Supplier Quality Technologist

The People Co. / Assure Jobs; Essex; On-site; GBP 38,000 - 48,000; Full time

Job summary

The People Co. / Assure Jobs is seeking a Supplier Quality Technologist to own a portfolio of suppliers and materials, ensuring compliance with strict food safety, quality and regulatory standards.

You will collaborate with Procurement, Regulatory Affairs, Operations, Quality and NPD teams to protect consumers, support supply continuity and promote continuous improvement across the supplier network.

Qualifications

• Experience in a food manufacturing environment with GFSI standards (BRCGS/IFS/SQF/FSSC 22000).
• Strong HACCP knowledge and supplier quality management experience.
• Auditing suppliers and manufacturing facilities experience.
• Proven track record with supplier corrective action processes.

Responsibilities

• Manage an assigned supplier category and drive quality across materials/services.
• Ensure compliance with food safety, regulatory and internal quality requirements.
• Conduct supplier/material risk assessments, audits, testing and verification activities.
• Maintain supplier quality and regulatory due diligence documentation.
• Monitor supplier performance and drive continuous improvement.
• Lead supplier audits, performance reviews, investigations and CAPA.
• Support containment and corrective action plans to minimise risk.

Skills

Analytical skills

Communication

Problem-solving

Stakeholder management

Education

Degree in Food Science, Chemistry, Biology or Microbiology

Job description

Are you passionate about food safety, supplier quality and driving high standards across complex supply chains?

Role Overview

We are recruiting for an exciting Supplier Quality Technologist opportunity with a leading international food manufacturer. This role sits at the heart of supplier quality assurance, taking ownership of a designated portfolio of raw materials, ingredients, packaging or service suppliers to ensure compliance with stringent food safety, quality and regulatory requirements.

Working closely with Procurement, Regulatory Affairs, Operations, Quality and New Product Development teams, you'll play a critical role in protecting consumers, supporting supply continuity and driving continuous improvement throughout the supplier network.

Key Accountabilities

• Manage and develop an assigned category of suppliers, ingredients, raw materials, packaging or services.
• Ensure supplier and material compliance with food safety, regulatory, customer and internal quality requirements.
• Conduct supplier and material risk assessments, implementing appropriate auditing, testing and verification activities.
• Maintain supplier quality and regulatory due diligence documentation.
• Monitor supplier performance, identifying trends, risks and opportunities for continuous improvement.
• Partner with Regulatory Affairs, R&D, Operations, Procurement and NPD teams throughout the product lifecycle.
• Lead supplier audits, performance reviews, investigations and escalation meetings.
• Manage supplier corrective action programmes and investigate quality incidents, non-conformances and food safety concerns.
• Support the implementation of robust containment and corrective action plans to minimise risk and improve supplier performance.

People Profile

To be successful in this position, you will ideally bring:

• Experience within a food manufacturing environment operating to recognised GFSI standards such as BRCGS, IFS, SQF or FSSC 22000.
• Strong understanding of HACCP, food safety and supplier quality management systems.
• Experience conducting audits of suppliers and manufacturing facilities.
• Proven experience using quality assurance systems and supplier corrective action processes.
• The ability to work independently, influence stakeholders and deliver results within defined authority levels.
• A degree in Food Science, Chemistry, Biology, Microbiology or a related scientific discipline.
• Exposure to FSMA, FSVP, PCQI and Lead Auditor principles would be highly advantageous.
• Excellent analytical, communication, problem-solving and stakeholder management skills.
• A continuous improvement mindset with the ability to identify, assess and mitigate supplier risk.

This is an outstanding opportunity for a quality professional looking to further develop their career within a highly respected international food business, where you'll have genuine influence over supplier performance, food safety standards and business continuity. Dive into a varied and rewarding role that combines technical expertise, supplier engagement and continuous improvement on a global scale.

We regret we cannot offer visa sponsorship and can only consider candidates who hold right to work in the UK.