QA & Food Safety Lead — Drive Quality & Compliance

Natures Way Foods Ltd; Chichester; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 42,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Profit share bonus

Pension matched up to 5%

Health cash plan

Gym discounts

Shopping discounts

Online GP & life assurance

Job summary

Nature’s Way Foods is seeking a Quality Assurance Manager to lead our QA team in a fast-paced manufacturing setting. You will ensure HACCP compliance, uphold food safety and quality standards, and drive continuous improvement across the site.

Key duties include audits, KPI reporting, corrective actions, and working closely with Operations to meet customer expectations. The role offers a comprehensive benefits package and progression opportunities within a growing company.

Qualifications

• Degree, HNC, or equivalent qualification in a relevant discipline.
• HACCP Level 3 qualified (desirable).
• Food Hygiene/Food Safety Level 3 qualification.
• Experience within an FMCG or food manufacturing environment.
• Strong knowledge of food safety, quality systems, and audit requirements.
• Experience investigating non‑conformances, complaints, and implementing corrective actions.
• Confident analysing data, reporting on KPIs, and driving continuous improvement.
• Excellent organisational, communication, and problem‑solving skills.
• Able to build effective relationships across technical, operational, and customer‑facing teams.

Responsibilities

• Manage internal and external audit programmes, ensuring ongoing compliance with regulatory, customer, and company standards.
• Ensure food safety, quality standards, and customer Codes of Practice (COPs) are effectively implemented and adhered to across the factory.
• Investigate non-conformances and deviations, conducting root cause analysis and implementing corrective and preventative actions.
• Lead traceability and product withdrawal exercises, including investigations and reporting.
• Develop, monitor, and report on KPIs and technical performance metrics.
• Coordinate and prepare for customer audits, ensuring successful outcomes and timely closure of actions.
• Manage invoicing processes and support site budget reconciliation activities.
• Maintain factory technical and quality standards, driving continuous improvement against established KPIs.
• Manage site quality assurance systems and oversee internal audit programmes.
• Validate and verify new and existing processes to ensure compliance, effectiveness, and continuous improvement.
• Manage site Due Diligence Assurance (DQA) activities, including reporting and compliance monitoring.
• Investigate customer complaints, identifying root causes and implementing corrective actions.
• Produce technical reports and analyse data to support internal stakeholders and customer requirements.
• Lead cross‑functional teams and improvement initiatives to enhance quality, compliance, and operational performance.
• Manage site pest control programmes, ensuring compliance with food safety standards.
• Oversee the control, maintenance, and calibration of equipment to ensure accuracy and operational effectiveness.

Skills

Food safety knowledge

Audit experience

Data analysis

Problem solving

Communication

Education

Degree/HNC in a relevant discipline

Job description

Nature’s Way Foods is seeking a Quality Assurance Manager to lead our QA team in a fast-paced manufacturing setting. You will ensure HACCP compliance, uphold food safety and quality standards, and drive continuous improvement across the site.

Key duties include audits, KPI reporting, corrective actions, and working closely with Operations to meet customer expectations. The role offers a comprehensive benefits package and progression opportunities within a growing company.