Senior Technical Manager

Senior Technical Manager at Glanbia

Join this dynamic team focused on delivering better nutrition for every step of life’s journey!

The Opportunity

The Senior Technical Manager leads complex technical projects across one or more manufacturing sites, resolving operational/quality issues and driving process, product, and technology improvements. This role provides technical leadership, develops team capability through training and mentoring, supports customer needs, and partners cross-functionally to deliver safe, compliant, profitable outcomes.

Primary focus areas include process improvement and operational readiness; technical transfer and validation of new products, processes, and equipment; and strong partnership with Operations, Quality, R&D, Engineering, Supply Chain, customers, and vendors.

Essential Functions

• Serve as an internal consultant and problem-solver, drive innovation and continuous improvement.
• Evaluate and implement new ingredients, components, and production technologies; validate performance and scalability.
• Lead and prioritize short- and long-term projects based on safety, quality, cost, delivery, and risk.
• Identify opportunities to increase customer value, improve profitability, and differentiate capabilities.
• Provide technical guidance to site teams and contribute to innovation/technical services objectives.
• Partner with R&D, Quality, Engineering, and Maintenance to diagnose issues, close process gaps, and implement sustainable solutions.
• Lead cross-functional teams and execute projects independently or collaboratively.
• Support product sampling and in-plant trials using appropriate sanitary practices.
• Communicate relevant industry trends and opportunities to site leadership and PSM.
• Scope and assess feasibility for new projects, support commissioning and validation.
• Support quality testing and execute in-plant trials for new products to ensure validation and operational readiness.
• Coordinate plant qualifications of new components, materials, ingredients, and processes.
• Coach and develop technical teams through training, mentoring, and knowledge sharing.
• Develop strategies to identify new opportunities, support key customers, collaborate with R&D, and build process/product intellectual property.
• Drive Operational Excellence by standardizing best practices and strengthening Technical Services capability across sites.
• Lead technical transfers of new products, processes, and equipment into operations.
• Aligning with QA and plant leadership on common objectives (e.g., cleaning protocols, microbiological quality, sanitation).
• Partner with Supply Chain to ensure co-manufacturing outcomes meet GN expectations.
• Promote a safety-first culture; ensure required operator/management training and SOP adherence.
• Provide product oversight for quality, sensory, and functional performance.
• Partner with Quality to resolve issues and reduce customer complaints.
• Lead clear, timely communication within Technical Services and with site stakeholders.
• Provide process and project support for capital projects, incorporating key financial considerations.

Additional Functions

• Attend vendor seminars/trade shows as needed.
• Provide customer support as needed.
• Manage direct reports as assigned; perform other duties as needed.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or related field.
• 4 or more years in process engineering/improvement, data analysis, and/or solids handling (or equivalent).
• Ability to interpret technical literature, drawings, schematics, and procedures; write clear reports and documentation.
• Strong analytical/problem-solving skills (define problems, analyze data, and draw sound conclusions).
• Experience tracking, trending, and interpreting process data.
• Basic understanding of controls (PLC), sensors, and electrical components.
• Proficient with standard business tools (email, Word, Excel, databases); statistical programming is a plus.
• Ability to prioritize work, manage multiple projects, and delegate effectively.
• Follow safety policies and report unsafe conditions.
• Leadership skills with the ability to work independently and collaboratively across all levels.
• Fluent in written and spoken English.
• Process improvement mindset; Six Sigma/GPS (DMAIC) experience preferred.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Understanding of regulatory compliance (cGMP, GRAS, HACCP).

Typical Physical Activity and Environment

The physical demands and work environment described reflect those encountered while performing the essential functions. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Physical Demands

• Regularly involves talking or listening, sitting, and the use of hands and fingers.
• Frequently involves reaching with hands and arms, standing and walking.
• Occasionally involves crouching, stooping, and/or kneeling.

Physical Requirements

• Must be able to lift and carry items weighing up to 50 pounds.
• Manual dexterity sufficient to reach/handle items, and work with the fingers.
• Involves light physical activity performing non-strenuous daily activities of an administrative nature.
• Should be able to identify and distinguish colors, see clearly at 20 inches or closer and 20 feet or more, judge distances and spatial relationships, and adjust the eye to bring an object into sharp focus.

Environmental Conditions

• May be exposed to hazardous noise levels (i.e. mills, industrial fans)
• May be exposed to fumes and toxic chemicals.
• May work in areas with mechanical moving parts.

Travel Requirements

Some overnight travel (up to 40%) by land and/or air.

Where And How You Will Work  

The opportunity will be based at our West Haven, CT location.       

What We Would Like to Offer You 

The opportunity to develop your career on a global stage, continuous learning through an on-demand learning platform, and a competitive compensation package including staff discounts, generous family leave policy, health & dental plan, competitive salary, 401K. Glanbia provides a reasonable range of compensation for roles that may be hired in Connecticut. This range may not be applicable to other locations. Factors that could be used to determine your actual salary may include your specific skills, years of experience and comparison to current employees already in this role. The typical candidate is hired below midpoint of the range. Annual salary for Connecticut-based employees for this role is $90,000 to $120,000.

About Glanbia  

Glanbia is a better nutrition company with three divisions: Performance Nutrition, Health & Nutrition and Dairy Nutrition. Collectively and with our partners we offer an incredible breadth of expertise in nutrition. We employ a team of 5800 people, work with global food and beverage companies, and sell our award-winning and market-leading brands and ingredients in more than 100 countries worldwide

At Glanbia, we celebrate diversity, because we know that our individual strengths make us stronger together. We welcome and encourage interest from a variety of candidates, we will give your application consideration, without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender perception or identity, national origin, age, marital status, protected veteran status, or disability status.

At Glanbia, our culture celebrates individuality, knowing that together we are more.