Your new companyWe are seeking an experienced Head of Quality Assurance to lead the quality, technical and hygiene agenda for a global food manufacturing business. As a key member of the Site Leadership Team, the role will help shape site strategy, operational priorities and performance, ensuring that food safety and quality are embedded in every decision. Working closely with Operations, Engineering and Production, the successful candidate will ensure that products, processes and manufacturing activities consistently meet legal, customer, food safety and company requirements.Your new roleYou will lead a team of 30 direct reports, set the quality strategy, strengthen standards across the organisation and build a proactive culture of food safety, compliance and continuous improvement.Develop and deliver the global quality assurance strategy in line with business objectives, regulatory obligations and customer expectations.Lead, coach and develop a team of 30 direct reports across the quality, technical and hygiene functions, setting clear priorities, standards, accountabilities and performance expectations.Maintain robust food safety and quality management systems across all relevant manufacturing operations.Ensure effective implementation, verification and continuous improvement of HACCP plans, prerequisite programmes and risk-based controls.Provide expert leadership on recognised food safety standards and certification requirements, including BRCGS, IFS, FSSC 22000, ISO 22000 or equivalent schemes.Ensure compliance with applicable food legislation, labelling requirements, customer codes of practice and internal policies across international markets.Establish consistent standards for hygiene, sanitation, environmental monitoring, allergen management, foreign-body control, traceability and product release.Lead internal, customer, regulatory and third-party audit programmes, ensuring timely and sustainable closure of corrective actions.Define and monitor quality, food safety, technical and hygiene KPIs, reporting risks, trends and improvement priorities to the executive team.
What you’ll need to succeedWe are seeking a candidate with significant senior Quality Assurance or technical leadership experience within food manufacturing, ideally in a complex, multi-site or global organisation. Comprehensive knowledge of food safety legislation, recognised food safety standards and retailer or customer requirements and strong practical expertise in HACCP, risk assessment, food safety management systems and audit management. You must have proven experience in leading quality, technical and hygiene functions and developing capable, engaged teams. Sound knowledge of microbiological, chemical, allergen and physical food safety risks and the controls required to manage them. With experience of managing serious incidents, product withdrawals or recalls and communicating effectively with senior stakeholders, customers and authorities.Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to use data to prioritise risk and drive measurable improvement, and excellent influencing, communication and stakeholder-management skills across operational and executive environments.
What you’ll get in returnAn attractive package, with a strong base salary, annual car allowance of £7500, 25% annual bonus, private family healthcare, 6% pension contributions, sick pay scheme, 33 days annual leave and staff discount schemes.What you need to do now
If you’re interested in this role, click ‘apply now’ to forward an up-to-date copy of your CV, or call us now.If this job isn’t quite right for you, but you are looking for a new position, please contact us for a confidential discussion about your career.Hays EA is a trading division of Hays Specialist Recruitment Limited and acts as an employment agency for permanent recruitment and employment business for the supply of temporary workers. By applying for this job you accept the T&C’s, Privacy Policy and Disclaimers which can be found at hays.co.uk
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