Quality Control Supervisor

Lower Hope Fruit Limited is a highly regarded division of the Lower Hope Farms group, located in Herefordshire. As a leading grower and packer of soft and stone fruits, supplying major supermarkets across the UK. With a focus on quality and efficiency, the fruit is packed on-site in a state‑of‑the‑art Grade A packhouse with modern packing lines and cold storage. Operating within a highly seasonal and dynamic industry, Lower Hope Fruit values innovation and welcomes like-minded, forward‑thinking individuals to join their team.

We are seeking a highly motivated and detail‑oriented Quality Control Supervisor to oversee our quality assurance processes. The ideal candidate will ensure that products meet the highest standards of safety, quality, and compliance. This role offers an excellent opportunity for individuals with strong analysis skills and knowledge of HACCP protocols to lead our quality assurance team and contribute to continuous improvement initiatives within our organisation.

This is a temp role.

• Ensure all products are packed to the highest standards.
• Cover the Technical Manager on weekends during the summer, making quality‑related decisions.
• Perform QC procedures, completing intake records, traceability documentation, and quality assessments.
• Provide comprehensive and effective administrative support to the Quality Control operations of the business.
• Respond to any issues arising regarding the overall quality of products at intake and online.
• Undertake relevant conformance checks on products.
• Ensure that all relevant documentation is completed in full, signed, and dated.
• Self‑manage the completion of daily, weekly, and monthly tasks to ensure accurate record‑keeping.
• Perform other QC duties, including SWD testing, refractometer and scale calibrations, and cold store checks, in line with the packhouse Quality Management System.
• Maintain shelf‑life records for fruit packed for retail customers, assessing quality and flagging any concerns.
• Gain an understanding of the packhouse production flow and the importance of fruit traceability.
• Participate in audits.
• Work with the Technical Manager to respond to queries from suppliers or customers.
• Maintain communication between the Technical and QC teams, relaying information to production.
• Ensure the Quality Management System is operating effectively and being upheld on the production floor.
• Uphold and improve Food Safety Management Systems, including HACCP.
• Organise QC rotas for each shift.
• Maintain training for the QC team across all QC procedures.
• Maintain and promote best site hygiene practices, ensuring the ‘clean as you go’ policy is in place and that the whole site meets the required standard.
• Promote and lead an ‘audit‑ready’ culture within the packhouse, ensuring policies are adhered to.

• Self‑motivated
• Excellent decision‑making skills to make critical quality judgements
• High level of attention to detail
• Accuracy of work
• Works well under pressure
• Good leadership skills
• Well organised and assertive – to ensure standards are upheld
• Drive, determination and flexibility
• Personable and able to drive change across the business without causing offence
• Experience with in a fresh produce or manufacturing setting desired