Senior QA Auditor

Zest Recruitment; Coventry; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a leading food manufacturing business as a Senior QA, responsible for maintaining quality standards and conducting inspections. This key role involves working closely with production teams to uphold food safety and product integrity while driving continuous improvement. Ideal for experienced QA professionals ready for the next step in their career.

Qualifications

• Experience in QA within food manufacturing, ideally chilled or ambient FMCG.
• Confident in auditing and understanding QMS and food legislation.

Responsibilities

• Conduct product quality checks and audits, ensuring compliance with standards.
• Investigate quality incidents and manage product release and quarantine processes.

Skills

Auditing skills

Problem-solving

Education

Food-related qualification

HACCP Level 3

Food Safety Level 3

Tools

Excel

Word

SAP

LIMS

Job description

We're recruiting on behalf of a well-established and growing food manufacturing business that supplies high-quality products to some of the UK's best-known food businesses. Due to ongoing investment and site development, we are looking for a Senior QA to join their technical team.

This is an excellent opportunity for a quality-focused individual ready to take the next step - ideal for someone operating at a Senior QA Auditor or near a QA Team Leader level but not currently managing a team. You'll act as a key technical point of contact on shift, supporting production teams and upholding food safety, product integrity, and quality standards across site.

This factory-focused role (approx. 70% factory / 30% office-based) will see you taking ownership of daily QA activities, conducting inspections and audits, resolving quality issues, and contributing to customer standards compliance. You'll work closely with QA leadership, but be trusted to act independently, using your experience to make decisions and lead investigations where needed.

Key Responsibilities
* Carry out product quality checks, QDA sessions, and end-of-life assessments.
* Monitor compliance with food safety and quality standards, specifications, and procedures.
* Conduct GMP, hygiene, and traceability audits, including follow-up of actions.
* Investigate and report on customer complaints, non-conformances, and quality incidents.
* Manage product release and quarantine processes in SAP.
* Complete swabbing, sampling, label and specification checks, and equipment calibration.
* Support audit readiness for BRC, customer, and internal standards.
* Generate reports on quality metrics and drive continuous improvement.
* Train and support production colleagues on quality and food safety practices.

What You'll Need:
Qualifications:
* Food-related qualification or relevant experience.
* HACCP Level 3 and Food Safety Level 3 (essential).
* Internal Auditor training (desirable).
* Root Cause Analysis training (preferred but not essential).

Experience:
* Significant QA experience within food manufacturing, ideally chilled or ambient FMCG.
* Confident auditing skills and a good understanding of QMS and food legislation.
* Experience working with specifications, traceability systems, and problem-solving tools.
* Comfortable using systems such as Excel, Word, SAP, and LIMS.

This role is not eligible for sponsorship. Candidates must have full right to work in the UK with no current or future restrictions.

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