Quality Assistant

Clearly Drinks Ltd; Sunderland; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 35,000; Full time

Job summary

Clearly Drinks Ltd in Sunderland is seeking a Quality Assistant to ensure compliance with quality standards and support manufacturing processes. This permanent shift-based role requires experience in FMCG and food quality management, focusing on continuous improvement and team collaboration. The position offers competitive benefits and is integral to maintaining high standards in their soft drinks production.

Benefits

Life insurance

Health cash plan (employer funded)

Company events

Company pension

Employee discounts on company products

Employee referral scheme

Sports and social activities

Employee of the month/year scheme

Enhanced sick pay

Enhanced family policy

Employee Assistance Programme

Cycle to work scheme

Long service awards

Annual leave of 24 days plus your birthday off, plus bank holidays

Paid volunteering leave

Compassionate bereavement policy

Holiday purchase scheme

Qualifications

• Proven communication skills with the ability to adapt styles to individual needs.
• Sound knowledge of food production processes and legislation.
• Competent computer skills; proficiency in Excel is an advantage.
• Experience in food safety management and auditing.
• Strong interpersonal skills, including relationship building, facilitation, and communication.
• Leadership skills.
• Experience in FMCG environment, preferably within a quality role.
• Experience in developing and maintaining food quality management and auditing systems.
• Willingness to embody company values.

Responsibilities

• Ensuring that production output meets all company and customer quality requirements and standards.
• Providing support, guidance, and training to operational teams (e.g., Sensory training, Basic Food Hygiene).
• Planning, preparing, and conducting audits on the Quality Management and Food Safety (HACCP) systems, ensuring corrective actions are identified, implemented, and re-audited.
• Maintaining and calibrating all equipment and services required for quality purposes.
• Conducting routine microbiological analysis on plant, raw materials, and finished products.
• Managing quality consumables within the approved annual budget.
• Supporting and coordinating trials of new products, materials, and processes.
• Driving continuous improvement to enhance quality and food safety standards cost-effectively.
• Representing the site on quality issues with customers, suppliers, statutory bodies, and at relevant meetings.
• Coaching shift production teams on quality standards and acting as an ambassador for the quality department.

Skills

Communication skills

Food production processes

Computer skills

Food safety management

Interpersonal skills

Leadership skills

Quality management systems

Company values embodiment

Education

Degree in relevant field or equivalent experience

Job description

The Role

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Quality Assistant to be based onsite at Clearly Drinks Ltd in Sunderland, on a permanent basis. This is a shift-based position, reporting into the Head of QSE, and will involve working a rotating shift pattern to support manufacturing needs. The majority of shifts are expected to fall on our 2pm – 10pm pattern.

The Quality Assistant will provide specialist quality and technical support, and direction, to all operational departments within the factory, ensuring that all quality standards, objectives, and procedures are complied with, maintained, and continuously improved.

You should ideally have a background in FMCG and Manufacturing, preferably within a quality function. Experience in Food and Beverages is also desirable. If you feel confident in your ability to thrive in this role and contribute to the company's growth, please click Apply Now.

Key Responsibilities:

The key responsibilities include:

1. Ensuring that production output meets all company and customer quality requirements and standards.
2. Providing support, guidance, and training to operational teams (e.g., Sensory training, Basic Food Hygiene).
3. Planning, preparing, and conducting audits on the Quality Management and Food Safety (HACCP) systems, ensuring corrective actions are identified, implemented, and re-audited.
4. Maintaining and calibrating all equipment and services required for quality purposes.
5. Conducting routine microbiological analysis on plant, raw materials, and finished products.
6. Managing quality consumables within the approved annual budget.
7. Supporting and coordinating trials of new products, materials, and processes.
8. Driving continuous improvement to enhance quality and food safety standards cost-effectively.
9. Representing the site on quality issues with customers, suppliers, statutory bodies, and at relevant meetings.
10. Coaching shift production teams on quality standards and acting as an ambassador for the quality department.

The Company

Based in the North East, Clearly Drinks is a soft drinks manufacturer offering a range of brands alongside contract bottling services. We draw crystal clear spring water on-site, which forms the basis for our products. Established in 1885, we have been bottling in the North East for over 130 years. Our well-known brands include Perfectly Clear, Northumbria Spring, Revolution Waves, and Upstream. Our spring water is sourced directly from a natural spring at our site.

The Benefits

• Life insurance
• Health cash plan (employer funded)
• Company events
• Company pension
• Employee discounts on company products
• Employee referral scheme
• Sports and social activities
• Employee of the month/year scheme
• Enhanced sick pay
• Enhanced family policy
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Cycle to work scheme
• Long service awards
• Annual leave of 24 days plus your birthday off, plus bank holidays
• Paid volunteering leave
• Compassionate bereavement policy
• Holiday purchase scheme

The Person: Key Skills and Qualities

• Proven communication skills with the ability to adapt styles to individual needs
• Sound knowledge of food production processes and legislation
• Competent computer skills; proficiency in Excel is an advantage
• Experience in food safety management and auditing
• Strong interpersonal skills, including relationship building, facilitation, and communication
• Leadership skills
• Experience in FMCG environment, preferably within a quality role
• Experience in developing and maintaining food quality management and auditing systems
• Willingness to embody company values

Skills and Experience

• At least 5 years of relevant industry experience or a relevant degree/equivalent
• HACCP intermediate level certification is essential
• Intermediate Food Hygiene certification is desirable
• Lead Auditor training is advantageous but not required

If interested, please click the apply now button. Our key values include collaboration, continuous improvement, resilience, and protecting product integrity, employee safety, and the environment.