Assistant Quality Assurance Manager

Overview

• A global leader supplying ingredients, supporting innovation across food, beverage, and sports nutrition markets.
• Driving growth through strategic partnerships with retailers, manufacturers, and health-focused brands.
• Renowned for high-quality, functional ingredients that help brands meet evolving consumer needs.

Responsibilities

• The Assistant Quality Manager will be responsible for certifications and audits and will maintain all required business certifications and lead customer/third-party audits (FSSC, NSF-GMP, Informed Manufacturer, RSPO, etc.). Manage HACCP/TACCP/VACCP programmes and conduct Preventive Controls and GMP-based food safety audits.
• The Assistant Quality Manager will act as a key partner to Sales, Manufacturing, and R&D to resolve production and product quality issues. Provide training, coaching, and support on food safety and quality programmes. Lead crisis management, food defence, and recall/withdrawal activities.
• You will work with manufacturing partners to drive continuous improvement and ensure regulatory and customer compliance. Monitor hygiene, pest control, and prerequisite programmes to meet GFSI and regulatory standards.
• The Assistant Quality Manager will be responsible for driving the quality system strategy focused on risk reduction and cost savings. Prepare and analyse quality documentation, including trends, failed processes, mock recalls, and corrective actions. Manage Root Cause Analysis, Corrective & Preventive Actions, and risk-based thinking.
• As Assistant Quality Manager you will provide quality and food safety input into product and process development, ensuring product consistency. Facilitate and manage product controls, incidents, holds, quarantines, non-conformances, allergens, rework, rejected products, and customer complaints.
• You will ideally have a degree in a food science or related field.
• You must have more than 3 years’ experience in a food/ingredient quality or related role (quality control/ quality assurance/quality inspector experience).
• Previous experience in a laboratory is preferred but not essential.
• You must be analytical and have good problem-solving skills.
• Familiarity with ERP and LIMS systems will be beneficial.
• You must be able to get to site in Kent 5 days a week.

Qualifications

• Degree in food science or related field (preferred).
• 3+ years of experience in food/ingredient quality or related role.
• Analytical mindset with strong problem-solving skills.
• Familiarity with ERP and LIMS systems (beneficial).
• Ability to travel to site in Kent five days a week.

Benefits

• Competitive Salary DOE
• Fully site-based in Maidstone, Kent
• Wider benefits package also on offer.

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