Quality Assurance Auditor & Advisor in Preston

Are you passionate about maintaining high standards and ensuring compliance? Do you have an eye for detail and a proactive approach to problem-solving? If so, we would love to hear from you! APHA is a brilliant place to work where our people feel valued, have a voice and can be their authentic selves. We value difference and diversity, because it helps us be more innovative and make better decisions. We are dedicated to being an inclusive employer, offering equitable opportunities for all individuals. Our goal is to build a diverse workforce, and we hope to attract applications from all backgrounds and underrepresented groups.

As a Quality Assurance Auditor and Advisor, you will be key in supporting APHA’s accreditations, certifications, and regulatory compliance. This role will be focused on the work undertaken by the Agency’s operational teams within the Animal and Plant Delivery Services Directorate, which includes plant health, bee health and animal health business areas. Your work will support the Agency’s Sustainable Futures Strategy by helping to build and maintain a consistent quality framework across work in four main areas: ISO 17025 (testing laboratories), ISO 17020 (inspection work), ISO 9001 (corporate management system) and GxP (Good Practice across Manufacturing (GMP), Laboratory (GLP), Distribution (GDP) and Pharmacovigilance (GPhV).

Working with business area leads, you will plan and deliver quality assurance audits, review non-conformances and procedural documentation, and raise findings in line with relevant standards, Agency Procedures and work area specific documentation. You will also promote the use of the Agency’s digital quality management system (Ideagen Quality Management) to ensure visibility of audit findings, non-conformances and complaints across work areas. This role also requires engagement with stakeholders across the Agency to promote positive engagement with quality management systems to support excellent performance and conformance with the required standards. It is a key requirement to provide advice and support to the business areas when required, particularly in relation to extension of accreditation scope or quality system.

The auditor will work with colleagues within Quality Services to build a consistent quality framework across the Agency that supports a ‘One APHA’ approach by assisting to promote strong quality good practice across the various accreditations, certifications and regulatory compliance held by the Agency. This post will require some travel around the Agency’s locations with some overnight stays.

The role involves a wide range of work including, but not limited to, the following:

• Internal Audits: Plan and deliver quality assurance audits, review non-conformances, and procedural documentation.
• External Audits: Assist in the management of external audits and delivery of training/briefings/staff forums to ensure best practice and opportunities for improvement are shared.
• Monitoring/Performance/Non-conformances: Monitor and compile quarterly returns on quality assurance checks/internal audits/non-conforming work completed for Quality Service reporting to the various governance meetings.
• Risk Management: Identify risks and opportunities, advising on necessary actions to support a consistent quality framework.
• Advisory Role: Provide advice and support for accreditation scope extensions, quality system improvements and change control.
• Documentation: Review Agency documentation and produce quality-related documentation.
• Management Reviews: Engage with the management review process for specific work areas. Review annual submissions and present to senior management.
• Training and Guidance: Offer training and guidance to staff on quality assurance matters.
• Engagement: Promote positive engagement with the implementation and use of the Agency’s electronic quality management system.

We are looking for candidates who can demonstrate the following skills and experience:

• Proven knowledge and experience of quality standards and internal quality auditing.
• Trained internal auditor or be willing to undertake specialist training and development as an internal auditor.
• Strong analytical skills with excellent attention to detail, able to quickly identify key issues, evaluate information and present findings in clear, concise reports.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to engage and influence stakeholders at all levels of the organisation, including senior management.
• Strong knowledge and use of Microsoft Office, including Outlook, Word, and Excel.
• Highly organised and able to work independently using sound judgement to prioritise tasks, manage competing demands and deliver work at pace.
• Proactive and adaptable in approach, able to challenge constructively, suggest improvements and support continuous improvement in ways of working.
• An understanding of the type of operational fieldwork undertaken by the Agency, particularly in relation to animal health work areas.

Alongside your salary of £34,765, Animal and Plant Health Agency contributes £10,071 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Further benefits offered also include:

• A minimum of 25 days of paid annual leave, increasing by 1 day per year up to a maximum of 30.
• An extensive range of learning & professional development opportunities tailored to your role.
• Access to a range of retail, travel and lifestyle employee discounts.
• Staff bonuses and recognition, salary sacrifice benefit options, and an employee discount scheme.
• Three days special leave with pay, per year, for volunteering (pro-rata for part time employees).
• Making it work for you - With so many flexible options, most people can find a work schedule to suit their circumstances.

We will also consider part time, job share and flexible working. Closing date is 11.55pm on Monday 7th September 2026.