Quality Assurance Officer

Location: Erith, Kent

Salary: £28,000 per annum

Working Hours: Monday to Friday - No weekends! Hours: 07:30am - 4:00pm

Reporting To: Technical Manager

Our client is seeking a proactive and detail-oriented Quality Assurance Officer to join their team in Erith, Kent. The successful candidate will play a key role in maintaining and continuously improving food safety, quality, and compliance standards across the business. This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced QA professional looking to further their career within a fast-paced food manufacturing environment, supporting HACCP systems, audits, product compliance, and quality improvement initiatives in line with industry standards.

Key Responsibilities

• Quality Assurance & Food Safety
  • Manage and maintain HACCP systems and procedures.
  • Support the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of quality management systems.
  • Ensure compliance with relevant food safety and quality standards, including BRCGS and SALSA requirements.
  • Review factory documentation and records to ensure compliance and accuracy.
  • Conduct routine quality inspections and product assessments.
  • Monitor the quality of raw materials and finished products.
  • Carry out organoleptic and quality testing as required.
• Audits & Compliance
  • Conduct daily and weekly internal audits, including: Glass and hard plastic audits, Hygiene audits, GMP inspections.
  • Investigate non-conformances and complete root cause analysis reports.
  • Support external audits and calibration activities.
  • Assist with supplier approval processes and documentation reviews.
  • Liaise with pest control contractors during site inspections.
• Product & Technical Support
  • Support New Product Development (NPD) activities, including ingredient sourcing, product trials, and technical documentation.
  • Ensure product labelling complies with current legislation and customer requirements.
  • Coordinate the submission of samples for laboratory testing, including: Microbiological analysis, Chemical analysis, Allergen testing.
• Customer & Supplier Communication
  • Liaise with customers and suppliers on quality-related matters.
  • Manage customer complaints from investigation through to resolution.
  • Gather relevant information and prepare root cause analysis reports.
  • Support corrective and preventative action plans where required.
• General Duties
  • Maintain accurate records and documentation.
  • Promote food safety, quality, and best practices throughout the business.
  • Undertake additional duties as required to support the wider technical function.

Skills & Experience Required

Essential

• Previous experience in a Quality Assurance role within the food manufacturing industry.
• Strong understanding of HACCP principles and food safety management systems.
• Knowledge of BRCGS Food Safety Standards.
• Knowledge of SALSA requirements.
• Experience conducting internal audits and compliance checks.
• Strong attention to detail and organisational skills.
• Ability to follow, maintain, and improve processes.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.

Desirable

• Experience supporting New Product Development activities.
• Experience managing customer complaints and investigations.
• Knowledge of food legislation and labelling requirements.

Personal Attributes

• Proactive and self-motivated.
• Strong problem-solving and analytical skills.
• Excellent attention to detail.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively as part of a team.
• Professional and reliable approach.
• Strong time management and organisational skills.
• Positive attitude with a commitment to continuous improvement.
• Dedicated to maintaining high standards of food safety and quality.

What We're Looking For

The successful candidate will be passionate about food safety, quality, and compliance, with the ability to build effective working relationships across the business. You will thrive in a fast-paced environment and take pride in ensuring products consistently meet the highest standards.