Overview
Reference
AXB202679 Salary
£14.50 - £14.50/hour Job Location
- United Kingdom -- England -- East Midlands -- Northamptonshire -- Burton Latimer Job Type
Permanent Posted
Wednesday, February 18, 2026
QFS Departmental Assistant (Lab-Based Role)
Location: Kettering
Salary: £14.50 per hour
Duration: 12-Month Fixed Term Contract
Hours: Monday to Friday - 37.5 hours per week.
Interaction Recruitment are currently supporting our client with the recruitment of a QFS Departmental Assistant to join their laboratory-based Quality & Food Safety (QFS) team at their Kettering manufacturing site.
This is an excellent opportunity to work within a food manufacturing laboratory environment, supporting a dynamic Quality team in maintaining the highest standards of product safety, compliance and operational excellence.
The Role
This is a primarily lab-based role, providing essential administrative and operational support within the Quality Laboratory and wider QFS department. Reporting to the Plant Quality Laboratory Manager (with a dotted line to the Quality Manager), you will play a key part in ensuring laboratory systems, consumables, supplier coordination and surveillance programmes run smoothly and efficiently.
The position combines laboratory-based administration with occasional factory-floor activity, including sample coordination and consumables handling.
Key Responsibilities
1. Manage laboratory consumables (stock control – FIFO/FEFO, ordering, storage and system updates)
2. Verify, check and file Certificates of Analysis
3. Coordinate surveillance plans, sample collection, storage and transport to external laboratories
4. Track laboratory results and maintain system accuracy
5. Support quality budget monitoring alongside Finance
6. Assist with purchase orders, supplier coordination and agreements
7. Support audit preparation and Quality Culture initiatives
8. Collaborate cross-functionally with Production, Planning, Warehouse, Maintenance, HR and Finance teams
Ideal Candidate Profile
The ideal candidate will be highly organised, analytical and detail-focused, with strong administrative experience within a laboratory, manufacturing or regulated environment. You will be confident using Microsoft Excel and comfortable working with systems such as SAP or similar. A logical thinker with excellent attention to detail, you will be able to manage multiple priorities while maintaining accuracy in documentation and compliance processes.
You will be a strong communicator who builds positive working relationships across departments and with external suppliers. Resilient and adaptable, you will thrive in a fast-paced, lab-based manufacturing environment and demonstrate accountability, initiative and a proactive approach to supporting quality standards. Commercial awareness and the ability to monitor budgets and supplier performance will be advantageous.
Requirements
9. Previous administrative experience (essential)
10. Experience within a laboratory, food manufacturing or regulated environment (desirable)
11. Strong Microsoft Office skills (Excel essential)
12. Good analytical and organisational skills
13. Clear and professional communication skills
14. Ability to collaborate across departments
15. Comfortable working in both laboratory and factory environments
What’s On Offer
16. £14.50 per hour
17. 12-month fixed term contract
18. Monday to Friday working pattern - 37.5 hours a week
19. Valuable experience within a food manufacturing laboratory environment
20. Supportive and collaborative team culture
INDKTT