QA Technician

DS Smith; Belper CP; On-site; GBP 24,000 - 30,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days holiday

Pension scheme

Life assurance

Income protection

Employee Assistance Programme

Employee Discounts

Cycle to work scheme

Job summary

DS Smith in Belper is seeking a proactive Quality Assurance Technician to safeguard product quality and support site quality systems. You will work closely with production teams in a fast-paced environment, driving right-first-time manufacturing and continuous improvement.

The role offers on-site hours, perm contract, and opportunities to lead quality initiatives, audits, and customer-facing activities. Join a global packaging leader focused on safety and excellence.

Qualifications

• Experience in a manufacturing, production, or quality environment.
• Strong knowledge of health and safety requirements and ability to lead by example.
• Excellent attention to detail and analytical skills.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Strong problem-solving and decision-making capabilities.
• Effective communication and organisational skills.
• Ability to coach, support and develop colleagues.
• Knowledge of quality standards, auditing processes, and regulatory requirements.

Responsibilities

• Ensure health and safety and site standards compliance.
• Manage and process customer complaints per site procedures.
• Conduct PACE sampling, testing, and reporting to support KPIs.
• Analyse data in weekly PACE reviews and support corrective actions.
• Provide technical, hygiene, and quality support across the site.
• Calibrate and maintain testing equipment for accuracy.
• Support new product introductions, customer trials, and watch orders.
• Assist with audits and quarantined stock management.
• Deputise for the Quality Assurance Manager when required.
• Champion product safety, quality excellence, and right-first-time culture.
• Represent DS Smith professionally during customer interactions and site visits.

Skills

Manufacturing environment

Quality assurance

Attention to detail

Analytical thinking

Problem solving

Communication skills

Job description

About the Role

At DS Smith, we're passionate about delivering quality products, operating safely, and continuously improving the way we work. We're now looking for a proactive and detail-oriented Quality Assurance Technician to join our team in Belper and play a key role in maintaining the highest standards across our manufacturing operations. This is an excellent opportunity for someone who enjoys working in a fast-paced production environment, has a keen eye for detail, and is committed to driving quality, compliance, and continuous improvement. As a Quality Assurance Technician, you'll work closely with operational teams to ensure products meet customer expectations, support site quality systems, and champion a culture of product safety and right-first-time manufacturing.

Key Responsibilities

• Putting Health & Safety Above All Else, ensuring full compliance with site standards and requirements.
• Managing and processing customer complaints in line with site quality procedures.
• Conducting PACE performance and paper sampling, testing, and reporting to support site and business KPIs.
• Participating in weekly PACE review meetings, analysing performance data, identifying trends, and supporting corrective actions where required.
• Providing technical, hygiene, and quality support across the site.
• Maintaining and calibrating testing equipment to ensure accuracy and reliability.
• Ensuring high standards of housekeeping and hygiene within the Quality Control Laboratory and office areas.
• Supporting new product introductions (NPI), customer trials, internal trials, and watch orders.
• Carrying out routine audits and inspections, identifying non-conformances and supporting corrective and preventative actions.
• Assisting with rework activities and the management of quarantined stock.
• Supporting internal, external, and customer audits.
• Deputising for the Quality Assurance Manager when required.
• Championing product safety, quality excellence, and a right-first-time culture throughout the site.
• Representing DS Smith professionally during customer interactions and site visits.

About You

We're looking for someone who is enthusiastic, motivated, and eager to develop their career within quality assurance. You'll ideally have:

• Previous experience within a manufacturing, production, or quality environment.
• A strong commitment to health and safety and the ability to lead by example.
• Excellent attention to detail and strong analytical skills.
• The ability to work independently as well as collaboratively within a team.
• Strong problem-solving and decision‑making capabilities.
• Effective communication and organisational skills.
• The confidence to coach, support, and develop colleagues.
• Knowledge of quality standards, auditing processes, and regulatory requirements.
• A proactive, flexible, and adaptable approach with a willingness to learn new skills

Benefits

• Competitive salary
• 25 days holiday plus bank holidays
• Pension scheme, life assurance and income protection
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Employee Discounts
• Cycle to work scheme

Location: Belper – On-site Hours: Monday – Friday – 08:30 - 16:30 Contract: Perm

About us

We are DS Smith, together with International Paper, we are a global leader in sustainable packaging solutions and other fibre-based products. We believe a better, more sustainable tomorrow is possible with the right people, who challenge and support one another to enact positive change. We employ more than 65,000 colleagues in North America and Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA), who are experts in innovation, manufacturing, design, sales, sustainability, supply chain, and much more. Together with our customers, we make the world safer and more productive, one sustainable packaging solution at a time. Become part of a world-leading organisation and do your best work with us!

Fair recruitment at DS Smith

To fulfil our purpose of redefining packaging for a changing world, we aim to build a diverse, motivated, and engaged workforce. Our goal is to create a culture of inclusion where everyone is treated fairly, differences are valued, and everyone has an equal opportunity to succeed. Our people come from diverse backgrounds, bring different perspectives, ideas and experiences to generate unique solutions focused on present and future sustainability challenges.