Quality Systems Manager

Gregory Walker Associates; Wigton; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

Gregory Walker Associates is recruiting a Quality Systems Manager for a major UK food manufacturing site in Cumbria. The role offers genuine ownership of the site QMS, shaping the food safety and quality agenda and ensuring continuous improvement beyond audits.

Reporting to the Site Technical Manager, you will work with Operations, Engineering, SHE, Supply Chain and the Site Leadership Team to influence quality across the factory.

Qualifications

• Strong Quality Systems experience in food manufacturing.
• Experience coordinating audits (internal, external, customer, regulatory).
• Root-cause analysis and problem-solving capabilities.

Responsibilities

• Own and continually improve the site QMS.
• Maintain audit readiness across BRCGS, customer, regulatory, and third-party standards.
• Lead internal, external, customer and regulatory audit activity.
• Drive corrective and preventative actions through to completion.
• Manage document control, management review and compliance processes.
• Support HACCP, traceability, mass balance, validation and verification.
• Analyze complaints, audit results, customer feedback and quality trends.
• Use data to identify recurring issues and drive root-cause improvement.
• Produce technical KPIs and present performance to senior site stakeholders.
• Coach teams and build a food safety and quality culture.
• Lead and support continuous improvement projects.

Skills

Quality Systems

Root-cause analysis

Audits coordination

Problem-solving

Continuous improvement

Education

Level 3 Food Safety and HACCP

Tools

BRCGS standards

Job description

Are you a Quality Systems professional who wants to do more than simply maintain a QMS?

We're working with a major UK food manufacturing business to recruit a Quality Systems Manager for one of its key manufacturing sites in Cumbria.

This is a role with genuine ownership. You'll take responsibility for the site Quality Management System, help shape the food safety and quality agenda and ensure the operation is continually improving rather than simply preparing for the next audit.

Reporting to the Site Technical Manager, you'll work closely with Operations, Engineering, SHE, Supply Chain and the wider Site Leadership Team, giving you significant exposure across the factory.

The Role

You’ll be responsible for:

• Owning and continually improving the site QMS
• Maintaining audit readiness across BRCGS, customer, regulatory and other third-party standards
• Leading internal, external, customer and regulatory audit activity
• Driving corrective and preventative actions through to completion
• Managing document control, management review and compliance processes
• Supporting HACCP, traceability, mass balance, validation and verification
• Analysing complaints, audit results, customer feedback and quality trends
• Using data to identify recurring issues and drive root-cause improvement
• Producing technical KPIs and presenting performance to senior site stakeholders
• Coaching teams and helping build a genuine food safety and quality culture
• Leading and supporting continuous improvement projects

It’s a broad systems role where you'll have the opportunity to influence how quality operates across the site, rather than simply policing standards.

About you

We're looking for someone with strong Quality Systems experience gained within food manufacturing who understands what a genuinely effective QMS looks like.

You’ll ideally bring:

• Around 5+ years' experience within a food manufacturing technical environment
• Strong knowledge of BRCGS and third-party/customer standards
• Experience coordinating audits and compliance programmes
• Level 3 Food Safety and HACCP as a minimum
• Strong root-cause analysis and problem-solving capability
• The confidence to challenge existing processes and influence people across Operations and Technical
• A practical, continuous-improvement mindset

Dairy experience would be advantageous but isn't essential. Lead Auditor, Level 4 HACCP/Food Safety and continuous improvement experience would also be beneficial.

Why apply?

This isn't a "keep the paperwork tidy" Quality Systems position.

You’ll inherit a broad remit, have the autonomy to improve systems and processes, and work closely with senior stakeholders in a manufacturing environment where food safety, quality and continuous improvement genuinely matter.

If you're a Quality Systems Manager, Quality Manager, Technical Systems Manager or experienced Technical professional looking for greater ownership and influence, we'd like to hear from you