Kepak is a global food company serving international retailers and food service household names with prime cuts of meat, on-trend food concepts and ready-for-market convenience foods.
Kepak St. Merryn in Merthyr Tydfil has combined beef and lamb processing and packing facilities. We offer beef and lamb products ranging from retail ready cuts for butchers’ counters to branded packaged meat, all as part of our service; raised on open pastures, sourced from local farmers and hand-selected by our master butchers, we produce beef and lamb products with integrity and unmatched quality assurance.
We are currently recruiting for a Quality Assurance Manager to work in our busy Merthyr Tydfil Site.
This is a full time, permanent position working Monday to Friday 8:30am - 5pm.
ROLE STRUCTURE:
· Reports to: Head of Food Safety and Quality Retail
· Direct Reports: 1-4 (QA Leads)
ROLE PURPOSE:
· To lead the Quality Assurance function within the retail manufacturing unit, ensuring the highest standards of food safety and quality compliance.
· This role is pivotal in maintaining regulatory and customer standards, driving continuous improvement, and fostering a culture of accountability, food safety and quality excellence.
Requirements
Health, Safety and Wellbeing
· Ensure full compliance with health and safety policies and procedures.
· Promote a culture of safety-first across the QA team and wider site.
· Monitor and report on H&S metrics and provide support to site teams on issue identification and follow up.
Quality Assurance Management
· Lead and manage the QA team in implementing and maintaining robust food safety and quality systems.
· Ensure compliance with HACCP, TACCP, VACCP, and BRCGS standards.
· Ensure the QA team comply to site standards
· Support the site team in ensuring all QA documentation is up to date and providing regular updates on QA monitoring and results
· Support the operational function to own product quality control & delivery
· Drive decision making based on risk assessment, for product & processes
QA Compliance
· Liaise with the site food safety and compliance manager to support and continuously improve the site’s quality management system (QMS)
· Set up regular management routines with the QA team to monitor performance
· Ensure products are produced to meet customer specifications, via direct assessment and facilitating operational ownership
· Attend site meetings and contribute positively and constructively to food safety performance at the site
· Ensure alignment with customer, regulatory, and third-party standards.
· Provide input for technical and operational SOP’s to ensure QA compliance is embedded into operational and quality control processes
· Set up regular management routines with the QA team to monitor performance
· Ensure products are produced to meet customer specifications, via direct assessment and facilitating operational ownership
· Attend site meetings and contribute positively and constructively to food safety performance at the site
· Ensure alignment with customer, regulatory, and third-party standards.
Provide input for technical and operational SOP’s to ensure QA compliance is embedded into operational and quality control processes
Food Safety Excellence
· Drive continuous improvement in quality systems and product standards.
· Be proactive in identifying areas for improvement in terms of ensuring best in class QA standards for our customers
· Contribute to site CI initiative development and delivery by providing QA input and participation in project teams
· Set up and monitor QA performance dashboard and share insights and trends to identify areas for improvement
· Keep informed of industry best practices and regulatory changes and communicate to QA team
· Keep up to date on digital technology to enhance and streamline QA processes and document management
Risk & Incident Management
· Conduct regular risk assessments and root cause analysis for quality and food safety incidents.
· Monitor customer claims and complaints to identify root causes and implement effective corrective and preventive actions, verifying compliance
· Oversee response times to complaints in line with company and customer expectations
· Provide regular updates to site management on QA risks and incidents
Audits & Inspections
· Ensure the site is always audit-ready, working closely and coaching the required standards cross functionally
· Ensure all records and documents are maintained, assessing compliance to processes
· Lead QA preparation and response for customer, third-party, and regulatory audits including mock product recalls and traceability exercises
· Support the Food Safety and Quality team on site during internal and third-party audits including completion and verification of traceability traces and validation as required.
· Keep records of audit performance to share with wider teams
· Monitor and investigate non-conformances and to ensure satisfactory resolution, working cross functionally to find effective resolutions and verifying compliance routinely
Food Safety Training Compliance
· Oversee QA training programmes
· Ensure all team members are trained and competent in food safety and quality procedures.
ROLE QUALIFICATION & SKILLS:
· Qualification in Food Science, Food Technology, or related discipline
· Level 4 HACCP certification (required)
· Auditing experience required
· Strong knowledge of HACCP, BRCGS, GMP, TACCP, VACCP, and UK/EU food safety regulations
· Experience in managing audits and liaising with external stakeholders
· Proven track record in food safety compliance and quality systems management
· Knowledge of animal welfare standards
Benefits
Subsidised canteen serving multiple hot food options for breakfast and lunch
31 days annual leave per year (after probation)
Employee Discount Platform - All Kepak employees are entitled to access to the WrkIt platform, which offers significant discounts and cashback with hundreds of brands.
Hamper at Christmas for all employees.
Company Pension
Employee Discount Platform - All Kepak employees are entitled to access to the WrkIt platform, which offers significant discounts and cashback with hundreds of brands.
Refer a Friend Scheme - Earn up to Get up to €500 for successfully referring a friend or family member to Kepak Group.
GroceryAid Employee Assistance Program - help with a wide range of topics including mental health and wellbeing support, family and relationship advice, debt management, back to work support, and counselling for all Kepak colleagues and their families.
Long Service Awards - We recognise, acknowledge and award the dedication and valuable contribution of long serving employees
Bike to Work Scheme - You can buy a bike and safety equipment through a salary sacrifice scheme which reduces your taxable income – meaning you pay less tax!