Quality Auditor

GrowUp Farms; Stone Cross; On-site; GBP 28,000; Full time

Job description

If you're a plant-loving people-person who's got a keen eye for detail & quality, and you are skilled in food safety, then we want to meet you. But first, a bit about us...

We're a full-scale, energy-saving, B-Corp certified, sustainably powered vertical farm. We're on a mission to transform the farming system forever, so that everyone can afford tasty nutritious food, that doesn't cost the earth. Literally.

In other words: we boldly grow where no one has grown before. Our state-of-the-art salad leaves are made possible by an incredible team of rocket scientists (see what we did there?), engineers, leaf whisperers, and a root network of fabulous people. Which brings us onto you...

As the Quality Auditor you will work at the heart of the manufacturing operation, where you will be supporting the site in producing delicious food products by providing first-hand quality & technical support, ensuring site compliance in day-to-day tasks.

The position is a blend of supporting the teams in ensuring the site is conforming to customer and BRCGS standards and handling daily quality checks.

Responsibilities:

Compliance

1. Ensure compliance to BRCGS and Retailer Standards and ensure all procedures & policies within the Food Safety and Quality Manual are adhered to.
2. Responsible for complaint investigations, technical data gathering.
3. Conduct daily inspections to include GMP, glass, wood and other physical audits and support the team for improving standards.
4. Ensure checks, such as temperature & weighing equipment, are carried out as per procedures.
5. Provide data for KPI capture.

Day to day

1. To ensure and inspect all finished products are produced, packed, and labelled per customer requirements. Ensure paperwork accuracy.
2. To ensure CCPs, traceability systems for inputs, work in progress and finished products, and all other process control parameters are being followed throughout the site, suitably monitored and under control, and provide the relevant training.
3. To follow the appropriate regime for the microbiological testing of product and environment by dealing with external laboratory and be responsible for the monitoring, update, and an analysis of the sampling plan (microbiological, Environmental, water).
4. To maintain appropriate regime for shelf-life, customers testing, laboratory testing, and ensure that accurate records are maintained.
5. To develop and assist the Grower Manager to maintain systems for monitoring the specification of inputs and packaging material intake, ensuring quality standards and specifications are maintained.
6. To lead investigations with the relevant team and root cause analysis for all non-conformances and customer complaints.

Health and Safety and Food Safety

1. Meet all personal and role responsibilities as required under the company health and safety at work policy, and HACCP.
2. Work in safe manner to eliminate personal risk and risk to others.
3. Work as a role model when conducting your duties.
4. Support and promote an active Food and Safety Culture.
5. Address or report any hazard observed immediately, health or food related.
6. Ensure correct PPE is always worn by the team.
7. Maintain personal hygiene to a high standard.
8. Immediately investigate & report any workplace incidents.

Requirements

Key Competencies

1. It would be ideal for someone to have prior Quality experience within a food production setting.
2. A proactive team-player, with excellent verbal & written communication skills.
3. A self-starter, able to manage competing demands, who is proactive and organised.
4. You will have a keen eye for detail, and be able to spot poor quality or potential hazards with ease.
5. Able to build strong relationships with your colleagues and team, with the ability to positively influence stakeholders across the business.
6. Experience of implementing procedures and work instructions within Quality Management Systems.
7. Good level of numeracy and IT literate: able to produce documents and reports to support communication with clear justifications.

Benefits

What's in it for you?

1. Be part of a great business - you will be onboard one of the fastest growing and most exciting businesses in the vertical farming industry.
2. Recognised as one of the Sunday Times Best Places to Work 2023.
3. Be part of a great team - you will work with and learn from a friendly, smart, growing, and passionate team who care about each other and the business.
4. Grow yourself - a chance to develop yourself and make the role your own as the business and team builds, broadening your knowledge and capabilities to push you to the next level.
5. Share our passion for driving change for good - sustainable production is at the heart of what we do and our B Corp status.

Package & Location

Location: Sandwich, Kent

1. Salary up to £28,000 DOE.
2. 4 on 4 off shift pattern; 0700-1815.
3. 20 days' holiday.
4. Enhanced maternity and paternity leave.
5. Pension.
6. Employee benefits programme with Bravo Benefits.