QA Manager

Right Match Recruitment Group is working in partnership with a well established and international organisation based in Rainham, Essex to recruit a forward thinking QA Manager to join their team. This is an exciting, full-time and fixed 9‑month maternity cover contract role.

Overall purpose of job:

Ensure the successful management and development of the QA Team and Quality function including food safety, legal compliance and quality standards.

Key areas of responsibility:

Primary Responsibilities

• To manage, maintain and improve company’s Health and Safety, Food Safety and Quality standards, and the requirements of any accreditation (ie. BRCGS, FEMAS), legislative, and customer requirements.
• To work in compliance with company’s Quality Policy and support the company’s Health & Safety and Food Safety & Quality Culture.
• To operate in line with the requirements detailed within the company’s policies and practices detailed within the company’s Quality Management System (QMS).
• Be a champion for food safety & quality throughout the business.
• Lead, manage and develop a team of quality assurance professionals, including, but not limited to, managing performance, setting goals and objectives, and measuring outcomes.
• Act as front‑line contact for quality and/or food safety issues within the manufacturing.
• Within defined levels of responsibility, make decisions on food safety, quality and compliance to standards to ensure our consumers receives the highest quality product.
• Lead the site HACCP, with support from the Technical Manager and other business functions.
• Ensure pest control visits take place and ensure agreed recommendations of the pest control company are tracked, trended and implemented.
• Identify, develop and implement Food Safety and Quality Assurance policies and procedures as required.
• Manage and support NCR & DMR processes internally and externally ensuring a thorough and appropriate RCA is provided with supporting corrective actions.
• Play an active role in solving quality issues, continuous improvement programmes, and other quality and/or Food Safety projects.
• Carry‑out audit activities such as GMP audits, GHP audits and Internal audits as required.

Additional Responsibilities

• Support Food Defence activities such as Horizon Scanning, facilitating communication within the site to mitigate risk to the business as required.
• Lead and facilitate Technical Department administrative activities such as sampling, calibration, consumable monitoring & restocking etc.
• Lead and/or support training for peers with relation to food safety and/or quality.
• Record and monitor all consumer/customer complaints, facilitate investigation, closure and support for the business’ Food Safety & Quality Culture plan.
• Participate and/or lead external and third‑party audits.
• Liaise with internal and external stakeholders as required.
• Deputise for the Technical Manager as required by the business.
• Support for Technical Department and/or other business functions as and when required.

Qualifications / Experience required:

• Minimum of 5 years’ experience within a similar role and industry.
• HACCP level 3.
• Strong knowledge of food safety regulations, BRCGS Requirements, and best practices.
• Demonstrable experience of managing a team.
• Proven track record of quality improvement activities.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office and other computer‑based skills.
• Bachelor’s degree in food science or other related field.
• Food Safety Level 3.
• Experience of Thermal Processing activities.
• Audit trained (Internal or Lead Auditor).
• Ability to develop and deliver training programmes.

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