Trainee Lead Auditor

Saria Limited; Doncaster; Hybrid; GBP 20,000 - 25,000; Full time

Job summary

SARIA Ltd in Doncaster is seeking a Trainee Lead Auditor to join our Quality & Compliance team. You will embark on a structured two-year audit training programme, gaining hands-on experience across sites, suppliers and management systems while working towards progression into a Lead Auditor role.

No prior auditing experience is required; the right attitude, curiosity and willingness to learn are valued.

Qualifications

• GCSEs at grades A–C are required.
• A-Level education or equivalent or demonstrable experience.
• Excellent communication and organisational skills.
• Ability to work with people at all levels.
• Proactive learning and development mindset.
• Ability to analyse information and make sound decisions.

Responsibilities

• Carry out audits across GMP, hygiene, fabrication and FSMS.
• Assist in internal audits of QMS and FSMS and supplier audits.
• Support traceability exercises and mass balance reviews.
• Contribute to non-conformance closure and corrective actions.
• Support staff training and development programs.

Skills

Self-motivated

Confident communicator

Highly organised

Analytical

Travel flexibility

Education

A-Level or equivalent

Job description

Trainee Lead Auditor

SARIA Ltd | Doncaster | £Competitive plus Company benefits | Full-time

Ready to build a career in quality, compliance, and auditing?

SARIA Ltd is looking for a Trainee Lead Auditor to join our Quality & Compliance team in Doncaster.

This is an exciting opportunity for someone who is organised, analytical and keen to develop a career in auditing. You will join a structured two-year audit training programme, gaining practical experience across our sites, suppliers and management systems while working towards progression into a Lead Auditor role.

You do not need to be an experienced auditor already — we are looking for someone with the right attitude, curiosity, and willingness to learn.

What You will Be Doing

As a Trainee Lead Auditor, you will gain hands‑on experience across a wide range of quality, food safety, regulatory, health & safety and environmental activities.

Your role will include:

• Carrying out GMP, hygiene and fabrication audits.
• Completing monthly internal audits of our Food Safety Management System (FSMS) and Quality Management System (QMS).
• Conducting laboratory audits, including method witness audits and sample traceability.
• Completing traceability exercises, including mass balance.
• Supporting supplier approval audits, desktop audits, and supplier information requirements.
• Undertaking external supplier audits covering areas such as abattoirs, storage facilities, and service providers.
• Completing gap analysis audits against standards including ISO 9001, FSSC, BRC, ISO 17025, FEMAS and PAS 110.
• Supporting Health & Safety and environmental audits as part of your development.
• Helping sites close out non‑conformances identified during external audits.
• Supporting staff training where required.
• Completing a structured programme of internal training, external courses, and development objectives.

You will work closely with Site Managers, Quality teams, Laboratory staff, Group Health & Safety, customers, and suppliers, giving you broad exposure to the business and the opportunity to build valuable professional relationships.

Your Development

This role is designed as a genuine career development opportunity.

Over the two‑year training programme, you will develop your knowledge and practical experience in:

Quality → Food Safety → Auditing → Compliance → Leadership

You will gain exposure to multiple standards, systems, and operational environments, building the skills and confidence needed to progress towards a Lead Auditor position.

What We are Looking For

We are looking for someone who is:

• Self‑motivated and keen to develop their skills and knowledge.
• A confident communicator who can work effectively with everyone from operators to senior management.
• Highly organised and able to manage competing priorities.
• Analytical, with the ability to gather information from different sources and make sound decisions.
• Comfortable working to deadlines and adapting to changing priorities.
• Flexible regarding working hours and travel to other SARIA sites.

Essential

• 5 GCSEs at grades A–C*
• A-Level education or equivalent demonstrable experience.
• Excellent communication and organisational skills.
• Ability to work effectively with people at all levels.
• A proactive approach to learning and development.
• Ability to analyse information and make decisions using your own judgement.

Desirable

• Food Safety Level 2.
• Knowledge of HACCP, auditing, legal requirements, traceability, and audit trails.
• Experience within a quality environment.
• Experience of participating in or conducting audits.
• Knowledge or awareness of Health & Safety and environmental standards.

The Details

Job title: Trainee Lead Auditor
Location: SARIA Ltd, Doncaster
Reporting to: Head of Quality & Compliance
Hours: Monday–Friday, 40 hours per week
Travel: Required to other SARIA sites as necessary

Why This Role?

If you are looking for more than just your next job, this is an opportunity to build a specialist career.

You will receive structured training, gain experience across multiple areas of quality and compliance, work with experienced professionals and develop the practical skills required to become a Lead Auditor.

If you are ambitious, analytical, and ready to take the next step in your career, we would like to hear from you.