Quality Assurance Manager
📍 Harlow area (Monday to Friday)
About the Opportunity
An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced Quality Assurance Manager to take ownership of quality systems and standards within a fast-paced food manufacturing environment.
This role is ideal for a quality professional who thrives on driving high standards, developing teams, and ensuring products consistently meet customer, legal, and food safety requirements. You'll work collaboratively across multiple departments, championing a culture of quality and continuous improvement throughout the site.
Key Responsibilities
Quality & Food Safety Leadership
- Lead the site's Quality Assurance function, ensuring compliance with all food safety, legal, and customer requirements.
- Act as a key point of contact for quality-related matters, providing guidance and making informed decisions when issues arise.
- Support and challenge operational teams to embed a quality-first mindset across the business.
- Maintain and continuously improve quality management systems and site procedures.
Team Management
- Manage, mentor, and develop the QA team, creating a positive and high-performing culture.
- Ensure quality standards are consistently applied through coaching, training, and performance management.
- Promote accountability and attention to detail across all levels of the operation.
Compliance & Auditing
- Oversee internal auditing programmes covering GMP, hygiene, fabrication standards, foreign body controls, and other compliance requirements.
- Maintain readiness for third-party and customer audits, including BRC certification.
- Ensure corrective actions are implemented effectively and verified for completion.
Product Quality & Technical Excellence
- Monitor product quality throughout the manufacturing process to ensure specifications are achieved.
- Lead investigations into quality incidents, customer complaints, and non-conformances, identifying root causes and preventative measures.
- Manage environmental monitoring, microbiological testing, calibration activities, and verification programmes.
- Support the HACCP system through regular reviews, validation activities, and traceability exercises.
Continuous Improvement
- Analyse quality performance data and KPIs to identify trends and improvement opportunities.
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams to reduce waste, improve efficiency, and enhance product quality.
- Support new product introductions and process changes from a technical and quality perspective.
What We're Looking For
- Proven experience in a Quality Assurance or Quality Management role within food manufacturing.
- Strong knowledge of HACCP, GMP, food safety legislation, and BRC standards.
- Experience leading and developing teams in a manufacturing environment.
- Excellent problem-solving and decision-making skills.
- Strong communication skills with the ability to build effective relationships across departments.
- Highly organised with the ability to prioritise workloads and manage multiple projects.
- Hands-on approach and willingness to spend time on the production floor.
Qualifications
- Degree or equivalent qualification in Food Science, Food Technology, or a related discipline is desirable.
- Strong IT literacy and confidence working with quality management systems and data analysis tools.
Why Apply?
This is an excellent opportunity to join a growing manufacturing business where you'll have the autonomy to influence quality standards, develop people, and make a genuine impact on operational performance and customer satisfaction.