Senior Quality Manager

Morson Talent; England; Hybrid; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading recruitment agency is seeking a Senior Quality Manager to oversee and enhance their Quality Management System in Northwich. The candidate will manage QA functions, ensure compliance with industry standards, and provide quality assurance across multiple sites. The role emphasizes strong leadership, stakeholder engagement, and adherence to relevant statutory requirements. A competitive salary, hybrid working, and generous benefits package are offered.

Benefits

37 days holidays per year

Pension scheme with up to 9% contribution

Life insurance

Private healthcare

Support for professional fees

Paid volunteer day

Qualifications

• Proven leadership in quality and laboratory management across multiple sites.
• Experience in Food and Pharma sectors.
• Hands-on expertise in external audits and quality systems.

Responsibilities

• Manage QA and laboratories functions, aligning with company strategy.
• Lead quality audits and ensure compliance with standards.
• Provide reports on quality to stakeholders.

Skills

Leadership

Data analysis

Quality management

Knowledge of GMP, ISO standards

Stakeholder engagement

HACCP experience

Communication skills

Education

Degree in relevant field

Certified external auditor

Job description

Overview

Senior Quality Manager – Permanent Position
Location: Northwich
Industry: Pharmaceutical / Food Laboratories & Manufacturing
Salary: Negotiable

As the guardian of the customer, in the role of Senior Quality Manager you'll shape and drive our Quality Management System (QMS), ensuring it not only meets but exceeds expectations. From maintaining accreditations to leading audits and driving continuous improvement, this is a hands-on leadership role that blends strategic vision with operational impact. As important are the relationships you forge with key stakeholders across our business.

Responsibilities

• Manage the QA and laboratories functions, which includes teams based on various sites to ensure that objectives and KPIs of the QMS are aligned with the company strategy.
• Engage with all levels of the business including the Board.
• Provide reports to the business on quality via routes such as Management Review and Monthly Quality meetings to ensure that all stakeholders are kept informed of trends and challenges, and that the business can make decisions effectively and efficiently.
• Manage all budgets and cost centres for activities relating to quality assurance, quality control/ testing and compliance.
• Be the Quality lead for all NPD and R&D
• Plan and co-ordinate the quality audit programme including taking the lead in receiving external audits (corporate, regulatory and customer) and making sure that an adequate internal/ supplier audit schedule is deployed. Provide responses to audit reports and ensure timely implementation of CAPAs and action lists where required.
• Ensure that all laboratory activities meet statutory, business and customer requirements (e.g. including COSHH, risk assessments, safety and housekeeping standards etc) and that all product is within specification, including managing the batch release process.
• Provide support, guidance and training on matters relating to QA, QC and compliance to stakeholders within the organisation, including teams in operations, engineering, sales and marketing and procurement.
• Lead on investigations into quality critical events such as customer complaints, deviations, recalls/withdrawals and audit findings, working closely with manufacturing/engineering/commercial teams to identify and correct issues.
• Develop KPIs, systems and processes to report and act on quality performance trends. Analyse and benchmark performance to identify areas for improvement in line with business priorities.
• Ensure all current legislation is being adhered to and staying up to date with all legislative changes to ensure these are incorporated into existing systems.
• Provide Quality input into customer and supplier onboarding processes, and customer audit processes.
• Prepare and present QMS data to key stakeholders as required by external accreditations and the SHEQ governance procedures.

What sort of person are we looking for?

• An engaging and personable individual who is equally comfortable delivering positive and challenging messages.
• Calm, confident, and solution-focused.
• Proven leadership in quality and laboratory management, ideally across multiple manufacturing sites.
• Experience in the Food and Pharma sectors, with knowledge of standards like GMP (ICHQ7), BRC, ISO 22000, Halal, Kosher, UFAS, knowledge of ISO 9001 and ideally integrated management systems such as ISO 45001.
• Hands-on expertise in external audits, certification bodies, and quality systems.
• Strong data analysis and IT skills, with the ability to present at board level.
• HACCP & GMP experience is essential.
• Certified external auditor.
• Knowledge of ISO 14001 and ISO 17025 would be advantageous.

Job Benefits

• 37 days holidays per year, inclusive of Bank Holidays
• Roll over of up to 5 days and salary sacrifice additional holiday purchase scheme
• an additional paid day off each year to volunteer for a good cause in the local community
• Excellent contributory Pension scheme up to 9% company contribution
• Life insurance
• Private Healthcare
• Support for professional fees
• A degree of hybrid working will be available to the right candidate, recognising that site presence is critical to the success of this role.