Food Safety & Quality Manager

Vickerstock; Newtown; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

Vickerstock, working with a leading food manufacturing business, is recruiting a Food Safety & Quality Manager for a Mid-Wales site. You will lead a team to uphold food safety, quality and compliance in a fast-paced meat processing environment.

You will oversee daily inspections, drive continuous improvement, maintain GMP standards and report KPIs to senior management, while ensuring robust relationships with external bodies.

Qualifications

• Must have proven leadership and people-management skills.
• Strong communication and relationship-building abilities.
• Good numeracy, literacy and IT skills.
• Ability to identify non-conformities and take corrective action.
• Experience in food manufacturing or production environments.

Responsibilities

• Lead, motivate and develop the Food Safety & Quality team (six direct reports).
• Oversee daily inspection and monitoring to meet customer specs and standards.
• Collaborate with Production, Hygiene to maintain product quality and site hygiene.
• Ensure compliance with food safety legislation, certification standards and FSQ system.
• Liaise with FSA and OV to support site compliance.
• Conduct GMP audits, start-up checks and monitor production standards.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Attention to detail

Team management

Problem solving

Education

Food Safety Level 3+

HACCP Level 3+

Job description

Vickerstock are working in partnership with a leading food manufacturing business to recruit a Food Safety & Quality Manager for their site based in Mid-Wales.

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced food safety and quality professional to lead a team within a fast-paced meat processing environment. You'll play a key role in maintaining high standards of food safety, quality and compliance, while developing a strong quality culture and driving continuous improvement across the site.

The Role

• Lead, motivate and develop the Food Safety & Quality team, with responsibility for six direct reports.
• Oversee daily inspection and monitoring activities, ensuring dressed carcasses meet customer specifications and required standards.
• Work closely with Production and Hygiene teams to maintain product quality, food safety and factory hygiene standards.
• Ensure compliance with food safety legislation, customer requirements, certification standards and the site's Food Safety Quality Management System.
• Liaise with external bodies, including the Food Standards Agency (FSA) and Official Veterinarian (OV), to support site compliance.
• Conduct GMP audits, start-up checks and monitor production standards, identifying and escalating any potential risks.
• Manage non-conforming products, ensuring appropriate identification, segregation and disposal.
• Monitor and report quality and food safety KPIs to senior management.
• Oversee training and development within the team, promoting a positive food safety and quality culture.
• Support daily operational meetings and drive improvements across quality, hygiene and Health & Safety.

What you'll need

• Food Safety Level 3 or above.
• HACCP Level 3 or above.
• Experience within a food manufacturing or production environment.
• Proven leadership and people management skills.
• A strong understanding of food safety, quality and compliance requirements.
• The ability to identify non-compliances and take appropriate corrective action.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills.
• Good numeracy, literacy and IT skills.
• A calm, logical and proactive approach, with the ability to work under pressure.

Desirable Criteria (it would be great if you have these but don't worry if you don't!)

• Knowledge of Health & Safety regulations.
• Knowledge of food hygiene regulations and legislative requirements.
• Experience within a similar production environment, ideally within meat processing.