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Summary
This role is based in our factory in Rainham, ESSEX.
The Quality Assurance Supervisor leads a quality assurance team to verify that all materials, including finished products, are safe and conform to relevant specifications, legislation, and customer requirements across an end-to-end ready-to-eat (RTE) food manufacturing environment. The role is multi-skilled, able to operate across any area of the manufacturing unit, and provides QA cover and consistency across all shifts.
The Quality Assurance Supervisor has day-to-day authority over resource management and people management within the QA team, and is empowered to take action and escalate non-conformance, quality, safety, or legality issues within local practice and standards. Actions are expected to be completed and resolved within a shift, working to clear schedules and standard operating procedures, with resourcing reviewed on a quarterly basis.
The role works closely with production and operations teams to drive continuous improvement in quality and food safety, supporting regulatory, third-party, and customer audits and helping to embed a strong quality culture across the site.
Responsibilities
Team Leadership & Resource Management
- Manage the QA team to ensure appropriate cover across all shifts as required.
- Plan and manage resource availability against the agreed resource plan.
- Manage the QA budget against plan.
- Own day-to-day people management within the QA team, including performance, capability, and rota management, with resourcing reviewed on a quarterly basis.
- Track and manage training delivery against the planned training schedule.
- Supervise the QA team's daily operations, including scheduling and performance evaluations.
Audit & Compliance Monitoring
- Complete audits and KPIs, monitoring the consistency of outputs across the team for compliance purposes.
- Ensure adherence to the audit schedule, generating and monitoring KPIs on an ongoing basis.
- Ensure the quality of information recorded by the team meets required standards.
- Maintain understanding and oversight of the internal audit process and relevant Technical KPIs.
- Ensure compliance with recognised food safety and regulatory standards (HACCP, GMPs, BRCGS/SQF) and customer specifications.
- Monitor and audit production processes on an ongoing basis to verify adherence to quality and food safety standards.
- Oversee the implementation and maintenance of HACCP and food safety plans.
- Assist with regulatory, third-party, and customer audits, ensuring documentation is accurate, complete, and audit-ready.
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Training & Capability Development
- Train the team to ensure new processes and procedures are adopted effectively, tracking team capability and change adoption.
- Build production team capability to improve communication and understanding of technical standards, ensuring the quality of data provided and root cause analysis meets required standards.
- Deliver training programmes for employees on quality standards, food safety policy, and regulatory requirements.
- Stay current with industry trends, emerging regulation, and best practice to continuously enhance the QA programme.
Non-Conformance & Complaint Investigation
- Investigate customer complaints and any non-conformance raised internally or externally, providing data that informs resolution.
- Ensure alignment of investigation outcomes with Manufacturing Unit and wider business team strategy, incorporating feedback from Operations.
- Apply non-conformance reporting techniques consistently across the team.
- Lead and support the QA team in root cause analysis and structured problem-solving relating to product quality and safety, implementing corrective and preventive actions as necessary.
- Maintain accurate, well-organised records of inspections, test results, and quality documentation.
Sensory & Quality Panels
- Organise the organoleptic panel to ensure consistent product quality.
- Ensure knowledge and implementation of best practice across the Manufacturing Unit, with adherence to schedule and corrective actions.
Health, Safety & Environment
- Ensure a safe working environment exists for all colleagues, meeting as a minimum the standards set out in the SHE policy.
- Ensure accurate RIDDOR and near-miss reporting across the QA team and wider department.
Decision-Making Authority
- Resource management within the QA team.
- Authority to take action and escalate non-conformance, quality, safety, or legality issues within local practice and standards.
- Day-to-day people management of the QA team, working to clear schedules and standard operating practices.
- Actions are expected to be completed and resolved within a shift, with resourcing reviewed via quarterly rota review.
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Skills & Experience
- HND and/or experience within food manufacturing, or a degree in Food Science, Microbiology, Quality Assurance, or a related field (or equivalent experience).
- 3+ years' experience in quality assurance within a ready-to-eat (RTE) food manufacturing environment, including experience leading a team in a fast-paced manufacturing setting.
- Level 3 Food Safety qualification including microbiological awareness — understanding of the basics of food safety
- Level 2 Health and Safety qualification.
- HACCP and BRCGS/SQF certification
- Computer literate, with proficiency in Microsoft Office and quality management software
- Basic allergen awareness and practical management of allergens
- Understanding of the internal audit process.
- Basic knowledge of weight legislation and understanding of Technical KPIs.
- CCP training, knowledge of GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) techniques
- Non-conformance reporting techniques.
- Basic hygiene principles
- Basic legal labelling practice.
- Proficiency in quality management systems, statistical process control, and root cause analysis.
- Excellent problem-solving skills and attention to detail, with strong communication and leadership skills to work collaboratively across departments.
- Ability to work flexible hours, including occasional weekends or shift cover as needed.
Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Quality Assurance, or a related field.
- Minimum of 5 years' experience in quality assurance within a manufacturing environment.
- Proven experience in a supervisory or leadership role.
- Strong knowledge of quality control methodologies and tools.
- Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.
- Effective communication and interpersonal skills.
- Ability to work collaboratively in a team-oriented environment.
- Familiarity with ISO standards and regulatory requirements.
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