Who is New England Seafood International?
New England Seafood International (NESI) was established in 1991 and is an importer and processor of premium fresh and frozen sustainable fish and seafood. NESI employs circa 850 people across three sites in the UK and imports a wide range of wild and farmed fish and shellfish from all around the world. We are part of the Sealaska Corporation, an Alaska Native corporation formed in 1971 and which is owned by 26,000 Tlingit, Haida and Tsimshian shareholders, who are all bloodline descendants of the first settlers to the Americas.
Our vision is to “show people how to enjoy fish every day” and we pride ourselves on our supply chain integrity, sustainable sourcing and high-quality product. Our values run through our business and are Respect, Customer Care, By Learning We Grow, Team Spirit and Integrity.
Title: Quality Assurance Officer
Reports to: Technical Team Leader
Location: Chessington, Surrey KT9 1TW
Salary: Depending on Experience
Shift pattern: 4 on 4 off day shift
Hours: 7:00am – 19:00pm
The QA role ensures all products are safe, legal, and meet quality standards by monitoring compliance, conducting audits, supporting investigations, and working with site teams to maintain high food safety standards.
Role & Responsibilities
Quality & Compliance
* Investigate serious customer complaints as part of a multifunctional team and communicate findings to Q3.
* Support both internal and external audits, representing the Technical function.
* Participate in customer visits and audits as required.
* Verify and measure delivery of technical and food safety standards across the site, ensuring compliance with customer and NESI requirements.
* Address non-conforming product or activities promptly to protect both NESI and customer brands.
Auditing & GMP
* Conduct CCP audits against the defined schedule, ensuring non-conformances are identified, escalated, and closed using Root Cause Analysis (RCA).
* Carry out GMP audits and support preparation for GMP walks and customer visits.
* Challenge factory standards and promote continuous improvement.
* Conduct raw material audits to verify correct use and handling, generating detailed reports and highlighting issues.
* Complete hygiene inspections including in-process and post-cleaning swabs across day and night shifts.
* Review and sign off hygiene documentation, ensuring standards are met.
Incoming Goods & Production Checks
* Conduct intake checks on all incoming raw materials to ensure:
o Approved supplier status
o Compliance with specifications
* Perform line start-up checks and elevate any issues to Operations and Technical Management.
* Collect taste panel samples as required.
Testing, Monitoring & Calibration
* Maintain calibration risk assessments and carry out daily, monthly, and annual calibration checks.
* Deliver environmental, product microbiological, and chemical monitoring programmes.
* Ensure samples and swabs are taken as per schedule.
* Support investigations into out-of-specification (OOS) results.
* Sample collection (including taste panels and environmental swabs)
Training & Development
* Train production operatives on:
o Correct handling of raw materials (with support from subject matter experts where required)
o CCP and OPRP requirements
* Deliver training following process updates and procedural changes.
Documentation & Systems
* Generate and maintain product life matrix sheets, ensuring timely communication to relevant teams.
* Maintain the Approved Supplier Matrix and attend monthly review meetings with Supply Chain.
* Support QAS reviews and updates led by QA.
* Participate in NPD trials and pre-production activities.
* Work closely with Operations, Engineering, and Technical teams to drive standards and improvements.
* Influence cross-functional teams without direct line management responsibility.
* Support site readiness for audits and customer visits
* Continuous monitoring of compliance standards and reporting
What experiences, knowledge and capabilities do I need to demonstrate?
* Experience within a FMCG environment
* Working knowledge of technical management systems
* Ability to influence
* Sound organizational skills
* Ability to work cross functionally over the organization
* Ability to analyze data and support in the formulation of action plans
* Ability to drive increased technical compliance through a coaching and development style
* 20 days holiday, increasing by 1 day per year of service to a maximum of 25 days
* Pension: 5% employee / 3% employer contribution
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