Quality Assurance Manager
INSPIRED pet nutrition
Location: Thirsk, North Yorkshire
Contract: Permanent, Full Time
The Opportunity
We’re excited to be recruiting for a Quality Assurance Manager to join our team in Thirsk. This is a key role ensuring that all products are manufactured to the highest food safety, quality, and compliance standards, safeguarding both customer confidence and brand integrity.
Accountable to: Technical Manager
About the Company
At IPN, we’re passionate about pet nutrition. We’re an award‑winning, innovative FMCG manufacturer with a growing family of brands including Harringtons, Wagg, Barking Heads & Meowing Heads, AATU, Blink, Butchers and Classic Cat. We employ hundreds of colleagues across 3 different site locations in the UK – Thirsk, North Yorkshire; Crick, Northamptonshire; and Kinmel, Wales. Quality is central to everything we do.
The Role
* Lead and manage the Quality Assurance function, embedding robust procedures and documentation.
* Ensure compliance with BRCGS, retailer, legal, and group standards.
* Maintain and continually improve the site QMS, ensuring full traceability.
* Oversee in‑process and finished product checks, ensuring product quality and labelling accuracy.
* Lead site audits, customer visits, and support investigations into nonconformance.
* Promote a culture of food safety, compliance, and continuous improvement.
* Develop, mentor, and grow the QA team to build capability and career progression.
* Lead KPI metrics including CPMU, RFT, and audit scores.
What We’re Looking For
* Proven Quality Assurance management experience in food or pet food manufacturing.
* Strong understanding of BRCGS standards and customer codes of practice.
* Experience in internal audit management and QMS implementation (digital desirable).
* Root Cause Analysis problem‑solving capability.
* Knowledge of food legislation and compliance requirements.
* Lead Auditor qualification.
* HACCP Level 3 and Food Safety Level 3.
* Strong communicator, able to influence and engage across the site.
The Package
* Salary: Competitive
* Bonus: 10% annual company bonus scheme
* Hours: 40 hours per week – Monday to Friday
* Pension: Employee contributions 3% / Employer contributions 8% (salary sacrifice scheme)
* Holidays: 25 days + bank holidays
* Life Assurance
* Medicash Plan
* Private Health
* Enhanced leave policies – maternity, paternity, pawternity, pawreavement
* Perks: Free parking, onsite electric charging, bring your dog to work, subsidised canteen, discounted products & free hot drinks
* Flexible benefits – cycle to work, workplace nurseries, dental insurance (via salary sacrifice or pay deductions)
* Heavily discounted pet food
* Free Netflix/Spotify subscription
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