Quality Manager

Saica Group; Earl Sterndale; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading sustainable solutions provider located in Earl Sterndale is seeking a Quality Manager to lead the site Quality agenda. You will ensure the quality strategy and systems are fully deployed, manage a team of Quality Assistants, and work closely with Operations. Key responsibilities include ensuring compliance with BRC and ISO standards, managing the quality management system, and driving continuous improvement initiatives. This role requires strong leadership skills and a deep understanding of operational KPIs and customer quality expectations.

Qualifications

• Fully qualified BSI Lead Auditor.
• Extensive experience in quality systems and audit processes.
• Proven ability to implement process improvement initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Manage the day-to-day activities of the Quality Team.
• Ensure compliance with quality standards.
• Develop and maintain quality assurance metrics.

Skills

BRC Standards

ISO 9001

ISO 14001

Six Sigma

MS Office

ERP Systems

Tools

EFI Radius

SAP

Job description

Saica Group provide sustainable recycled paper, corrugated cardboard and flexible packaging manufacturing solutions as well as solutions for waste management and the recovery of waste. Sustainability at Saica begins with our values – we care, we value and we challenge.

You will be responsible for leading the site Quality agenda, ensuring the full deployment of the quality strategy, systems and processes to ensure the delivery of class‑leading product quality performance. Leading a small team of Quality Assistants, you will work closely with Operations and the site Continuous Improvement Manager to ensure processes and activities have clear standards which are met rigorously and continue to be developed in line with best practice. You will help champion and deliver a quality improvement mindset, supporting CI activities across the whole site.

Responsibilities

• Manage the day‑to‑day activities of the Quality Team, coordinating activities required to meet company, site and regulatory quality standards.
• Ensure compliance with external and internal standards including BRC, ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and an A2 permit.
• Manage and improve procedures, documentation and auditing of the quality management system, working closely with operational and technical colleagues to ensure understanding and responsibilities.
• Understand the needs and expectations of customers regarding product quality and incorporate these expectations into the quality management system.
• Maintain the internal audit schedule and ensure all recommendations and NCRs are relayed back to the relevant business areas, actioned and closed.
• Ensure the site is always in an audit‑ready status.
• Investigate and process customer complaints, managing the corrective and preventative action process.
• Develop and maintain quality assurance metrics and reporting for internal and external purposes, including complaints, internal NCRs, in‑house rejects, customer returns and the cost of all errors and waste.
• Identify training needs with line managers and deliver internal training where appropriate.
• Communicate regularly with Operations regarding quality issues, attending daily operations meetings to report any relevant quality issues.
• Represent the Quality Department within the Site Leadership Team, playing a full part in the delivery of the site strategy and budget.
• Help develop a culture of compliance, quality and continuous improvement across the site.
• Manage all site health and safety procedures, ensuring site H&S standards are met.
• Deliver site quality induction to all new employees.
• Continuously develop own knowledge on best practice, networking with colleagues at other sites and staying abreast of industry and legislative developments.
• Lead and develop Quality team members, ensuring individuals receive the support, feedback and performance appraisals required for effective performance.
• Undertake any other duties as requested by the line manager in accordance with the scope and responsibilities of the role.

Qualifications

• Fully qualified BSI Lead Auditor
• Six Sigma Practitioner
• Competent user of MS Office, in particular Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook
• Experience of ERP systems, preferably EFI Radius and SAP

Professional Experience

• Extensive experience of developing and managing quality systems and audit processes with prior experience of BRC, ISO and food safety standards
• Previous experience in print/packaging industry a distinct advantage
• Proven ability to implement process improvement initiatives
• Strong knowledge of operational and production KPIs
• Previous experience of line managing or supervising teams

Q.S.E. Knowledge & Training

• Considerable exposure to quality, health, safety and environmental standards and practices within a production setting

Language Skills

• Fluent English – ability to communicate effectively with colleagues verbally and in writing and understand technical, production terminology

Key Competencies

• Commitment to Saica: Able to embrace Saica vision and values
• Strategic Vision: Able to actively contribute to the site strategy and understand overall company goals and objectives
• People Management & Development: Team leadership and motivational skills – able to lead a team effectively through coaching and promoting positive behaviours
• Impact & Influence: Champions positive behaviours and standards in others; able to influence and communicate effectively at all levels, and hold quality owners to account while maintaining collaborative relationships
• Innovation & Initiative: Ability to contribute to wider CI initiatives; previous experience of suggesting and implementing process improvements
• Analytical Thinking: Strong attention to detail – able to break a problem down and use root‑cause analysis techniques, and able to understand and analyse KPI data
• Self‑Control: Calm under pressure – maintains reasoning and logical decision making
• Teamwork: Effective team member and leader – able to work with others collaboratively to achieve business goals
• Client Orientation: Understands customer needs and expectations around quality
• Health & Safety: Puts safety first – unwilling to compromise on standards to complete a job

Saica Group offers sustainable paper solutions for the manufacture of corrugated board and flexible packaging, promoting circularity in waste management. With more than 12,000 employees and a presence in 11 countries (Spain, France, Italy, Portugal, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Turkey, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Poland, and the United States), Saica Group has four business lines: the production of recycled paper for corrugated cardboard (Saica Paper), waste management and environmental services (Saica Natur), the production of corrugated board packaging (Saica Pack), and flexible packaging (Saica Flex).