At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the Quality Team to ensure food safety and compliance at our Wednesbury site.
- Company: Join Avara Foods, a top UK food business supplying major supermarkets and restaurants.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, 31 days holiday, and comprehensive training in a supportive environment.
- Other info: Dynamic work environment with long-term career development opportunities and great employee benefits.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on food quality and safety while developing your leadership skills.
- Qualifications: Food-related qualifications and experience in quality management and team leadership required.
The predicted salary is between 50000 - 60000 € per year.
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. 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.
Our advanced manufacturing site in Wednesbury, West Midlands is our newest flagship Added Value centre, with £4.7 million invested in state‑of‑the‑art facilities. It employs over 150 talented individuals who help to supply some of the UK’s largest supermarkets and popular restaurants.
As a highly competent and motivated Lead Quality Manager you will join the Quality Team at our Wednesbury site. The role is predominantly office based, with the factory environment fast‑paced, dynamic and refrigerated in some areas. Working Monday to Friday 08:00‑17:00.
What will you be doing as a Lead Quality Manager at Avara?
- Manage the site technical function to ensure legal compliance, food safety, and adherence to customer specifications.
- Recruit, induct, train, and manage Quality Managers.
- Develop the team in line with talent needs defined by the business technical function.
- Support external audits (BRCGS, Red Tractor, retailer).
- Maintain internal audit schedules and complete audits; communicate audit corrective action plans and ensure non‑conformances signed off within agreed time scales.
- Provide operations with technical monitoring and auditing to ensure customer requirements are understood and achieved.
- Review frequency of non‑conformances to identify longer‑term corrective action plans.
- Review specifications for all products, packaging, and ingredients, ensuring all versions are current and meet customer specifications.
- Investigate technical customer complaints and ensure findings and action plans are completed and communicated both internally and externally.
- Support effective relationships with internal and external customers, including during site visits.
- Link NPD and production, ensuring new or changed products, processes and packaging are effectively introduced.
Qualifications
- Food related HND, Advanced Food Safety Level 4 and Advanced HACCP Level 4.
- Internal auditing qualification.
- Experience of BRCGS or ISO 9000.
- Leadership skills and experience of motivating teams.
- Ability to communicate verbally and in writing at all levels.
- Knowledge and experience of major retailers.
Benefits
- We offer comprehensive training, continuous development and a secure, supportive working environment.
- Competitive salary.
- 31 days holiday allowance.
- Secure contract with long‑term career development opportunities.
- Straight‑forward pension contribution of 6 %.
- Life assurance scheme.
- Staff sales at hugely discounted prices.
- Cycle to work scheme.
- Salaried Advance Finance.
- Salary Sacrifice Car Scheme.
- Access to our Employee Benefit Scheme, which includes unlimited remote GP appointments, unlimited mental health sessions, physiotherapy sessions, medical second opinion consultation and other discounts and perks.
We are committed to being an equal opportunities employer.
Lead QA Manager employer: Avara Foods
Avara Foods is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic and supportive work environment at our state-of-the-art Wednesbury site. With a strong focus on employee development, we provide comprehensive training and long-term career growth opportunities, alongside competitive benefits such as a generous holiday allowance, life assurance, and access to our Employee Benefit Scheme. Join us in contributing to the UK's leading food business while enjoying a rewarding and fulfilling career.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Lead QA Manager
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the industry, especially those at Avara Foods. LinkedIn is your best mate here; connect with current employees and engage with their posts. You never know who might give you a heads-up about job openings!
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching Avara Foods inside out. Know their values, recent news, and what makes them tick. This will help you tailor your answers and show that you're genuinely interested in being part of their team.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice makes perfect! Get a friend or family member to do mock interviews with you. Focus on common questions for a Lead QA Manager role and refine your responses. The more comfortable you are, the better you'll perform when it counts.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining Avara Foods. Keep an eye on our careers page for the latest opportunities!
We think you need these skills to ace Lead QA Manager
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV is tailored to the Lead QA Manager role. Highlight your relevant experience in food safety, quality management, and team leadership. We want to see how your skills align with what we do at Avara Foods!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're passionate about quality management in the food industry and how you can contribute to our team. Keep it engaging and personal – we love to see your personality!
Showcase Your Achievements:Don’t just list your responsibilities; showcase your achievements! Whether it’s improving audit scores or leading successful training sessions, we want to know how you've made a difference in your previous roles.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply through our website for a smooth application process. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and keep track of all the amazing candidates like you!
How to prepare for a job interview at Avara Foods
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of food safety regulations, BRCGS standards, and HACCP principles. Avara Foods is all about compliance and quality, so being able to discuss these topics confidently will show that you're the right fit for the Lead QA Manager role.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Prepare examples of how you've successfully led teams in the past. Think about times when you’ve motivated your team or managed a challenging situation. Avara is looking for someone who can develop their Quality Managers, so demonstrating your leadership experience will be key.
✨Understand the Company Culture
Familiarise yourself with Avara Foods' mission and values. Knowing about their supply chain and commitment to quality will help you align your answers with what they’re looking for. It’s all about showing that you’re not just a good candidate, but a great cultural fit too!
✨Prepare for Technical Questions
Expect questions related to technical monitoring, auditing processes, and handling customer complaints. Be ready to discuss how you would approach these scenarios at Avara. Having specific examples from your previous roles will help you stand out as a knowledgeable candidate.
