QA Manager

Overview - To ensure the effective implementation, maintenance, and understanding of Belazu's Quality Management System (QMS) and HACCP protocols across the company. This role is crucial for safeguarding the quality, legality, and safety of all products, ensuring full compliance with BRC standards, and fostering a robust quality culture throughout the organisation. This role has 2 direct reports and will report to the Technical Manager., In this full-time role as a QA Manager, working alongside the QA and technical team, you will be responsible for:

• Quality and Compliance Management:
• Implement and manage quality systems to uphold all QMS and third-party certifications, including BRC standards.
• Ensure ongoing HACCP compliance and proper risk control, participating in the HACCP team and monitoring critical control points.
• Close out non-conformances by ensuring corrective actions are tracked and completed.
• Oversee document control to ensure all procedures and policies are current.
• 2. Production Support:
• Collaborate with Production to ensure quality and safety practices are integrated and followed.
• Receive complaints from the Technical Officer regarding production-related issues and conduct necessary investigations.
• Support New Product Development (NPD) by attending initial production runs to ensure standards are met.
• Product Quality Assurance: Ensure all products meet QAS and customer specifications through robust monitoring and compliance.
• 4. Systems & Process Improvement:
• Lead the QA team in implementing visual standards and quality assurance protocols.
• Manage micro schedules and testing, investigating deviations from standard results.
• Coordinate audits, calibrations, inspections, and swabs to maintain food safety.
• Oversee the on-hold/fail system for timely disposition and reporting of held stock.
• Actively contribute as a Lean Warrior to process improvements.
• Team Leadership: Lead and develop the QA team, fostering a performance-driven culture and identifying training needs.
• Budget & Resource Management: Manage the QA budget effectively, aligning resource allocations with business priorities.
• Expected Impact: Actively contribute to Health & Safety, Food Safety, and Environmental goals
  
  You have strong experience in a quality management role in food manufacturing.
• You have proven leadership experience in managing and developing QA teams.
• You are retailer focused - You have strongly contributed to the approval process from big retailers
• You have strong knowledge of QMS, HACCP, GMP, and food safety legislation.
• You have a comprehensive understanding of BRC standards and customer Codes of Practice.
• You have a degree in Food Science, Food Technology, Microbiology, or related field.
• You have Intermediate to advanced HACCP certification or BRC Auditor certification
• You have the ability to work both independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced environment
• You demonstrate our key behaviours - Honesty, Passion, Respect, Accountability, and Customer Success
This role may not be for you if:
• You prefer not to follow legislation, policy and procedure.
• You do not have familiarity with compliance and documentation software.
• You don't have a strong track record in cross-functional collaboration.
• You do not have strong understanding of food preservation and regulatory compliance
• You struggle with time management, reliability, deadlines, punctuality, or working effectively as part of a team
  
  This is a lovely opportunity to join a business with an impressive set of accreditations, from B Corp status to silver standard Investors in People and newly recognised in 2024 as a Sunday Times Best Place to Work. We are a diverse team with a shared set of professional goals and social values that drive a hugely satisfying working experience. Belazu has been a pioneer of supplying high quality, Middle Eastern and Mediterranean Ingredients within the UK's Foodservice for over 30 years. We are an innovative leader in our field, with an energetic and high performing working culture. We have ambitious plans to grow over the next 5 years and take great pride in the values that form the spine of our business.
  
  33 days annual (including 8 public holidays) per annum
• Auto-Enrolment Pension, plus an enhanced pension option
• Discretionary annual bonus scheme
• Learning and development opportunities
• Life assurance from day one
• Cycle to work scheme
• Employee benefits portal with retail discounts, EAP and GP services and financial support tools
• Volunteer days
• Free parking on site
• Up to 40% discount on Company products
• Socials and internal awards
• Subsidised Canteen
Terms
• 40 hrs/week i.e 09.00 - 17.30 or 07.00 - 15:30 Mon-Fri - (Flexibility on start and finish times)
• This role is 100% onsite.
• Probationary period 3 months
• Annual salary review (our 'movers and shakers' are always rewarded)
• 10% KPI related bonus based around challenging but achievable tasks related to the role
Thanks for reading our job advert. We do our very best to bring to life what it†s like working as part of our team. Diverse teams really are the best teams. We want everyone to feel they can be themselves at work and develop their talents to the full. All colleagues are expected to take personal responsibility for keeping our workplace free from discrimination, harassment, and bullying - a place where everyone is treated fairly and respectfully.