Product Quality & Compliance Manager

My job About the Role

We are looking for an experienced and motivated Product Quality & Compliance Manager to join our Technical team at our Spalding site. This is a pivotal role in ensuring that all products meet the highest standards of legality, food safety, quality and customer requirements while supporting continuous improvement and operational excellence. You will lead the site's Quality Auditors, build a strong food safety and quality culture, and work closely with both the Technical and Production teams to ensure products consistently meet specification.

You will champion an "audit ready" environment, drive root cause investigation, and support the site in delivering best‑in‑class standards.

• Ensure factory compliance with legality, food safety, quality, GMP and customer/export requirements.
• Act as the site expert for product quality and specification compliance.
• Lead teams to identify continuous improvement opportunities.
• Identify and recommend yield and value improvement initiatives.
• Embed and deliver an "audit ready" factory culture.
• Lead root cause analysis for complaints and non‑compliances.
• Coach and empower the Quality Auditor team to drive a strong food safety and quality culture.
• Maintain close, effective communication between Quality and Production teams.
• Ensure all unsafe, out‑of‑specification or substandard products/materials are held and assessed with the Technical team.
• Actively promote the principle that Quality & Food Safety is everyone's responsibility
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• Champion and promote a Food Safety & Quality Culture across the site.
• Lead during customer visits and third‑party audits.
• Ensure calibration and verification schedules are up to date and non-conforming equipment is controlled.
• Coordinate CCP validation and verification activities.
• Maintain control of non‑conforming materials through effective quarantine, corrective action and release processes.
• Oversee product monitoring and release through inspection, testing and organoleptic assessment.
• Be an active member of the internal audit team, ensuring start‑up checks, fabrication audits and glass/hard plastics audits are robust and effective.
• Use data and trend analysis to identify issues, drive root cause investigation and implement corrective actions, with escalation where appropriate.
• Support the implementation of new systems and technology across the site and wider group.
• Lead the Quality team and drive a proactive site Quality Improvement Plan.
• Develop the site product sampling schedule, ensuring compliance with legislation, customer COPs and product specifications.
• Identify cost reduction opportunities without compromising standards.
• Promote and maintain high standards of health & safety.
• Deputise for the Technical Manager when required.
• Work closely with Production to maximise yield while meeting product specification.
• Monitor QA team performance, empowering and engaging the team to deliver excellence.
• Contribute to delivery of the Technical Quality Pillar.
• Lead unannounced product quality inspections with the site management team.
• Lead analytical studies targeting process improvement and optimisation.
• Create a culture committed to the highest standards of food safety and quality, leading by example.
• Encourage staff to report any issues immediately, rewarding positive behaviours (e.g., STAR Awards) and ensuring visible follow‑up.
• Actively support the site Food Safety & Quality Management Systems via HACCP, audit programmes and QUOR utilisation.

• Strong knowledge of raw materials, products and manufacturing processes.
• Solid understanding of QMS, procedures and relevant systems.
• Highly practical, detail‑focused and factory‑based in approach.
• Degree/HND in Food Science or equivalent.
• Level 3 Food Safety.
• Level 3 HACCP and Lead Auditor qualification (ISO 9000 or 22000).
• Ability to work under pressure and manage multiple priorities.
• Clear and effective communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Production experience advantageous.
• Strong judgement, problem‑solving and decision‑making skills.

• Availability - Open, receptive and ready for new challenges.
• Humility - Willingness to…