Quality Assurance Officer

Sealaska; Greater London; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading seafood processing company in Greater London is seeking a Quality Assurance Officer to ensure the implementation of technical quality and food safety standards across the site. The ideal candidate will have experience in a FMCG environment and a working knowledge of technical management systems. This role involves conducting audits, maintaining compliance, and supporting investigations. Offering a competitive salary of up to £30,000 per annum, with a shift pattern of 4 on and 4 off, this position is essential for maintaining high quality standards in the industry.

Qualifications

• Experience within a FMCG environment.
• Working knowledge of technical management systems.
• Strong analytical skills.
• Ability to influence and drive compliance.

Responsibilities

• Verify and measure technical and food safety standards.
• Conduct GMP audits and maintain standards.
• Perform line start-up checks and manage issues.
• Support investigations into non-conformance results.

Skills

Experience within a FMCG environment

Working knowledge of technical management systems

Ability to influence

Sound organisational skills

Ability to work cross‑functionally across the organisation

Ability to analyse data and support in the formulation of action plans

Ability to drive increased technical compliance through a coaching and development style

Job description

Who is New England Seafood International?

New England Seafood International (NESI) was established in 1991 and is an importer and processor of premium fresh and frozen sustainable fish and seafood. NESI employs circa 850 people across three sites in the UK and imports a wide range of wild and farmed fish and shellfish from all around the world. We are part of the Sealaska Corporation, an Alaska Native corporation formed in 1971 and which is owned by 26,000 Tlingit, Haida and Tsimshian shareholders, who are all bloodline descendants of the first settlers to the Americas.

Our vision is to "show people how to enjoy fish every day" and we pride ourselves on our supply chain integrity, sustainable sourcing and high‑quality product. Our values run through our business and are Respect, Customer Care, By Learning We Grow, Team Spirit and Integrity.

Title: Quality Assurance Officer

Reports to: Quality Manager

Location: Chessington, Surrey KT9 1TW

Salary: Up to £30,000 per annum (DOE)

Shift pattern: 4 on 4 off Day shift

Hours: 7:00 am – 7:00 pm

The purpose of this role is to drive and implement the correct technical quality and food safety standards across the site.

Role & Responsibilities

• Technical and Food Safety Standards: Verify and measure the delivery of technical and food safety standards across the site, ensuring compliance with customer and NESI requirements. Maintain and uphold standards through effective monitoring and proactive measures.
• Technical Compliance and Development: Drive increased technical compliance using coaching and development techniques. Ensure technical requirements are clearly understood across business areas and implemented by the Operations team.
• Audits and Documentation: Conduct GMP audits to ensure Good Manufacturing Practices are maintained. Complete and investigate glass/hard plastic breakage forms. Carry out daily, monthly, and annual calibration checks in line with the schedule.
• Environmental and Monitoring Programs: Deliver environmental, personnel, and product monitoring programs, including sample collection as per schedules. Verify cleaning standards completed by operatives.
• Taste Panels and Sampling: Collect taste panel samples and conduct taste panels and end‑of‑life sampling, capturing and analyzing results. Trend sampling outcomes for quality improvements.
• HACCP and Traceability: Perform annual HACCP validations. Conduct traceability exercises and mock recalls as per schedule.
• Production and Operations Checks: Perform line start‑up checks and elevate issues to Operations and Technical Management teams. Analyse rejected products from metal detectors for compliance.
• Product Life and Traceability Matrix: Create and maintain product life matrix sheets, ensuring timely communication to the factory. Verify traceability, cross‑check matrix data, and manage amendments as needed.
• Documentation Cross‑Checks: Approve and cross‑check documentation, including mix records, temperature logs, sharp movement records, and assembly positive releases.
• Defrosting & Dispensation Logs: Sign off defrosting charts, save and analyse data trends. Support and oversee the use of dispensation logs and downgrade material processes.
• Raw Material & Ingredient Checks: Conduct checks on all incoming raw materials and ingredients to ensure compliance with specifications and approved supplier standards. Carry out in‑process raw material audits, creating detailed reports and highlighting non‑conformances.
• Supply Base & Investigations: Log temperatures across the supply base as needed for investigations. Support investigations into out‑of‑specification results and work with the technical team to resolve recurring issues using RCA techniques. Manage supplier non‑conformance reports, ensuring proper follow‑ups and closures.
• New Product Development: Collaborate with New Product Development teams to ensure raw material requirements for new products are identified communicated, and controlled.
• Cross‑Functional Projects: Support cross‑functional project workstreams as required.

Qualifications

• Experience within a FMCG environment
• Working knowledge of technical management systems
• Ability to influence
• Sound organisational skills
• Ability to work cross‑functionally across the organisation
• Ability to analyse data and support in the formulation of action plans
• Ability to drive increased technical compliance through a coaching and development style