Quality Assurance Manager / Supervisor
2 months ago
£33000–£35000 yearly
Full-time
Harlow
About Us We are a newly established and rapidly growing food manufacturing business specialising in high-quality burger production. Operating from a state-of-the-art, highly automated facility, we are committed to delivering exceptional product quality while building a strong, forward-thinking food safety culture from day one. The Role We are seeking an experienced and detail-oriented Quality Control Supervisor / Manager to lead and develop our quality and food safety systems. This is a key leadership role responsible for ensuring our products consistently meet regulatory requirements, customer expectations, and internal standards within a high-risk meat processing environment. This role reports directly to the Operations Manager. This is a brilliant opportunity for an ambitious quality professional to make their mark, joining the business at the very start of its journey. You will play a pivotal role in shaping systems, standards, and culture within a modern, highly automated food manufacturing environment. Key Responsibilities • Develop, implement, and maintain the Quality Management System (QMS) and HACCP plan, • Ensure full compliance with UK food safety legislation, industry standards (e.g. BRCGS), and internal policies, • Oversee daily quality control activities across raw material intake, production, and finished product release, • Lead internal, external, and customer audits, including regulatory inspections, • Monitor Critical Control Points (CCPs) and ensure accurate, real-time record keeping, • Manage non-conformances, root cause analysis, and corrective and preventive actions (CAPA), • Analyse quality data, trends, and KPIs to drive continuous improvement, • Oversee supplier approval processes and ensure raw material and vendor compliance, • Maintain full traceability systems and lead mock recalls where required, • Ensure labelling compliance, including allergen control and current UK legislation, • Train, mentor, and support production teams on food safety, hygiene, and quality standards, • Collaborate cross-functionally with production, technical, and operations teams to improve processes and product quality Requirements • Minimum 5–10 years’ experience in a Quality Control/Quality Assurance role within the meat or food manufacturing industry, • Proven experience in a quality leadership or supervisory role, • Strong working knowledge of HACCP (Level 3 minimum; Level 4 desirable), • Relevant degree or professional qualification in Food Science, Quality, or a related field, • In-depth understanding of UK food safety legislation and retailer/industry standards (e.g. BRCGS), • Experience working in high-risk environments such as meat processing or burger manufacturing, • Strong audit experience, including customer and regulatory audits, • Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills, • Strong leadership, communication, and team management abilities, • Ability to manage multiple priorities and perform effectively under pressure, • Good IT skills, including Excel and digital systems for on-site data capture, • Knowledge of shelf-life testing and microbiological standards (required) Desirable • Internal Auditor qualification (BRCGS or equivalent), • Experience with retailer standards (e.g. Tesco, Aldi, Lidl), • Familiarity with CAD systems (where applicable to process/layout improvements) What We Offer • A unique opportunity to join at the start of an exciting growth journey, • The chance to shape and build quality systems from the ground up in a highly automated factory, • Competitive salary and benefits package, • Career progression opportunities as the company expands, • A dynamic, fast-paced, and supportive working environment
