Quality Manager

The Butchers Recruiter; Northampton; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 56,000; Full time

Job summary

The Butchers Recruiter is seeking a Quality Manager to lead quality across a fast-paced meat processing site, strengthening food safety, product quality and factory performance while collaborating with technical and operational teams. You will influence site operations, drive improvements across GMP, hygiene and safety culture, and support audits from customers and third parties.

This role offers clear development within a growing family-run business, with opportunities to progress toward

Qualifications

• Experience managing quality within a food manufacturing environment.
• Experience in high-risk chilled production for retail and foodservice.
• Strong involvement in site food safety audits and standards such as BRCGS, Red Tractor, Organic or BMPA.
• Experience analyzing data, investigating root causes and implementing continuous improvement.
• Knowledge of GMP, hygiene standards and regulatory compliance.

Responsibilities

• Maintain audit-ready factory standards and support third-party audits.
• Drive continuous improvement across GMP, hygiene and food safety culture.
• Investigate complaints to root cause and implement corrective actions.
• Maintain and improve procedures, internal audits, quality controls and QACCP systems.
• Lead site tours and audits, address non-conformances and risks to certification.
• Support operations through training and monitor supplier performance and raw material standards.

Skills

Quality management

Food safety

GMP

Audit skills

Root cause analysis

Continuous improvement

Training & coaching

Stakeholder communication

Education

Quality management qualification

Job description

Getting a food manufacturing site genuinely audit-ready takes more than preparing for inspection day; it means building standards that hold up every day. As a Quality Manager, you'll help drive that standard across a fast-paced meat processing environment, strengthening food safety, product quality and factory performance while working closely with the wider technical and operational teams.

You'll have real scope to influence how the site operates, improving systems, challenging standards and supporting its continued development towards retail-ready production.

What's in it for you

• A key position within a growing, family-run food manufacturing business.
• The opportunity to drive meaningful improvements across factory quality, food safety, hygiene and compliance.
• Early exposure to customer and third-party audits, including BRCGS, Red Tractor, Organic and BMPA standards.
• The chance to build a strong professional network through customer and supplier interaction.
• Genuine involvement in new initiatives and continuous improvement projects across operations.
• Clear development potential towards a future Technical Manager position.

Your responsibilities as Quality Manager

• Maintain audit-ready factory standards, supporting successful third-party audits and ensuring the QMS is fully implemented.
• Drive continuous improvement across GMP, hygiene, finished product standards and food safety culture, ensuring corrective and preventive actions are completed effectively.
• Investigate complaints and concerns to root cause, implementing action plans that reduce recurrence and improve performance against KPIs.
• Maintain and improve procedures, internal audit processes, quality controls and QACCP systems in line with legislation, certification requirements and codes of practice.
• Lead customer and third-party factory tours and audits, addressing non-conformances and identifying risks that could affect site certification.
• Support operational teams through training, while monitoring raw material standards, supplier performance and the effectiveness of factory QA/QC controls.

What we’re looking for in a Quality Manager

• Relevant qualifications and experience managing quality within a food manufacturing environment.
• Experience within high-risk chilled production and manufacturing products for retail and foodservice customers.
• Strong involvement in site food safety audits and recognised standards such as BRCGS, Red Tractor, Organic or BMPA.
• Experience analysing data, investigating root causes and implementing measurable continuous improvement.
• Knowledge of factory systems, GMP, hygiene standards, food safety requirements and regulatory compliance.