QA Coordinator

Avara Foods Limited; Leominster; On-site; GBP 26,000 - 32,000; Full time

Job summary

Avara Foods is seeking a dedicated QA Co-Ordinator to join our Technical team at Shobdon Hatchery. You will monitor egg quality, breeder flock fertility, incubation performance, and chick hatch results to support continuous improvement and maintain high hatchery standards.

The role involves collecting, analysing and reporting technical data, with approx 70% on the hatchery floor and 30% in the office. You will collaborate with teams to drive quality and compliance.

Qualifications

• Experience in a hatchery, food production, or manufacturing environment is desirable.
• Strong analytical skills for data interpretation.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• High attention to detail and ability to meet deadlines.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Proficient IT skills including Excel and Word.
• Proactive, positive, and organized approach to work.

Responsibilities

• Conduct physical and bacteriological egg quality assessments.
• Monitor egg core temperatures throughout the supply chain.
• Assess egg hygiene and evaluate fumigation and sanitation effectiveness.
• Analyse breeder flock fertility performance by house.
• Review hatch results and investigate incubation losses.
• Carry out detailed chick quality assessments.
• Produce reports, analyse findings, and provide recommendations to hatchery management.
• Monitor hygiene standards across the hatchery.
• Identify non-conformances and support corrective actions.
• Assist with investigations and continuous improvement initiatives.

Skills

Analytical skills

Communication skills

Attention to detail

Teamwork

Problem solving

Tools

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Word

Job description

About the Role:

Working Hours

This role operates on a rotating weekly shift pattern:

Week 1: Monday to Friday
Week 2: Tuesday to Saturday

Rotating shift times:

• 07:00 - 15:30
• 06:00 - 14:30

About the Role

We are looking for a dedicated QA Co-Ordinator to join our Technical team at our Shobdon Hatchery.

This role plays a key part in monitoring and improving hatchery performance by focusing on egg quality, breeder flock fertility, incubation performance, and chick hatch results. You will be responsible for collecting, analysing, and reporting technical data to support continuous improvement and maintain the highest standards of quality throughout the hatchery operation.

Key Responsibilities

• Conduct physical and bacteriological egg quality assessments.
• Monitor egg core temperatures throughout the supply chain, from farm to hatchery.
• Assess egg hygiene and evaluate the effectiveness of fumigation and sanitation processes.
• Analyse breeder flock fertility performance by house.
• Review hatch results and investigate incubation losses.
• Carry out detailed chick quality assessments.
• Produce reports, analyse findings, and provide recommendations to hatchery management.
• Monitor hygiene standards across the hatchery.
• Identify and report non-conformances and support corrective actions.
• Assist with investigations and continuous improvement initiatives.

Working Environment

• Fast-paced, labour-intensive hatchery environment where biosecurity and hygiene standards are critical.
• Approximately 70% of the role is based on the hatchery floor and 30% is office-based.
• Flexibility is required to provide weekend cover when needed.

What We're Looking For

• Experience in a hatchery, food production, or manufacturing environment is desirable.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret both qualitative and quantitative data.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal.
• High attention to detail and the ability to work to deadlines.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Competent IT skills, including Microsoft Excel and Word.
• A proactive, positive, and organised approach to work.

General Responsibilities

• Maintain confidentiality at all times.
• Promote company values and behaviours.
• Comply with all health, safety, food safety, animal welfare, and biosecurity requirements.
• Ensure food integrity, legality, quality, and safety standards are maintained.
• Support a culture of continuous learning and development.
• Participate in shift cover and on-call arrangements where required.
• Undertake any other reasonable duties within the scope of the role.

Why Join Avara Foods?

This is an excellent opportunity to join a business where quality, innovation, and continuous improvement are at the heart of everything we do. You'll play an important role in helping optimise hatchery performance while developing your technical knowledge within a supportive and growing team.

About Us

You may not have heard of us, but there's a good chance you've enjoyed our products. Avara Foods is one of the UK's leading food businesses, supplying chicken and turkey to major supermarkets, restaurants, and foodservice customers across the country.

We manage our entire supply chain, from farms to processing sites and through to our customers. With operations spanning England and Wales and an agricultural network of more than 350 farms, we offer a wide range of career opportunities across agriculture, production, engineering, technical, and business functions.

At Avara Foods, our people are at the heart of our success, and we're committed to creating a safe, inclusive, and rewarding place to work where everyone can thrive.