quality, customer, operational, and financial risk.
Lead root-cause investigations and corrective actions for recurring or high-impact technical issues.
Partner with plant teams, Engineering, suppliers, and OEMs to implement sustainable technical solutions and standardize best practices.
Support site SQF Practitioners and HACCP teams in validation and verification of prerequisite programs, process controls, sanitation systems, water systems, and significant process changes.
Escalate food safety and quality risks and recommend stopping production, placing product on hold, or delaying startup when technical controls are inadequate.
Plan, schedule, and conduct comprehensive end-to-end process audits at assigned plants.
Verify through observation, record review, and independent checks that required inspections, testing, sampling, measurements, documentation, verification, and escalation are performed according to QMS requirements, procedures, specifications, regulations, and customer standards.
Document audit evidence and control gaps, communicate findings to plant and regional leadership, and establish corrective-action ownership and due dates.
Partner with plant leadership and functional owners to develop, implement, and close corrective and preventive actions arising from audits, inspections, and other assessments.
Evaluate root-cause analyses and action plans; track due dates; verify implementation, effectiveness, and sustainability; and escalate overdue or high-risk findings.
Lead root-cause analysis for filling, blending, and processing systems and recurring plant losses.
Troubleshoot fill control, carbonation, Brix, pH, thermal processing, mixing, flow, pressure, and package-performance issues.
Use process data and trends to reduce variability, improve First Time Right, increase yield, reduce waste, and minimize downtime.
Lead and support CIP/COP validation and sanitation-effectiveness verification; assess cleaning factors and support investigations of microbiological excursions, biofilm, and recurring sanitation failures.
Provide technical support for water-treatment and treated-water storage and distribution systems; troubleshoot water chemistry, microbiological control, membrane performance, scaling, fouling, and system efficiency.
Support online monitoring, manual verification, calibration, data integrity, trending, and validation of new or modified water systems.
Support new lines, major equipment installations, product trials, launches, and significant process changes; participate in technical risk assessments and readiness/Go-No-Go reviews.
Provide on-site technical support during startup and stabilization and document lessons learned.
Identify training needs and develop and deliver classroom and hands-on training for operators, technicians, supervisors, and Quality personnel.
Coach plant teams at the point of execution and conduct follow-up observation and verification to ensure processes are followed and improvements sustained.
Develop and standardize SOPs, work instructions, troubleshooting guides, qualification materials, and technical training; share proven solutions and lessons learned across the network.