Quality Technician

Production & Quality Technician

Location: Vanilla Etc Ltd, Unit 6 Oakwood Business Park, Royd Way, Keighley, West Yorkshire, BD21 3EQ

We are looking for a Production & Quality Technician to join our small, growing team.

This is a hands-on, technical role that combines:

• Practical production work
• Food safety, quality, and BRCGS compliance responsibility

This is:

• Not a basic pick-and-pack or warehouse role
• Not a purely desk-based QA role
• A role for someone who wants to be on the floor, involved, and accountable

You will work closely with the Production Director and Technical Director to ensure our products are made, checked, cleaned, tested, documented, and delivered to the highest standards.

As the business grows, there is genuine potential for this role to evolve into a more dedicated technical/QA position — but initially, it is deliberately broad and hands-on.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Assisting with internal BRCGS audits
• Verifying and signing off quality and food safety records
• Managing environmental swabbing, microbiological and product testing
• Supporting external audits, traceability exercises and customer supplier questionnaires
• Investigating quality issues and implementing corrective actions
• Managing staff training and audit readiness at all times

• Supporting production: filling, labelling, packing and order preparation
• Maintaining exceptionally high hygiene and cleaning standards
• Assisting with picking, packing, and dispatch
• Helping wherever needed in a small, fast-moving operation

This role is physically demanding
.

You will be:

• On your feet for much of the day
• Lifting and moving heavy materials regularly
• Working in a production environment where stamina and consistency matter

If you are not comfortable with physical work as part of your role, this position will not be suitable.

There is a significant amount of upfront training
, particularly around:

• BRCGS systems and compliance
• Internal processes and verification
• Production methods and standards

This requires focus, patience, and resilience
. It is not an “easy start” — but it is extremely rewarding for the right person.

This role suits someone who:

• Has hands-on experience in a BRCGS-compliant food manufacturing environment
• Has carried out internal audits and understands compliance evidence
• Enjoys combining production work with technical responsibility
• Takes pride in detail, consistency, and doing things properly
• Is a team player who communicates well and supports others
• Wants responsibility and ownership, not just tasks
• Thrives in a small, family-run business where their work genuinely matters

Please do not apply if:

• You’re looking for a basic warehouse or pick-and-pack role
• You want a purely desk-based QA position
• You are heavily academic and not interested in hands-on production work
• You are not comfortable with physical work
• You do not have experience with food safety or BRCGS environments

Being honest here saves everyone time — including yours.

• Key Responsibilities
• Quality & Technical
• Maintain accurate, complete, and audit-ready quality and food safety documentation
• Ensure compliance with BRCGS Standard 9, HACCP, and all relevant food safety legislation
• Manage environmental swabbing, microbiological testing, and product testing schedules
• Investigate customer complaints, identify root causes, and implement corrective and preventive actions
• Complete cleaning verification checks and ensure all other daily records are signed off, including CCP records
• Support internal and external audits, customer visits, traceability exercises, and supplier questionnaires
• Maintain staff training records and ensure refresher training is completed and documented
• Support continuous improvement and audit-readiness initiatives
• Production & Operations
• Support the production team with manufacturing activities, including filling, labelling, and packing
• Assist with picking and packing customer orders for dispatch
• Maintain a clean, organised, and food-safe working environment
• Be flexible and willing to support a variety of tasks as required by the…