Quality Manager – Fixed Term Contract (Maternity Cover)
Location: Manchester, UK (Head Office)
Contract: Fixed Term – Starting July 2026
Department: Technical
Reporting to: Head of Technical
The Opportunity
We are delighted to be recruiting on behalf of a well-established and growing manufacturing business for an experienced Quality Manager to join their Technical team on a fixed-term basis to cover maternity leave. This is an excellent opportunity for a quality professional to take ownership of food safety, regulatory compliance, and quality management systems within a dynamic and collaborative environment.
The successful candidate will play a pivotal role in ensuring that products meet the highest standards of safety, legality, and quality, while also supporting continuous improvement and cross-functional initiatives across the organisation.
Key Responsibilities
Quality & Food Safety
* Lead and manage the Quality Management System (QMS), ensuring compliance with all relevant food safety standards.
* Oversee laboratory activities and global testing programmes.
* Drive continuous improvement initiatives across manufacturing operations.
Regulatory Compliance
* Ensure all products and processes comply with applicable global legislation and labelling requirements.
* Monitor regulatory changes and provide guidance to internal stakeholders.
New Product Development
* Provide technical leadership for new product development projects.
* Ensure formulations are stable, compliant, and aligned with customer expectations.
* Collaborate closely with Innovation and Project teams.
Supplier & Stakeholder Management
* Manage supplier approval processes, including remote and on-site audits.
* Act as the key technical liaison with suppliers and internal stakeholders.
* Support supplier onboarding and performance improvement where required.
Auditing & Certifications
* Lead internal and supplier audits and ensure adherence to QMS standards across affiliated manufacturing sites.
* Prepare for and manage regulatory inspections.
Customer Complaints & Continuous Improvement
* Oversee the customer and consumer complaints process, including root cause analysis and implementation of reduction strategies.
* Provide data-driven insights through KPIs and technical reporting.
Team Leadership
* Lead, coach, and develop a quality and compliance team.
* Set priorities, manage workloads, and support employee development and engagement.
Crisis Management
* Ensure robust crisis management procedures are in place and regularly tested (e.g., product recalls or withdrawals).
* Conduct urgent supplier visits where high-risk issues are identified.
Business & Cross-Functional Support
* Provide technical expertise to departments including supply chain, operations, customer services, sales, and finance.
* Develop relationships with external organisations such as regulatory authorities, consultants, and testing laboratories.
* Act as deputy to the Head of Technical during periods of absence.
Candidate Profile
Education & Qualifications
* HACCP Level 4 certification (essential).
* Degree in Food Science or a related discipline (desirable).
* Additional training in nutrition or related areas would be advantageous.
Experience
* 3–5 years' experience in a technical or quality leadership role within a food manufacturing environment.
* Proven expertise in food safety systems and regulatory compliance.
* Experience managing audits and regulatory inspections.
* Strong understanding of product development processes within the FMCG sector.
Technical Skills
* In-depth knowledge of quality management systems and laboratory testing.
* Familiarity with ERP and quality management software.
* Strong IT skills, including proficiency in Microsoft Office applications.
* Understanding of ingredient functionality and manufacturing processes is advantageous.
Personal Attributes
* Strong leadership and team management skills.
* Excellent analytical and problem-solving abilities.
* Effective communicator with strong stakeholder management skills.
* High attention to detail and confident decision-making.
* Comfortable managing conflict and challenging performance where necessary.
* Proactive approach to personal learning and continuous improvement.