QA Manager - Lates - 3 month FTC in Dudley

About the Role:

You may not have heard of us, but there’s a good chance you’ve enjoyed our products. Avara Foods is one of the UK’s leading food businesses, supplying chicken and turkey to the country’s major supermarkets and well-known restaurants. We own and manage our entire supply chain, from farms to factory and all the way to the customer door – meaning we have careers that cover a whole range of functions. We have major processing sites across England and Wales, and an agricultural network of over 350 farms, spanning from North Yorkshire to the South Coast and Wales.

A little about our Dudley site: Our advanced manufacturing site in Dudley, West Midlands, is a ready to cook site where value is added to the products by adding spices and other seasonings. Production capacity increases during the summer months at Dudley, as the demand for seasonal products such as barbeque food rises. Our Dudley site employs approximately 400 talented individuals, who help to supply some of the UK’s largest supermarkets and popular restaurants!

Are you passionate about product safety and quality? Looking for a new challenge? Do you have experience or qualifications in quality management? As an inclusive, forward-thinking business, we take pride in our approach to investing in our approach to quality across Avara Foods and are looking for a highly competent and motivated QA Manager to join our Team, based at our Dudley site on a fixed term contract for initially 3 months. As QA Manager, you’ll be working Monday to Friday 14:30-23:30.

What will you be doing as a QA Manager at Avara?

You’ll manage the QA team to help ensure product quality, legality and safety whilst meeting customer specifications within a fast-paced short shelf-life environment.

What will your key responsibilities as a QA Manager include?

• Ensure QA’s are managed effectively and appropriately to include performance assessments and continuous development.
• Ensure that Quality Auditors are effectively recruited, inducted, trained.
• Collaborate with all functions required on daily basis; Production, Engineering, Hygiene, HR etc.
• Ensure procedures are detailed within the Quality Management System, HACCP, Food Defence are in place and actively adhered to in the factory.
• Ensure all tasks are completed by the Technical Team and any non-conformances are identified and actioned.
• Ensure all validation and verification are completed by the team.
• Liaise with Production team to deliver products that meet customer specifications.
• Involved in and coordinating the investigation of customer complaints of a technical nature and ensure findings and action plans are completed and communicated both internally and externally.
• Provide support to the Technical NPD coordinator and production ensure that new or changed products, processes and packaging are effectively introduced.
• Manage external service providers (ie. Pest control and laboratory).
• Work closely with HR to ensure disciplinary, grievance and absence procedures are followed.
• Member of the HACCP and Food Defence team.
• Support the implementation of a robust food safety culture on site and quality initiatives.
• Internal Auditing QMS.
• Lead 3rd party audits and customer visits.

What you’ll need to be successful:

• Relevant scientific or food related qualifications. (Degree desirable)
• A practical working knowledge of BRC and retailer requirements.
• Experience working with major retailers including leading audits.
• HACCP and Food safety qualifications.
• Internal auditing training.
• Basic understanding of microbiology and potential consequences to food safety and quality.
• Strong attention to detail.
• Ability to communicate effectively with internal and external stakeholders of all levels.

The benefits of working for Avara Foods:

As a QA Manager you will enjoy a secure, supportive and progressive working environment, where your contribution and achievements will be recognised and rewarded. We offer comprehensive training as well as continuous development as you build your long-term career with us. You can also look forward to benefits that amongst other things include the following:

• Competitive salary.
• Additional shift allowance per annum.
• 31 days holiday allowance.
• Up to 6% pension contribution.
• Life assurance.
• Various lifestyle benefits, such as cashback perks, exclusive shopping discounts from well known retailers, and discounted cinema tickets!
• Wellbeing resources, including free online health advice & support, and wellbeing assessments.
• Free staff parking.

We are committed to being an equal opportunities employer.