Primary Location : BIGGLESWADE, United Kingdom At Solina, our community of close to 5,000 people share a passion for food and live our entrepreneurial culture. We design customised savoury solutions for our clients operating in the food industry, food service, butchery and nutrition markets. With sustainability at the heart of our business model, we aim to produce food that is good in every sense of the word: delicious, nourishing, affordable, sustainable and convenient. Solina is a fast-growing business, with around 50 production sites and R&D laboratories present in more than 19 countries mainly in Europe and North America. By constantly rethinking culinary solutions, we make food matter for people and the planet. If you're ready for a new adventure in a dynamic, expanding, passionate, international company, join us ! Who are we looking for? Are you an experienced Supplier Quality Assurance (SQA) Manager with a passion for food safety, quality assurance, and compliance? We are looking for a driven and detail-focused individual to focuses on supplier risk management, auditing, and performance improvement through close collaboration with Procurement, Technical Services, and Regulatory teams. The SQA Manager ensures a robust, compliant, and continuously improving supply base aligned with both Solina and customer expectations. Key Responsibilities Supplier Approval & Performance Management Manage the approval, onboarding, and ongoing evaluation of all suppliers and raw materials in line with company, customer, and GFSI standards. Maintain and update the approved supplier database, ensuring documentation (e.g., questionnaires, certifications, HACCP, specifications) is current and compliant. Conduct supplier risk assessments and define appropriate approval and monitoring activities based on safety, quality, and regulatory risk. Plan, coordinate, and where applicable, perform supplier audits (remote or on-site), ensuring timely closure of non-conformances. Track supplier KPIs, complaint trends, and audit outcomes to support performance reviews and continuous improvement. Standards Compliance & Accreditation Act as the technical lead for supplier assurance during customer, third-party, and regulatory audits. Ensure all supplier quality systems and documentation are audit-ready and compliant with GFSI and customer requirements. Keep supplier quality management systems updated with the latest legislative and standard requirements. Partner with the Regulatory team to ensure ingredient and packaging specifications meet legal and food safety expectations. Risk Management & Continuous Improvement Identify, evaluate, and mitigate supplier and raw material risks related to food safety, legality, and quality. Lead investigations and root cause analysis for supplier-related issues, implementing preventive and corrective actions. Drive harmonisation of raw materials and supplier assurance processes across the Solina group. Support internal improvement initiatives, introducing efficiency and risk-based enhancements to the supplier management system. Cross-Functional Collaboration Work collaboratively with Procurement to align supplier assurance requirements with sourcing strategies and supplier performance data. Support Technical Services and Quality teams with supplier information, traceability, and documentation during internal or customer audits. Partner with R&D and Operations to support innovation and problem-solving through proactive supplier engagement. Leadership & Team Development Line manage and develop Raw Material Technologists, providing coaching, training, and performance management. Foster knowledge sharing and consistent working practices across the wider technical and quality teams. Support recruitment, onboarding, and ongoing professional development within the team. Qualifications & Experience Degree in Food Science, Food Technology, or a related discipline. Minimum 5 years’ experience in supplier assurance, food safety, or quality management within the food or ingredient manufacturing industry. Lead Auditor qualification (BRCGS, ISO, or equivalent). Strong knowledge of GFSI standards, supplier approval processes, and risk-based auditing. Experience working with QSR clients and leading UK food manufacturers, with a strong understanding of their technical and quality standards. Excellent organisational, analytical, and communication skills with strong attention to detail. Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Excel – intermediate level) and Power BI. Willingness to travel to suppliers, manufacturing sites, and other Solina locations as required. Benefits Competitive benefit package We are open to talents of all backgrounds. Our recruitment process is based on competences, and we openly welcome all candidates of all types according to our DEI Commitment