Quality Assurance Manager

Cooper Lomaz Recruitment Services Ltd; Cambridge; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Cooper Lomaz Recruitment Services Ltd is seeking an experienced Quality Assurance Manager for a large-scale, industrial food manufacturing facility in the UK. You will lead the Quality function, uphold the QMS and ensure food safety, product quality, legality and authenticity across operations.

You will champion a strong food safety culture, drive continuous improvement, and collaborate with Production, Engineering and CI teams to deliver sustainable quality performance.

Qualifications

• Minimum 3 years' experience in a QA leadership role within food manufacturing or FMCG.
• Experience managing QA teams in a high-volume industrial environment.
• Strong working knowledge of BRCGS Food Safety Standards and retailer standards.
• Proven internal and external audits experience.
• Thorough understanding of HACCP, TACCP, VACCP, GMP, hygiene and allergen management.
• Experience managing environmental monitoring, pest control and sanitation programmes.
• Excellent root cause analysis and problem-solving skills.
• Strong communication and stakeholder management at all levels.

Responsibilities

• Lead, develop and motivate the QA and Hygiene teams for high performance.
• Champion a positive Food Safety and Quality Culture across the facility.
• Maintain and improve the site's QMS, ensuring compliance with standards and regulations.
• Ensure robust HACCP/TACCP/VACCP programmes across operations.
• Drive GMP, hygiene, environmental monitoring and allergen management.
• Oversee site hygiene and pest control programmes; verify actions and close gaps.
• Oversee quality verification across raw materials, in-process and finished products.
• Lead investigations into customer complaints and CAPA.
• Monitor KPIs, identify quality improvements and traceability.
• Plan and conduct internal audits; support external audits.
• Provide technical leadership and training across teams.

Skills

QA leadership

Food manufacturing

BRCGS knowledge

Audits & compliance

CAPA & problem solving

Root cause analysis

Stakeholder management

Quality KPIs

Education

Degree in Food Science/Technology

HACCP Level 3

Food Safety Level 3

Internal Auditor qualification

Full UK Driving Licence

Job description

Quality Assurance Manager - Industrial Food Manufacturing (FMCG)

Monday - Friday 09:00 - 17:30

About the Role

Experienced and proactive Quality Assurance Manager to lead the Quality function within a large-scale, multi-level industrial food manufacturing facility. Operating within a high-volume FMCG environment, you will be responsible for maintaining an effective Quality Management System (QMS) while ensuring the highest standards of food safety, product quality, legality and authenticity across all manufacturing operations.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead, develop and motivate the Quality Assurance and Hygiene teams, creating a high-performance culture focused on food safety, quality and continuous improvement.
• Champion a positive Food Safety and Quality Culture across the entire manufacturing facility, ensuring standards are embedded at every level of the organisation.
• Maintain and continuously improve the site's Quality Management System, ensuring ongoing compliance with BRCGS Food Safety Standards, customer codes of practice and all relevant legal and regulatory requirements.
• Ensure robust implementation, verification and continuous review of HACCP and TACCP/VACCP programmes across all manufacturing operations.
• Drive compliance with GMP, hygiene, environmental monitoring and allergen management programmes throughout the production facility.
• Manage site hygiene standards and pest control programmes, ensuring all planned activities are completed, verified and any corrective actions closed effectively.
• Oversee raw material, in-process and finished product quality verification programmes, including microbiological, chemical and physical testing through accredited laboratories.
• Ensure all quality monitoring, inspections and verification activities are completed accurately and on schedule.
• Lead investigations into customer complaints, non-conformances and quality incidents using structured root cause analysis, implementing effective corrective and preventive actions (CAPA).
• Monitor quality KPIs, trend performance data and identify opportunities to improve product quality, process capability and operational performance.
• Ensure full product traceability is maintained across the manufacturing operation and lead mock recalls to verify system effectiveness.
• Plan and conduct internal audits while supporting external customer, retailer and certification audits.
• Deliver food safety, GMP and quality training to colleagues, ensuring competency across all operational teams.
• Collaborate with Production, Engineering and Continuous Improvement teams to deliver sustainable improvements in manufacturing processes and quality performance.
• Support the implementation, validation and maintenance of product specifications, quality standards and manufacturing controls.
• Ensure compliance with all customer specifications, retailer requirements and internal quality standards.
• Provide technical support during new product introductions, process changes and capital investment projects.
• Deputise for the Technical Manager where required and provide technical leadership across the wider site.
• Promote a proactive quality-first mindset, ensuring quality is built into every stage of the manufacturing process rather than inspected at the end.

About You

You are an experienced Quality professional with a passion for food manufacturing and operational excellence. You are comfortable working in a fast-paced, complex FMCG environment and have proven experience leading technical teams within large manufacturing operations.

Experience & Skills

• Minimum of 3 years' experience in a Quality Assurance leadership role within food manufacturing or FMCG.
• Experience managing Quality Assurance teams within a high-volume industrial manufacturing environment.
• Strong working knowledge of BRCGS Food Safety Standard and retailer standards.
• Proven experience managing internal and external audits.
• Thorough understanding of HACCP, TACCP, VACCP, GMP, hygiene and allergen management.
• Experience managing environmental monitoring, pest control and sanitation programmes.
• Excellent root cause analysis and problem-solving skills using structured continuous improvement methodologies.
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills with the ability to influence at all levels.
• Experience working within complex manufacturing sites, including multi-floor or vertically integrated production facilities, is highly desirable.
• Experience within milling, cereals, grains or dry ingredient manufacturing would be advantageous.
• Strong analytical skills with experience using quality KPIs and data to drive performance improvements.

Qualifications

• Degree in Food Science, Food Technology or a related discipline, or equivalent industry experience.
• HACCP Level 3 (minimum).
• Food Safety Level 3 (minimum; Level 4 desirable).
• Internal Auditor qualification (BRCGS or equivalent preferred).
• Full UK Driving Licence