This is what you’ll actually do! As Quality Manufacturing Shift Leader, you will take ownership of food safety and quality performance across your shift, managing incidents such as holds, concessions, and near misses, and ensuring robust root cause analysis and corrective actions are implemented. You will develop a deep understanding of all manufacturing and ancillary processes, identifying variables that impact product quality, yield, and line efficiency. You will audit process adherence against standards, actively leading and supporting continuous improvement activities to reduce variation and improve compliance. You will conduct regular internal audits in line with the Quality Management System, covering CCPs, hygiene, GMP, allergens, foreign body controls, glass, PPE, and documentation, ensuring all corrective actions are completed and closed effectively. You will manage and coordinate in-shift product and process trials and new product launches, ensuring quality and food safety standards are maintained at all times. You will champion factory GMP standards, drive new ways of working, and promote a culture of continuous improvement. You will investigate customer complaints and trends, identify root causes, and ensure learning and corrective actions are communicated to relevant teams. You will also be accountable for equipment calibration, routine inspections, and verification activities. Daily responsibilities including overseeing start-of-life and end-of-life taste panels, carrying out quality testing (pH, allergen, ERH, weight control, check weighing, calibration, and verification), and ensuring labels and artwork meet agreed specifications. You will ensure customer standards, codes of practice, and BRC requirements are fully understood and embedded in day-to-day operations, confidently hosting external auditors during planned and unannounced audits. You will also lead traceability exercises and present findings clearly during customer visits and third-party audits. Ideally this is you! Previous experience working in a fast-paced food manufacturing or FMCG environment Strong background in quality assurance, food safety, and GMP-controlled operations Proven experience leading or contributing to continuous improvement activities Confident in using structured problem-solving and root cause analysis techniques Good understanding of LEAN manufacturing principles and continuous improvement methodologies Ability to build, coach, and motivate teams to deliver against quality, safety, and performance KPIs Strong understanding of Health & Safety and Food Safety requirements Level 3 Food Hygiene qualification Level 3 HACCP qualification Trained Internal Auditor (Lead Auditor desirable) Knowledge of BRC standards and customer Codes of Practifce Strong awareness of allergen controls and foreign body management Experience interacting with multiple IT systems for people, process, and plant management Competent in MS Word, Excel, and Outlook Well organized with strong planning and time-management skills Excellent communication skills with the ability to engage stakeholders at all levels Personal Attributes Strong team worker and leader who supports and develops others Takes full ownership of the shift and accountability for quality and food safety standards Demonstrates emotional intelligence and resilience in a fast-paced environment Acts with honesty and integrity, doing the right thing even when under pressure Respectful and inclusive, championing a positive culture within a diverse workforce Clear, confident communicator able to influence and challenge constructively Takes pride in producing high-quality products and maintaining high standards Flexible and adaptable to changing priorities, demands, and business needs Reliable, enthusiastic, and committed with a strong work ethic Role Dimensions Reports directly to the Technical Manager Primary focus on quality, food safety, and GMP compliance within Operations Works closely with peer Manufacturing Shift Leaders to deliver a stable and efficient process Acts as the quality lead on shift, supporting Operations, Engineering, and Supply Chain teams May have direct reports depending on site size and process complexity Responsible for communicating change and standards across multiple shift patterns, including day and night shifts Operates in a fast-paced manufacturing environment with shared responsibility for wider operational activities