Park Seventeen, Whitefield, Manchester M45 8FJ, UK Req #98
14 May 2025
Location: Manchester
Shift: Monday to Friday
Finsbury Food Group is a leading speciality bakery manufacturer. We constantly raise quality and efficiency standards, and build long-term relationships with major multiple retailers and the foodservice channel. Established in 1985, Kara offers a wide range of quality sweet and savoury bakery products, including both gourmet butter and vegan brioche buns, doughballs and teacakes. The Kara Bakery can bake over 1 million baps and burger buns every day.
* Job Purpose
The Standards Technologist role sits within the Technical function and is to be the auditor of all quality related activity. This role works closely with the Operational, Engineering, Supply Chain and Hygiene functions. This role is responsible for auditing the completion of routine quality assurance testing, sampling and calibration throughout the manufacturing process. You will also ensure that the cadence of internal schedules have been adhered to throughout the factory.
* Role Key Accountabilities
* Audit to ensure all pre-start up activities have been conducted in accordance with the site schedule e.g. line checklists, metal detector, checkweigher & Autocoding working, line is of a clean standard, glass & hard plastic checks are completed
* Audits for completion of various tests and record results (pH testing, Allergen testing, ERH testing, weight control / check weighing / calibration / verification), as well as auditing to ensure labels and packaging is to specification
* Audits all routine sampling programmes to ensure compliance with the schedule e.g. micro and nutritional samples are submitted for testing and checking any corrective actions post receipt of the results are conducted e.g. corrective action for out of spec micro has been completed
* Audits the completion of calibration and routine inspection of manufacturing equipment to schedule
* Conduct regular internal audits of the sites operations in accordance with the Quality Management System (CCP’s /QMS /Allergen / Hygiene / Documentation / GMP / Foreign bodies / Glass / PPE) and follow up on completion of corrective actions and ensure they are closed through active participation/leading process improvement activities to aid adherence and reduced process variation
* Audits the daily start of life and end of life product quality evaluation panels are being conducted on finished product, recording, reporting, and actioning proactively these results where applicable.
* Audits the escalation to management of food safety, quality & legality incidents, such as holds, rejections, concession and near misses at appropriate Tiered Meetings to ensure their timely and accurate reporting. Monitors the implementation and efficacy of corrective actions to ensure they are timely, robust and effective.
* Ensure the management and co-ordination of the in-shift activities relating to product & process trials and launches
* Ensuring correct QAS standards have been created for all products for NPD and EPD activities. Checking the quality of the content of the QAS is appropriate and providing a feedback loop to the QMSL and Process Technologists where this hasn’t been the case
* Auditing the complaint response times as per the business Complaints Service Level Agreement between site and central complaints team function
* To spot audit the efficacy of M3 traceability exercises and transactions to ensure the system is being used correctly and conduct random mass balance exercises to ensure adherence to QUID
* Escalation of any deviation from the sampling and checking programme to the Technical Manager, Performance Shift Lead & Quality Manufacturing Shift Lead to ensure the activities are brought back on track in a timely manner
* Championing new ways of working to drive continuous improvements of the factory GMP standards and QMS implementation requirements
* Participation during external and unannounced audits and customer visits and to actively support the Technical team.
* Understand the customer requirements/standards and codes of practices to enable day to day management against these standards
* Conducts internal Quality Management System audits as per the schedule
* Proactive member of the HACCP/ VACCP/TACCP teams
* Responsible for ensuring their own health and safety and that of others by monitoring workplace activities and reporting issues as required
* Knowledge, Skills and Experience
* HND / degree qualified in STEM subject, ideally with 3 years' experience in similar role
* Level 3 Food Hygiene
* Level 3 HACCP
* Trained Internal auditor
* Previous experience of working in a fast-paced and challenging environment is beneficial
* Ability to lead effective problem-solving activities using suitable root cause analysis methodology
* Be able to influence teams to improve ways of working through an understanding of LEAN Manufacturing, continuous improvement and use of problem-solving techniques
* Ability to influence a team and motivate them to deliver/exceed business/personal set KPIs
* Be able to demonstrate a good understanding of Health and Safety, Food Safety and legality requirements e.g. Weights & Measures
* Experience interacting with multiple IT systems for measuring/managing people, process and plant
* Competent in MS Office, Word, Excel and Outlook
* Have knowledge of BRC and Customers Codes of Practice
* Personal Attributes
The Standards Technologist must work in line with the company values, demonstrating the following attributes and behaviours;
* Team-worker – a strong team player and takes team working seriously, supporting other team members to achieve performance standards and targets. Can shoulder the responsibility of the role with right level of emotional intelligence
* Ownership - take ownership to ensure 100% compliance to the full suite of monitoring programmes to ensure compliance with the site’s internal QMS and customer standards
* Respectful – personally demonstrate mutual respect for all employees and champion a culture of inclusivity and respect within a multicultural and diverse workforce
* Communicator – excellent communicator with team members, workers and customers across site/s at all levels with the ability to communicate clearly and positively. Have a natural ability to influence those around them to deliver results. Persuasive and able to justify decision making in a constructive manner, taking managed risks.
* Honesty – Do the right thing, own up if something has gone wrong. Stay true to your word
* Dimensions
* This role will work closely with the Technical, Operations, Engineering and Supply Chain team members and to deliver a stable, repeatable and efficient manufacturing process
* Reporting into the Technical Manager, this role will be specifically targeted at quality, inclusive of food safety, legality and good manufacturing practice,
* Key Performance Indicators (KPI’s)
* 100% completion of routine testing, sampling and calibration schedules
* 1 00% completion of allocated audits to schedule
* 100% completion of corrective actions within the agreed timescale
* Decision Making
Delegated authority to escalate Food Safety, Quality and Legal decisions to Technical Management. Authority to stop a line or process from continuing, should key checks not have been conducted as per the normal process
* Other Role Information
* This is a site-based role and an intrinsic part of the Technical team. Where possible there will be opportunities to visit other bakeries in the Finsbury Foods portfolio to enable best practice sharing and to collaborate on group implementation projects.
* It is expected that the role holder can deputise for the Quality Manufacturing Shift Lead during times of annual leave and sickness and this forms part of the career progression route for this role.
What's in it for you?
* Enhanced Maternity & Paternity Leave to allow quality time with your new arrival!
* Enhanced Pension Scheme for our employees
* Free Employee Assistance Programme (open to colleagues and their families)
* Retail discounts accessible via our Benefits Hub platform!
* Company shop available at sites (heavily discounted, yummy products!)
* Refer a Friend Scheme (up to £300 per referral – t&cs dependent)
* Employee Recognition Awards· Extensive Learning & Development opportunities (including opportunities for sponsored professional memberships and our own in-house development course!)
* An opportunity to be part of a fantastic, growing organisation. Head over to our LinkedIn page to find out more!
Our vision is to be the leading specialty bakery group in the UK and we want the best people in place to achieve this. Our continued success is built entirely on the talented people who work here, so employee development is important to us because everyone is a valued member of the team, and we want every individual to have the skills and capabilities to achieve both your own personal goals and our business goals. We want good people to join our company, to help our company continue to go from strength to strength. If this sounds like you, please get in contact to learn more!
* Park Seventeen, Whitefield, Manchester M45 8FJ, UK
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