QA Auditor

D R Newitt & Associates; Consett; On-site; GBP 26,000 - 34,000; Full time

Job summary

D R Newitt & Associates is seeking a proactive Quality Assurance Auditor for a fast-paced food manufacturing site. You will ensure raw materials, in-process and finished products meet quality and safety specifications, and you will support internal audits and continuous improvement.

Ideal candidates will have experience in QA within food manufacturing, knowledge of BRCGS/HACCP, and a strong ability to maintain accurate records and drive corrective actions across departments.

Qualifications

• Experience in a Quality Assurance, Quality Control or Technical role within food manufacturing.
• Good understanding of food safety, quality management systems, hygiene standards and procedures.
• Experience conducting quality checks, inspections, sampling and internal audits.
• Knowledge of BRCGS standards, HACCP and GMP.
• Strong attention to detail with ability to maintain accurate records.
• Excellent problem-solving skills to investigate issues and implement corrective actions.
• Good communication skills and ability to work with colleagues across departments.
• Ability to prioritise workloads, work independently and meet deadlines.
• Proactive approach to continuous improvement, food safety and customer satisfaction.

Responsibilities

• Carry out sampling, inspections and testing of incoming raw materials, packaging and finished products to ensure compliance with quality standards and specifications.
• Conduct product testing, including pH testing, taste panels, burst testing, dye testing and thermal process validations where required.
• Perform regular factory audits covering GMP, hygiene, quality management systems, traceability, metal detection, coding, product weight control, stock rotation and housekeeping.
• Ensure compliance with BRCGS requirements, customer codes of practice, food safety standards and procedures.
• Investigate customer complaints, non-conformances and out-of-spec results, ensuring corrective actions are documented.
• Manage product holds, concessions and positive product release in line with procedures and deadlines.
• Conduct environmental, ATP, allergen and potable water sampling, recording results and arranging retesting.
• Maintain accurate quality records, technical reports, production paperwork and audit documentation.
• Review and sign off production paperwork, retort graphs and relevant documentation before filing and archiving.
• Liaise with suppliers to verify raw material compliance and provide appropriate certificates of analysis or conformance.
• Support new product launches, customer audits, compliance panels and technical projects.
• Provide coaching and support to colleagues on food safety, hygiene and quality procedures.
• Monitor quality trends, testing schedules and audit results, highlighting concerns and supporting continuous improvement initiatives.
• Promote a positive health and safety culture and help maintain high standards of workplace safety.

Skills

Quality Assurance

Food manufacturing

Attention to detail

Analytical thinking

Problem solving

Communication

Team collaboration

Time management

Job description

About the Role

We are looking for a proactive and detail-oriented Quality Assurance Auditor to join our team within a fast-paced food manufacturing environment.

This is an excellent opportunity for someone passionate about food safety, product quality and continuous improvement to play a key role in maintaining high standards across the manufacturing process.

Working closely with production teams, suppliers and the wider technical function, you will ensure that raw materials, finished products and production documentation meet the required quality, food safety and customer specifications.

You will play a vital role in maintaining compliance with quality management systems, supporting internal audits and ensuring products are manufactured and released in accordance with established procedures.

If you have a keen eye for detail, a methodical approach and a commitment to the highest standards of food safety and quality, we would love to hear from you.

Key Responsibilities

• Carry out sampling, inspections and testing of incoming raw materials, packaging and finished products to ensure compliance with quality standards and agreed specifications.
• Conduct product testing, including pH testing, taste panels, burst testing, dye testing and thermal process validations where required.
• Perform regular factory audits covering GMP, hygiene, quality management systems, traceability, metal detection, coding, product weight control, stock rotation and housekeeping.
• Ensure compliance with BRCGS requirements, customer codes of practice, food safety standards and company procedures.
• Investigate customer complaints, non-conformances and out-of-specification results, ensuring corrective actions are implemented and documented.
• Manage product holds, concessions and positive product release in line with established procedures and deadlines.
• Conduct environmental, ATP, allergen and potable water sampling, recording results and arranging retesting where necessary.
• Maintain accurate quality records, technical reports, production paperwork and audit documentation.
• Review and sign off production paperwork, retort graphs and relevant documentation before filing and archiving.
• Liaise with suppliers to verify raw material compliance and ensure the appropriate certificates of analysis or conformance are provided.
• Support new product launches, customer audits, compliance panels and technical projects.
• Provide coaching and support to colleagues across departments on food safety, hygiene and quality procedures.
• Monitor quality trends, testing schedules and audit results, highlighting concerns and supporting continuous improvement initiatives.
• Promote a positive health and safety culture and help maintain high standards of workplace safety.

About You

To be successful in this role, you will be organised, analytical and confident working in a fast-paced food manufacturing environment.

Ideally, you will have:

• Experience in a Quality Assurance, Quality Control or Technical role within food manufacturing.
• A good understanding of food safety, quality management systems, hygiene standards and manufacturing procedures.
• Experience conducting quality checks, inspections, sampling and internal audits.
• Knowledge of BRCGS standards, HACCP and Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP).
• Strong attention to detail and the ability to maintain accurate and comprehensive records.
• Excellent problem-solving skills, with the ability to investigate issues and identify appropriate corrective actions.
• Good communication skills and the confidence to work collaboratively with colleagues across different departments.
• The ability to prioritise workloads, work independently and meet deadlines.
• A proactive approach to continuous improvement, food safety and customer satisfaction.

What We're Looking For

We are seeking someone who takes pride in maintaining high standards and understands the importance of getting things right first time.

You will be confident identifying and escalating quality concerns, challenging non-compliance when necessary and working collaboratively with production and technical teams to achieve the best possible outcomes.

A positive attitude, a willingness to learn and a commitment to maintaining product integrity are essential.