Job Description
Food Safety & Quality Manager
Location: HounslowDepartment: Quality AssuranceReports to: Head of Quality AssuranceContract: Full-time, Permanent (40 hours)Salary: £45,000-£50,000Hours: Monday-Friday, 08:30-17:00, with occasional weekend work (approx. 1 weekend per month)
The opportunity
We're looking for a Food Safety & Quality Manager to lead and inspire our UK Quality Assurance team, elevate our food safety culture, and ensure that every product meets DO & CO's exceptionally high standards. This role is pivotal in safeguarding compliance, driving continuous improvement, and partnering with both internal stakeholders and external authorities.
What you'll do
* Lead, coach, and motivate the UK Quality Auditors across all UK units-developing capability, setting direction, and providing meaningful feedback.
* Implement food safety legal requirements; continuously improve the HACCP system and procedures (aligned to Codex Alimentarius).
* Ensure HALAL compliance and manage the annual certification process.
* Conduct supplier audits and collaborate with Purchasing to ensure all raw materials meet DO & CO standards-maintaining internal ingredient specifications.
* Plan and manage scheduled internal audits: Hygiene, Glass & Foreign Body, GMP, and HACCP.
* Liaise with EHO, FSA, and other external bodies; ensure proactive updates to production when legislation changes.
* Strive for and maintain annual third-party certification in line with FSSC 22000.
* Build strong customer partnerships and support commercial teams with technical credibility.
* Identify, investigate, and resolve non-compliances; drive corrective and preventive actions.
* Ensure all specifications and recipes are current, controlled, and accessible.
* Produce accurate quality assessment reports and follow through on actions.
* Work closely with Executive and Operations teams to ensure product safety and quality by design.
* Approve suppliers; lead data analysis and statistical interpretation to inform decisions.
* Maintain robust document control (issue dates, version control).
* Oversee complaint handling from recording through investigation and feedback to partners, suppliers, and senior leadership.
* Provide precise, timely reporting to the Executive Team and Head Office.
* Be a strategic, hands-on leader who champions targets, culture, and team success.
What you'll bring
* Proven leadership with a role-model mindset-hands-on, solutions-focused, and performance-driven.
* Genuine passion for high-end cuisine and exceptional service.
* Professional presence with a positive, can-do attitude and team-first approach.
* Change champion-able to identify priorities and drive improvements across departments.
* Meticulous attention to detail; data-driven with strong influencing skills.
* A natural communicator-clear, engaging written and verbal English; adept at keeping teams informed.
* Flexible, decisive, and calm under change; committed to doing what's right for our partners and the DO & CO Family.
* Deep operational understanding of Food Safety/Quality with a practical, hands-on approach to improvement.
* HACCP & Food Hygiene certification (essential).
* BSc in Food Science or significant relevant experience in a similar role.
* High proficiency in Microsoft Office; confident with reporting and data management.
* Solid understanding of Health & Safety and Sustainability principles.
What we offer
* A premium, fast-paced environment with global exposure and high culinary standards.
* The chance to shape and elevate food safety and quality across multiple sites.
* A supportive, family-led culture that values initiative, collaboration, and growth.
* Competitive salary (£45,000-£50,000) and the stability of a permanent role.
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