Quality Assurance Manager

Vickerstock; IJmuiden; On-site; EUR 80,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

€85,000 gross per year

39-hour week + ATV accrual

25 days annual leave

Management Team role

International exposure

Ownership culture

Job summary

Vickerstock is recruiting for an experienced Site Quality Manager in IJmuiden, The Netherlands. You will own the Food Safety and Quality agenda, ensuring products meet regulatory, customer and group standards while fostering a culture of quality across the operation.

You will lead a four-person Quality team and collaborate with Production, Engineering and Supply Chain, reporting to the Site General Manager with a dotted line to Group Food Safety & Compliance. Fluent English is essential.

Qualifications

• BSc or MSc in Food Science or comparable discipline.
• 3+ years in a Quality Management role within manufacturing.
• Proven hands-on with BRCGS and IFS certification.
• Strong knowledge of HACCP, GMP and food safety management systems.
• Experience dealing with customers, auditors and regulatory bodies.

Responsibilities

• Develop, implement and maintain the Site Food Safety & Quality Management System.
• Ensure ongoing compliance with BRCGS, IFS, legislation, customer requirements and Group standards.
• Lead the site's HACCP and GMP programmes.
• Manage internal and external audit programmes, from prep through corrective action.
• Act as the primary quality interface for customers, regulatory authorities and certification bodies.
• Lead root cause analysis and ensure CAPAs deliver improvements.
• Monitor quality trends and KPIs using data to identify risks and opportunities.
• Cross-functionally work with Production, Engineering and Supply Chain to resolve issues.
• Advise Site Leadership on quality considerations for projects and changes.
• Drive continuous improvement and embed a proactive quality culture.
• Lead and develop the Quality team with clear accountability.

Skills

Quality leadership

Communication

Influencing

Problem solving

Cross-functional collaboration

Auditing

Education

BSc or MSc in Food Science

Job description

IJmuiden, The Netherlands | Full-time leadership role

Our client is an international manufacturer of premium pet food, supplying leading UK and European retailers. Operating in a fast-paced manufacturing environment, food safety, product quality and customer expectations are at the heart of the business.

We are now looking for an experienced and confident Site Quality Manager to join the leadership team at the IJmuiden site.

This is an opportunity for a quality professional who wants more than simply managing a QMS. You’ll have a genuine voice at site level, influence operational and strategic decisions, lead a dedicated Quality team and work closely with colleagues across the wider European business.

The Role

As Site Quality Manager, you will take overall ownership of the Food Safety and Quality agenda for the IJmuiden site.

You’ll ensure products consistently meet the highest regulatory, customer and group standards, while building a culture where quality is owned across the entire operation — not just within the Quality department.

You’ll lead a team of four Quality professionals, working closely with Production, Engineering, Supply Chain and the international Group Food Safety & Compliance function.

Reporting directly to the Site General Manager, with a dotted line to the Group Head of Food Safety & Compliance, you’ll be a key member of the local Management Team.

You’ll also act as the primary quality interface for customers, regulatory authorities and certification bodies, giving this role significant visibility both internally and externally.

What You'll Be Doing

• Develop, implement and maintain the Site Food Safety & Quality Management System.
• Ensure ongoing compliance with BRCGS, IFS, legislation, customer requirements and Group standards.
• Lead the site's HACCP and GMP programmes.
• Manage internal and external audit programmes, from preparation through to corrective action and close-out.
• Act as the key point of contact for customers regarding quality queries, complaints, investigations and reporting.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with certification bodies and regulatory authorities, including the NVWA.
• Lead root cause analysis and ensure corrective and preventative actions deliver sustainable improvements.
• Monitor quality trends, KPIs and performance, using data to identify risks and opportunities.
• Work cross-functionally with Production, Engineering and Supply Chain to resolve issues and improve standards.
• Advise the Site Leadership Team on quality considerations relating to projects, investments, Management of Change, product quality and value engineering.
• Drive continuous improvement across the site and embed a proactive quality culture.
• Lead, coach and develop the Quality team, creating clear accountability and high standards of performance.
• Provide clear and commercially relevant quality reporting to site and Group leadership.

What Will Make You Successful

We’re looking for someone who can operate comfortably at both strategic and operational level.

You’ll be a hands‑on quality leader who can walk the factory floor, challenge standards when necessary, investigate a root cause and then confidently present recommendations to the Site Leadership Team.

You’ll ideally bring:

• A BSc or MSc in Food Science or a comparable discipline.
• At least 3 years' experience in a Quality Management role within manufacturing.
• Proven hands‑on experience with BRCGS and IFS certification.
• Strong knowledge of HACCP, GMP and food safety management systems.
• Experience dealing directly with customers, auditors and regulatory bodies.
• Experience within food manufacturing; pet food or FMCG experience would be advantageous.
• Experience working with UK retailers would be beneficial.
• Strong leadership and people‑development capability.
• Excellent communication and influencing skills.
• A pragmatic, proactive and results‑driven approach.
• The confidence to challenge, make decisions and take ownership.
• Fluent English; Dutch language skills would be an advantage.

What It's Like to Work Here

The IJmuiden site is part of an international organisation, creating a genuinely European working environment while maintaining a straightforward, practical approach.

You’ll work with colleagues across the Netherlands, Ireland and the UK, with collaboration across borders forming an important part of everyday life.

The culture is built around clear accountability, practical solutions and getting things done.

You’ll be visible across the operation, working alongside different functions, solving problems and helping shape how the site operates.

Your Impact

In the first few months, you'll get under the skin of the site — understanding the operation, the people, the risks, the customer requirements and the opportunities for improvement.

You'll then be expected to build on that knowledge by strengthening systems, developing your team, improving quality performance and embedding a culture of ownership across the wider site.

Longer term, you'll play a key role in shaping the site's quality strategy, supporting investment and growth, and ensuring the site continues to deliver against the expectations of some of Europe's leading retailers.

What We Offer

• €85,000 gross per year, including holiday allowance.
• 39-hour employment contract with 2 hours ATV accrued, resulting in an average working week of 37 hours.
• 25 days' annual leave.
• Membership of the local Management Team, with genuine influence over site strategy and direction.
• An international role with exposure to UK and European customers and stakeholders.
• The opportunity to lead and develop an established Quality team.
• A business where quality has real visibility at senior leadership level.
• An environment where ownership, trust, expertise and practical thinking are genuinely valued.

Ready to Make an Impact?

If you’re an experienced Quality Manager who wants to take ownership of the quality agenda, lead from the front and have a genuine influence on the direction of a manufacturing site, this could be an excellent next step.

We’re looking for someone who combines technical quality expertise with strong leadership, commercial awareness and a practical approach.

If that sounds like you, we’d love to hear from you.