Our client is a leading global supplier of ingredients and premix manufacturing solutions to the Food, Beverage and Nutrition industries is seeking an experienced Assistant Quality Manager for their office in Kent. This individual will direct the implementation of corporate and site policies and strategies with regard to quality and regulatory matters, ensuring that systems are implemented and in compliance with internal and external Food Safety Standards. The key responsibilities will be:

• Ensure required certification for business operations as required throughout the company are met.
• Leads and manage all certification, customer and third-party audits including but not limited to (FSSC, NSF- GMP, Informed Manufacturer, RSPO etc)
• Serve as key quality and food safety business partner for Sales, Manufacturing, and Research and Development ensuring business success by solving production and product quality issues.
• Ensure quality system strategy contributes to the organization through risk reduction and cost saving.
• Collaborate with manufacturing partners to drive continuous improvement programs and compliance with customer and regulatory requirements.
• Prepare quality documentation and reports by collecting, analyzing, and summarizing information and trends including failed processes, stability studies, mock recalls, corrective actions, and re-evaluations.
• Provides support, coaching and training to all employees in aspects of the company food safety and quality program.
• Provide quality & food safety leadership and input into product and process development activities. Work with plant and research personnel to ensure product consistency.
• Manage Root Cause, Corrective, Preventive Action, Risk-Based thinking implementation
• Monitor trends and emerging issues within the quality & food safety business environments to keep informed, involved and on the leading edge of such issues.
• Lead and manage HACCP/TACCP/VACCP for the site
• Serve in crisis management, food defense and HACCP role for quality & food safety issues and recalls/withdrawals.
• Facilitate, monitor and manage product controls, incident, hold, quarantine, internal non-conformances, allergens, rework and rejected products, and customer complaints.
• Conduct Preventive Control and other general food safety audits through GMP implementation
• Monitor hygiene standards, pest control programs and the plant prerequisite programs to ensure compliance with all required GFSI and regulatory standards.
• Assist with driving Quality strategy and improvements that focus on processes that have significant financial customer impact.
• Develop and monitor metrics/scorecards to drive productivity and performance within the team.
• Drive consistency and accountability for error corrections across departments
• Resource for commissioning qualification and verification of changes made to the processes and equipment associated with production and quality.
• Identify risks and develop risk mitigation techniques, identify, track, prioritize and drive resolutions of issues and work to address and mitigate issues.
• Review existing policies and planning how to improve the QFMS
• Make sure that policies and procedures meet national and international quality standards
• Provide quality advice and decision in relation to deviations, non-conformances, recalls, crisis and other non-standard events for the site
• Issue monthly summaries of quality KPI’s and issues (NC, CAP etc)
• Measure performance against in-house and external standards - promote internal audit program
• Keeps management team abreast of significant issues or developments identified during quality assurance activities and actions being taken to improve the situation.
• Promote corrective and preventative measures towards continuous improvement for the site
• Gatekeeper for change management processes
• Applies statistical process control (SPC) methods for analysing data to evaluate the current process and process changes.
• Assist in managing Quality department budget
• Provide Quality input where required for site Standard Operating Procedures (SOP’s)

Supervisory Responsibilities:

Will oversee quality technicians, scheduling and coordination their work load. Escalate to Head of Quality for any product quality issues that arise.

Qualifications

Required Education and/or Experience:

Relevant Chemical or Food science degree

A minimum of 5 years of previous quality control/ Quality assurance/quality inspector experience preferably with food/ingredient/ supplement manufacturing company.

Required Skills/Abilities:

• Previous experience in Quality, Food, or Laboratory settings
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail
• Excellent time management skills with a proven ability to meet deadlines
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Ability to prioritize tasks and communicate timely and effectively on issues
• Ability to function well in a high-paced and at times stressful environment
• Familiarity or general aptitude for ERP and LIMS systems is preferred
• A high level of business English is essential for this role