Location : Ash Manor, Wrexham
Job Ref: UDF/2025/509
Employment : Full-Time Permanent
Closing Date : 08 October :00 pm
Dale Farm Cooperative is a UK dairy farmer co-operative owned by over 1200 dairy farmers who supply us with fresh milk. Dale Farm has operations throughout the UK and Ireland producing and distributing a wide range of dairy products which it sells across the UK and Ireland as well as exporting to over 45 countries worldwide.
At Dale Farm virtually every career discipline is represented in our workforce, from production, engineering and distribution, to sales & marketing and food technology/quality assurance, to Finance, HR and IT through to general management. Our standards are high and when we recruit we are looking for those with energy and drive, who are keen for responsibility and motivated to succeed with a record of achievement and with the potential to develop as the company grows.
Culture
Our culture is based on setting best in class standards, working to-wards and delivering on committed objectives, striving for constant improvement and involving everyone in the company. We strive to develop our people and harness everyone's contribution to deliver a winning team.
Equal Opportunities
The company is an Equal Opportunities employer and is committed to a safe, inclusive and relationship based workspace.
Benefits
In return, we offer a high degree of responsibility, plenty of challenge, good opportunities for learning and personal development and rewarding benefit packages, all within a fast moving and results oriented environment.
Quality & Technical Assistant Manager
As Quality & Technical Manager Assistant you will be a key member of the Technical team and take responsibility for driving forward to deliver a site that is compliant with customer and legislative standards (including but not limited to ISO 9001, BRC, HACCP principles and others) undertake regular audits, providing guidance to the quality department for daily activities, and assist the Quality & Technical Manager in leading the site in external accreditation audits.
You will work closely with the Production and Technical teams challenging behaviours on the factory floor, driving improvements, investigating incidents and non-conformances.
In addition, you will liaise with Engineering and Supply Chain functions as well as your own department team and directly with customers in order to identify root cause of defects, propose and manage the implementation of corrective actions and improvements. You will be capable of undertaking detailed analysis, producing and delivering findings to the Quality & Technical Manager and making decisions on product holds and risk assessments.
This position is 40 hours per week with a shift pattern of Monday to Friday 8.30am-5.00pm, with some flexibility to the needs of the business.
The Role
Technical & Quality Support
* Assist in maintaining and updating quality management systems (QMS), including HACCP, BRCGS, and customer standards to maintain certification.
* Support internal and external audits, including preparation of documentation and follow-up actions.
* Monitor and report on factory hygiene, GMP, and CCP compliance.
* Manage traceability exercises and assist with product recalls or withdrawals.
* Reviewing and maintaining site Risk Assessments
* Support or cover for the weekly GMP / NCR meetings.
* Deputise for Quality & Technical Manager in their absence
* Reviewing micro results and highlighting any OOS results to the manager
Documentation & Compliance
* Maintain accurate records of specifications, certificates, and technical documentation.
* Updating and maintaining customer portal specifications as required
* Assist in reviewing and approving artwork, labels, and packaging for compliance.
* Tracking and monitoring completion of regulatory inspection and customer audit CAPA actions.
* Document Control - procedure creation / amendments and training out to relevant staff
* Tracking and monitoring completion of internal non-conformances and deviations including liaising with members of the GMP team to ensure they are aware of their tasks and helping to facilitate timely completion and ensuring all corrective actions are completed within time scale
* Ensuring Calibration schedule is maintained
* Maintain and manage customer product specifications, attribute specifications
* Maintain sites supplier approval systems and documentation
* Provide information to Technical Manager with supplier and product quality management information
* Complete questionnaires on online portals & communicate with other companies
Supplier & Customer Liaison
* Communicate with suppliers to obtain and verify technical information and documentation.
* Assist in handling customer complaints and queries, including root cause analysis and corrective actions.
* Support the onboarding and approval of new suppliers and raw materials and ensure SAQs for existing suppliers are completed in time.
* Assist site with investigations into customer complaints, root cause and corrective actions
Product Development & Trials
* Assist with factory trials and new product launches, ensuring technical requirements are met.
* Collect and analyse samples for shelf-life testing and product validation.
Continuous Improvement
* Participate in technical projects and initiatives aimed at improving product quality and process efficiency.
* Support training and development activities related to food safety and quality.
* Working with the QA and production teams to ensure compliance
The Person:
Essential:
* Minimum of 3 years' experience of working within the technical department within a food manufacturing or related industry eg FMCG, food/drinks etc
* Customer portal specifications creation and maintenance
* Competent in Microsoft Office
* Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, and the ability to effectively communicate to a range of internal and external stakeholders, and to coordinate between different departments and management.
* Experience of Internal Auditing
* HACCP Level 3
* Evidenced attention to detail and the ability to adhere to deadlines
* Strong organisational skills
Desirable
* Knowledge in microbiological and analytical analysis.
* Knowledge of H&S
* Supplier approval experience
Learn more about the company and to apply online or from the Connected App using the Careers tile.
Completed application forms must be received online before
5:00pm on Wednesday 8th October 2025
Only applications from EU Nationals or those with a valid permit to work in the UK will be accepted.
We are an equal opportunities employer
AMBITION | CURIOSITY | TEAMWORK | POSITIVITY | RESOLVE | ACCOUNTABILITY