Role Description
The jobholder has site accountability for the site Quality Assurance Department to lead, support, guide and work with the site operations team around the production, product, process, perimeter and premises for all aspects within the manufacturing facility.
Job Purpose
Accountable for driving the technical agenda within the operations function, the technical performance, and all factory facing requirements. Drives overall site delivery and quality teams to ensure quality, legal, food safety, brand integrity and culture are driven and compliant. Supports the Senior Technical Manager with core deputy accountabilities.
Principal Responsibilities
* Leadership of the HACCP plans within the factory: process, product and procedures for all fundamentals, review and update accordingly. Ensure compliance to the CCP and pre‑requisite programme. Leadership of the validation and verification review requirements on an annual basis.
* Proactively manage the food safety, culture and integrity to build a right first‑time operation with strong communication, engagement and action plans aligned to the site strategy.
* Ensure the QA team maintains, reviews, audits and continuously improves the site quality management systems in alignment with customer requirements and industry best practices including BRC standards.
* Accountable for raw materials, packaging and finished product assessment, processing and release through risk assessments appropriate to the requirements for claims, risk, and customer/supplier verification.
* Establish systems and behaviours for auditing, analysis and record review for compliance monitoring.
* Control block stock, review, investigate, make release/rejection decisions and revise practices to ensure compliance with custom specifications and food safety and quality requirements.
* Establish process controls and practices aligned with NPD to launch and ongoing analysis for built‑in quality, consistency and meeting customer requirements from raw material to finished product monitoring.
* Identify, champion and drive continuous improvement in quality standards within the technical and quality department and across site, developing short‑, medium‑ and long‑term strategies, leading focused improvement teams in GMP and product quality.
* Establish all site monitoring and verification schedules for product, equipment and process monitoring for hygiene, microbiological, chemical, allergenic and customer requirements, implement trending, reviews and continuous improvement activity to drive site performance.
* Leadership of the site pest management activities to ensure the premises, practices and behaviours are effective, trended and reviewed, with accountability of the contract provider of pest control.
* Support the technical manager in delivery of the site, technical and quality improvement strategy.
* Ensure procedures and practices drive compliance for the management of brand integrity, control of operations and product handling to protect claims, allergen status and customer requirements through the factory to product release.
* Lead, investigate and drive continuous improvement by root cause analysis across product quality, process issues, non‑conformity and audit findings, ensuring corrective and preventative actions are implemented.
* Lead by example, direct and develop the quality department to create a high‑performing team with clear training, succession and development plans.
* Ensure the QA team are active members of the internal audit programme including Hygiene, Procedural, GMP, internal and 3rd‑party audits. Conduct audits, follow up on corrective actions and monitor to prevent reoccurrence.
* Leadership of business 3rd‑party, customer and internal audits ensuring systems are in place to drive lean principles and an audit‑ready mindset within the quality and operations function. Liaise effectively with legislative authorities and accreditation bodies for audits and compliance to food hygiene and quality standards.
* Deputy support and direct management of the site and stock in crisis management and non‑conforming status.
* Accountable that a cost‑effective and efficient service is provided by the QA Department within the factory and within the wider technical function.
* Lead all factory‑focused customer complaint investigations via root cause and action plans that are completed and communicated internally and externally to reduce complaint levels.
* Ensure systems are in place to control all equipment calibration and verification requirements to monitor the effectiveness of portable laboratory monitoring devices.
* Out‑of‑hours escalation leadership and support for quality and operational matters.
* Build successful working relationships with key stakeholders with active engagement in the tier meeting programme, representing technical with clear communication, action plans and support resolution.
* Lead the QA department in ensuring team & encourage at the site a culture of high standards in food safety, GMP and quality, leading by example across the site and with colleagues.
* Lead the QA department in their efforts for continuous improvement projects from idea generation to completion. Track effects of improvement projects and report on progress to the site leadership function.
* These are the key tasks, not a comprehensive list of all tasks undertaken by the job holder. Flexibility is required by the business and will be agreed with the individual’s line manager.
* All employees should carry out their duties in a responsible manner giving due consideration to Safety, Environmental & Quality procedures.
* Contribute to the health & safety of self and others by applying health and safety principles to the required standards while undertaking designated tasks.
* Maintain product Food Safety, Legality, Integrity, Authenticity and Quality standards by ensuring all associated policies and procedures are adhered to.
Knowledge
* Food Processing – Manufacturing
* Continuous Improvement
* Food legislation / labelling
* Chemistry
* Canning, Bottling, Thermal Processing
* Accreditation bodies
* Enforcement agencies
* CIP
* Experience of SAP QM
Skills
* QMS, BRC‑accreditation
* FMCG
* ISO/Quality Systems
* Consumer Care
* Pest control
* IT skills: Spreadsheets & data analysis, SAP
* HACCP Level 4
* BSc or equivalent in food‑related subject
* Food Safety Level 4 or food microbiological training
* Lead auditor
* IOSH or NEBOSH
Country: United Kingdom
Location: Long Sutton
Business Area: Operations
Workplace Type: Onsite
About Princes: The Princes Group has over 7,000 employees with offices and production sites in the UK, Netherlands, Italy, Poland, France and Mauritius. Princes manufactures 350 different food and drink products responsibly sourced and enjoyed by consumers every day. None of this would be possible without striving to be an employer of choice, where our colleagues are proud to represent our business.
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