Are you passionate about Quality Systems ? Looking for a new challenge? Do you have experience or qualifications in Quality Management? We are now recruiting for a Quality Systems Manager to join the team at our manufacturing site in Hereford. Who are we, and what do we do? You may not have heard of us, but there’s a good chance you’ve enjoyed our products. Avara Foods is one of the UK’s leading food businesses, supplying chicken and turkey to the country’s major supermarkets and well-known restaurants. We own and manage our entire supply chain, from farms to factory and all the way to the customer door – meaning we have careers that cover a whole range of functions. We have major processing sites across England and Wales, and an agricultural network of over 300 farms, spanning from North Yorkshire to the South Coast and Wales. A little about our Hereford Site: Our advanced manufacturing site in Hereford, is one of our main processing facilities, processing up to 2 million birds per week. There are over 1,500 talented people employed at our Hereford site, helping us to deliver high quality products to our customers and making the business a trusted leader in fresh foods. We’ve recently invested £1.2 million in technology and equipment, making it one of the most advanced food manufacturing facilities in the UK. About the Role: As an inclusive, forward-thinking business, we take pride in our approach to investing in our People and Processes across Avara Foods and are looking for a highly competent and motivated Quality Systems Manager to join our Technical Team, based at our Hereford site. The role is office based, however you will be required to spend time in the factory so you’ll be exposed a fast-paced, dynamic FMCG factory environment which is noisy and refrigerated in some areas. As a Quality Systems Manager you’ll be working Monday to Friday 08.00-16.30, 40 hours per week. What will you be doing as a Quality Systems Manager at Avara? As a Quality Systems Manager, you will help to maintain and champion the company Quality Management System (QMS) to meet Avara Foods, client, and legal requirements. To work with technical teams within Avara manufacturing facilities to ensure that the QMS system is being maintained consistently and to provide metrics to track compliance and performance across the business. What will your key responsibilities as Quality Systems Manager include? Lead, coach, develop and deputise for, when needed, the Quality Systems Coordinator. Ensure appropriate cover is in place so that full traceability exercises can be completed effectively during periods of absence. Set clear objectives and SMART targets aligned with business targets to drive site standards. Promote a positive Food Safety and Quality Culture across all site departments, encouraging ownership, awareness, and engagement at all levels. Promote safe working practices at all times and ensure Quality Systems activities are carried out in accordance with health and safety requirements. Act as site lead for the Quality Management System, ensuring compliance with Avara QMS, BRCGS standards and customer Codes of Practice. Lead and manage Management of Change processes relating to quality procedures, policies and systems. Conduct gap analysis against new or revised customer, regulatory or third-party standards and coordinate site implementation in conjunction with Group Compliance. Create food safety, quality, and regulatory system schedules, e.g., calibration, customer product testing, and use the resulting data to generate reports for the technical and site management teams. Own and maintain a risk-based internal audit program aligned to BRCGS and customer Codes of Practice, ensuring effective verification, timely closure of non-conformances, and robust root cause analysis. Oversee data trending and analysis across complaints, microbiology, and non-conformance, providing guidance to the team on handling complaints Oversee audit and non-conformance reporting to ensure visibility, effective escalation, and continuous improvement. Lead the site through external audits, ensuring the site is prepared and all evidence is available for auditors. Owner of the traceability system for the site. Act as site lead for Food Defence and a Key member of the HACCP team, supporting the maintenance and review of the HACCP system. Provide accurate and timely technical reports to the Site Leadership Team Oversee customer technical information and responses, including questionnaires, specifications and KPI’s. Oversee the accuracy and management of product and label data across all systems, ensuring they support the setup and validation of label verification systems and are used effectively by the team. What you’ll need to be successful: Essential Skills • Intermediate Food Safety (Level 3). • Intermediate HACCP (Level 3) • Internal auditing qualification. • Strong experience in operating and maintaining Quality Management Systems (QMS). • Proven experience of owning and managing an internal audit programme. • Demonstrable experience of supporting external audits. • Ability to understand, follow, and provide verbal and written instructions in technical documents, procedures, and specifications in English. • Strong communication and interpersonal skills, both written and verbal. • Proactive problem-solving ability. • Good organisational skills and attention to detail. • Competent IT skills, including use of Microsoft Office • Confident working in a factory environment and engaging with all levels across site. • Experience of BRCGS or retail customer standards • Experience working in a food manufacturing or FMCG environment with high food safety and hygiene standards. • Current full driving licence Desirable • Food related qualification (HND or degree) • Demonstrable experience of leading external audits • Experience delivering food safety related training (e.g. CCPs, hygiene, allergen control, product handling). • Experience of competency assessment and verification in food safety-critical tasks. • Negotiation and influencing skills. The benefits of working for Avara Foods: As a Quality Systems Manager you will enjoy a secure, supportive and progressive working environment, where your contribution and achievements will be recognised and rewarded. We offer comprehensive training as well as continuous development as you build your long-term career with us. You can also look forward to benefits that amongst other things, include the following: From £40,000 per annum DOE 31 days holiday allowance Secure contract with long term career development opportunities Straight forward pension contribution of 6% Life assurance scheme Subsidised staff canteen serving hot food Cycle to work scheme Salaried Advance Finance Salary Sacrifice Car Scheme Access to our Employee Benefit Scheme, which includes unlimited remote GP appointments and unlimited mental health sessions, physiotherapy sessions, medical second opinion consultation, and other discounts and perks, such as savings & discounts on weekly costs. *Ts & Cs apply What happens after you apply for this role? After you’ve applied, you’re application will be reviewed and you may be contacted in due course by a member of the Resourcing Team, to discuss your application and CV further. There’ll also be a chance for you to ask us any questions you may have about the role. If you’re ready to work in a dynamic environment alongside talented people who take pride in delivering great results, apply today! We are committed to being an equal opportunities employer. INDMP TheAvaraWay Benefits