Quality Assurance Technician

Westmill | part of Associated British Foods plc; Hitchin; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 35,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading food company is seeking a QA Technician to join their Technical Team in Hitchin. This role involves ensuring food safety and quality compliance through audits and documentation management. The ideal candidate will have QA experience and a strong understanding of food safety standards, contributing to a collaborative and inclusive environment.

Benefits

ABF Pension

EAP

Competitive salary

General incentive plan

Qualifications

• Experience in Quality Assurance.
• Understanding of food safety standards and regulations.
• Ability to prioritize workload effectively.

Responsibilities

• Conduct internal audits and ensure compliance with quality standards.
• Maintain documentation and support technical assurance.
• Manage complaints and oversee pest control activities.

Skills

QA experience

Knowledge of allergens

HACCP principles

GMP

Auditing skills

Job description

We are proud of our heritage and position as one of Europe’s largest specialist food companies, manufacturing and supplying authentic global foods for restaurants, takeaways, and consumers. Our portfolio includes brands like Lucky Boat, Elephant Atta, Rajah, Green Dragon, and Patak’s, offering noodles, flour, rice, spices, sauces, and oils. We value passion for food and people, fostering collaboration, diversity, and inclusion through employee resource groups and events. Westmill is a welcoming place where everyone can be authentic and make a difference.

Overview Of Role

We have an exciting opportunity for a QA Technician to join our Technical Team. The role involves maintaining high standards of food safety and quality, ensuring compliance with customer codes of practice, and conducting GMP and internal audits.

Key Accountabilities

1. Conduct internal audits according to the site schedule and support the closure of actions to ensure compliance with Quality and Food Safety Management Systems.
2. Maintain records, filing, archiving, and document control systems.
3. Assist the Technical Assurance Manager with resolving technical issues and developing food safety and quality standards.
4. Support the Environmental Monitoring System by collecting and coordinating samples for analysis, reporting exceedances weekly, and escalating as necessary.
5. Support manufacturing teams in closing out Non-Conformance Reports (NCRs).
6. Participate in third-party audits such as BRC and customer audits.
7. Report trends and issues to the Site Management Team.
8. Manage daily release requests to K3 and respond to stock release requests.
9. Oversee Pest Control activities.
10. Manage complaints by logging, investigating, and ensuring timely actions, especially for serious complaints.
11. Ensure traceability exercises are completed and non-conformances are documented.
12. Complete food safety and quality conversations and log them on Sphera.
13. Complete health and safety culture conversations and logs on Sphera.

The Right Person

We seek someone with QA experience, knowledge of allergens, HACCP principles, GMP, and auditing skills. Flexibility, workload prioritization, and a passion for results are essential qualities to be an effective team member.

Benefits include ABF Pension, EAP, a competitive salary, and a general incentive plan.