Job Title: Quality & Regulatory Manager
Salary: £55,000
Reporting to: Senior Leadership Team
Location: Kent, UK
Role Purpose
This role is responsible for leading and maintaining robust quality, food safety, and regulatory compliance systems within a food manufacturing environment. The post holder ensures ongoing compliance with legal obligations, customer requirements, and third‑party certification standards, while supporting continuous improvement across the business.
Key Responsibilities
Quality, Food Safety & Compliance
* Lead and maintain accredited food safety and quality standards, ensuring ongoing audit readiness.
* Own and manage food safety systems, including HACCP-based plans, food defence, and food fraud controls.
* Develop, maintain, and continuously improve the Quality Management System (QMS).
* Lead traceability exercises, incident management, and product withdrawals or recalls when required.
* Manage supplier approval, monitoring, and risk assessment for ingredients, packaging, and services.
* Produce and maintain product and material specifications.
* Ensure quality-related induction, training, and awareness activities are delivered across the business.
* Plan and complete routine quality activities including internal audits, hygiene audits, calibration, and verification checks.
* Oversee complaint management, root cause analysis, and corrective actions.
Leadership & Improvement
* Lead and develop the quality function, ensuring team capability, compliance, and engagement.
* Support product development, process changes, and operational improvements from a quality and food safety perspective.
* Drive continuous improvement initiatives focused on efficiency, waste reduction, and risk management.
* Monitor food safety culture and emerging risks.
* Establish forums or committees to encourage communication and engagement on quality matters.
Regulatory Compliance
* Maintain up-to-date knowledge of applicable food legislation and regulatory requirements.
* Ensure product labelling and related information meet legal and certification standards.
* Manage compliance data, submissions, and statutory returns using relevant systems and platforms.
* Act as the primary contact with external regulators, auditors, and certification bodies.
* Monitor upcoming legislation and support timely implementation.
* Develop and improve systems, policies, and procedures to support regulatory compliance and due diligence.
General Responsibilities
* Act as a visible advocate for quality, food safety, and compliance across the organisation.
* Advise senior leaders on quality and regulatory matters, providing practical solutions.
* Lead relevant external audits.
* Contribute to senior leadership discussions and strategic planning.
* Promote a positive culture focused on safety, accountability, and continuous improvement.
* Maintain accurate records to support compliance and due diligence.
Skills & Experience
* Strong knowledge of recognised food safety and quality standards.
* Proven experience in a quality or technical leadership role within food manufacturing.
* In-depth understanding of HACCP and food integrity systems.
* Health & safety qualification at management or supervisory level.
* Experience in low-risk food production environments (higher-risk experience advantageous).
* Audit experience, including internal and external audits.
* Food hygiene qualification at an appropriate level.