Quality Team Leader

Graphic Packaging International; Gateshead; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

Graphic Packaging International is seeking a proactive Quality Leader to join our manufacturing operations across two sites in the UK, ensuring the highest standards of quality, hygiene and food safety.

You will lead QA activities, ensure compliance with ISO9001, PS9000 and BRCGS, drive continuous improvement, and act as the key contact for quality matters throughout the business. You will mentor teams, host audits, and influence supplier quality.

Qualifications

• Experience in quality assurance within a manufacturing environment.
• Strong knowledge of quality management systems and global standards.
• Experience with RCA and CAPA processes.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.

Responsibilities

• Facilitate investigations for internal and external non-conformances and CAPA.
• Support audits and customer visits, acting as QA liaison.
• Act as first point of contact for quality matters from production.
• Promote and enforce quality and hygiene standards across sites.
• Maintain and control quality documentation for the QMS.
• Analyze production samples against approved standards when needed.
• Oversee quality inspections and internal audits to GMP/BBQ, publish results.
• Plan and monitor quality tasks to meet customer expectations.

Job description

At Graphic Packaging International, we produce the paper cup that held your coffee this morning, the basket that transported those bottles of craft beer you enjoyed last weekend, and the microwave tray that heated your gourmet meal last night. We’re one of the largest manufacturers of paperboard and paper-based packaging for some of the world’s most recognized brands of food, beverage, foodservice, household, personal care and pet products. Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, we are collaborative, diverse, innovative individuals who create inspired packaging while giving back to our communities.

With over 25,000 employees working in more than 130 locations worldwide, we strive to be environmentally responsible in our industry and in the communities where we operate. We are committed to workplace diversity and offer compensation and benefits programs that are among the industry’s best to reward the talented people who make our company successful.

If this sounds like something you would like to be a part of, we’d love to hear from you.

A World of Difference. Made Possible.

We are looking for a proactive and detail-oriented Quality Leader to join our team. This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced quality professional to play a key role in maintaining the highest standards of quality, hygiene, and food safety across our manufacturing operations.

As Quality Leader, you will support quality assurance activities across two sites, ensure compliance with ISO9001, PS9000 and BRCGS standards, lead continuous improvement initiatives, and act as a key point of contact for quality-related matters throughout the business.

Key Responsibilities:

• Facilitate and support investigations for internal and external non -conformance with a RC and CAPA
• Support audits/visits by auditors and customers
• Act as first point of contact from the production area regarding quality matters.
• Promoting and enforcing good quality practises and hygiene standards.
• Control Quality documentation required for the QMS
• Be able to analysis production samples against approved standards when needed.
• Checking/sampling of finished goods pallets in the warehouse if needed.
• Support the site in containment of faulty material. When required support sorting activity.
• Conduct where appropriate, testing of raw material.
• Carry out internal audits to the standards - Monitor and maintain GMP/BBQ. G&P, Internal audit performance. Publish results, raise and manage non-conformances.
• Oversee and conduct quality inspection rounds during the designated shifts.
• Monitor performance and proactively plan tasks to meet customer expectations
• Administrate and direct everyday essential Quality assurance activities (QTs), complete personally where required.
• Perform other duties as directed by the Quality Manager, QM deputy.

What we're looking for

• Previous Quality Assurance experience within a manufacturing environment.
• Experience in food, packaging, print, or a similar regulated manufacturing industry.
• Internal and/or external auditing experience.
• Strong knowledge of quality management systems and global quality standards.
• Experience with Root Cause Analysis (RCA) and CAPA processes.
• Good working knowledge of Microsoft Office applications, particularly Excel, Word, and Outlook.
• Full UK driving license.

Personal Attributes:

• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Strong attention to detail and a quality-focused mindset.
• Ability to manage priorities and work independently with minimal supervision.
• Proactive, flexible, and solutions-oriented approach.
• Strong problem-solving skills and a continuous improvement mindset.