Product QA Manager

Morepeople 01780; Chichester; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading recruitment agency is seeking a Product Quality Assurance Manager to oversee product quality and compliance in a fast-paced fresh produce environment. The ideal candidate will have experience in a Quality or Technical role, strong communication skills, and the ability to efficiently resolve quality issues. Key responsibilities include managing QA teams, ensuring standards are met, and driving continuous improvement in product quality. Candidates must have legal right to work in the UK and relevant qualifications.

Qualifications

• Experience in a Quality or Technical role within Fresh Produce.
• Strong knowledge of BRCGS v9 and retailer standards.
• Experience leading or supervising QA teams.

Responsibilities

• Ensure all products meet required food safety and quality standards.
• Manage and develop QA and Label Room teams.
• Work closely with commercial and production teams to resolve quality issues.

Skills

Strong communication skills

Analytical skills

Problem-solving skills

Proactive and detail-focused

IT skills

Education

HACCP Level 2

Food Safety Level 2

TACCP/VACCP training

Lead Auditor training

Job description

Product Quality Assurance Manager

Role

We are recruiting a Product Quality Assurance Manager responsible for overseeing product quality, food safety, legality, and integrity across a soft fruit operation, ensuring compliance with customer, retailer, and legislative standards.

This role requires a hands‑on quality professional with strong communication skills and the ability to work closely with production, harvest, commercial, and technical teams to manage quality performance and resolve issues efficiently.

You will play a key role in maintaining high product standards from field to customer in a fast‑paced fresh produce environment.

Key Responsibilities

Quality Assurance & Compliance

• Ensure all products meet required food safety, legal, integrity, and customer standards
• Deliver Quality Service Level (QSL) targets for the business and customers
• Investigate complaints, rejections, and non‑conformances, ensuring timely resolution
• Maintain and improve QA systems in line with BRCGS v9 and retailer requirements
• Analyse and trend quality data to drive continuous improvement

Team Leadership & Development

• Manage and develop QA and Label Room teams
• Ensure customer specifications and quality standards are consistently met
• Promote a right‑first‑time culture across production teams
• Manage the QA budget and support effective resource planning

Cross-Functional & Customer Support

• Work closely commercial, production, and operational teams to resolve quality issues
• Support customer visits and technical discussions
• Build strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders

Auditing & Site Engagement

• Carry out internal and external quality visits
• Document findings and communicate outcomes to relevant stakeholdersSupport audit readiness and ongoing compliance activity
• Contribute to internal initiatives and continuous improvement projects

About You

• Experience in a Quality or Technical role within Fresh Produce
• Strong knowledge of BRCGS v9, retailer standards, and food safety systems
• HACCP Level 2 and Food Safety Level 2
• TACCP/VACCP training and Lead Auditor training preferred
• Experience leading or supervising QA teams
• Confident communicating with customers and internal teams
• Strong analytical, problem‑solving, and IT skills
• Proactive, detail‑focused, and comfortable working in a fast‑paced environment
• Need to have a legal right to work in the UK

For further information, please get in touch with Oskar Ballard at MorePeople on 01780 480530 or email [e-mail]