Quality Assurance Specialist - Food & Beverage

Lime Talent; Greater London; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 36,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading international food company based in the UK is seeking a Quality Assurance Specialist to ensure compliance with food safety legislation and manage allergen risks. The successful candidate will have at least three years' experience in a quality or technical role within a manufacturing environment, alongside a degree in Food Science. Responsibilities include reviewing packaging for compliance, supporting audits, and maintaining product specifications. This position offers a salary range of £32-36k, plus a bonus scheme and additional benefits.

Benefits

Bonus scheme

Annual pay review

Company pension

Lunch allowance

Qualifications

• At least three years’ experience in a quality-focused role in a manufacturing environment.
• Sound understanding of UK and EU food legislation.
• Familiarity with product withdrawal and recall procedures.

Responsibilities

• Ensure all products meet applicable food safety legislation.
• Review and approve product artwork for compliance.
• Manage allergen risks associated with products.
• Assist in internal audits and certification preparations.
• Develop and maintain product specifications.

Skills

Food safety regulations knowledge

Allergen management

Regulatory compliance

Problem-solving skills

Communication skills

Education

Degree in Food Science or related discipline

HACCP training to intermediate level

Job description

Salary : £32-36kdoe

Package : Bonus scheme, Annual Pay Review, Company Pension, Lunch Allowance

Our client is a fast growing UK division of a world leading international food company who are looking to expand their commercial team, bringing on board a Quality Assurance Specialist to play a key role in the growth of their business.

Your Responsibilities :

Regulatory adherence

• Make sure all products meet applicable food safety legislation across the UK and Europe, including national authority requirements and overarching EU food law.
• Stay informed on current and emerging legal obligations and recognised industry frameworks such as food safety standards, allergen legislation, and labelling regulations.
• Act as a point of contact with enforcement authorities during audits, inspections, and approval processes.
• Provide support in the event of product withdrawals or recalls.
• Ensure alignment with upcoming packaging waste and sustainability regulations ahead of their implementation deadlines.

Packaging, labelling, and records management

• Review and approve product artwork to confirm compliance with statutory UK and EU labelling requirements, including ingredients, nutritional data, and allergen information.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure packaging and labelling are approved prior to launch.

Allergen control

• Assess and manage allergen risks associated with ingredients, processes, and finished products.
• Carry out allergen risk evaluations and confirm that appropriate control measures are in place.
• Support allergen management practices across manufacturing and supply chain activities.

Audit support

• Assist in preparing sites for internal reviews, customer assessments, and independent certification audits.
• Perform internal audits and help coordinate corrective actions to close out any identified issues.

Specifications and supplier approval

• Develop and maintain accurate product specifications in accordance with legal and customer expectations.
• Support the evaluation and approval of ingredients and suppliers from a food safety and quality standpoint.

About You

• At least three years’ experience in a food safety, technical, or quality-focused role within a manufacturing environment.
• Sound understanding of UK and EU food legislation, including allergen management and labelling requirements.
• Familiarity with product withdrawal and recall procedures.
• Degree-qualified in Food Science or a related discipline, with HACCP training to intermediate level or equivalent.
• Experience working to GFSI-benchmarked food safety standards.
• Confident using retailer or customer systems for managing specifications and packaging approvals.
• Exposure to ingredients sourced from Asian markets would be advantageous.
• Highly organised with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-moving environment.
• Strong communication skills with a collaborative, adaptable, and professional approach.
• Demonstrates excellent problem-solving ability, accuracy, and attention to detail.

If you are passionate about QA and eager to make a tangible impact in a fast growing UK team then we'd love to hear from you.

We are committed to creating diverse and inclusive workplaces and encourage applications from candidates of all backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. We believe that diversity fosters innovation and strengthens teams. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, colour, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, or age.