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- Tasks: Lead quality management and ensure food safety compliance at Fresh Kitchen.
- Company: Join Fresh Kitchen, part of Sysco, a global leader in foodservice.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, generous holidays, and discounts on food and shopping.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on food safety while developing your career in a supportive environment.
- Qualifications: Degree in Food Science or Technology, HACCP level 3, and strong communication skills required.
- Other info: 12-month fixed-term contract with opportunities for growth within Sysco.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
Fresh Kitchen are currently recruiting for a Quality Manager to join the team on site in Bicester, on a 12 Month Fixed Term Contract basis.
As Quality Manager, you oversee the technical management of Fresh Kitchen and M&J Seafood, ensuring full compliance with food safety, quality, hygiene, and legal requirements through the effective implementation, monitoring, and auditing of the Quality Management Systems (QMS). You drive continuous improvement and enforcement of due diligence systems via regular audits, while providing technical support and advice to the site team to maintain a consistent approach to system implementation.
You will manage supplier quality to guarantee food safety, quality, and legal compliance for supplier/raw material approval, product setup, and incoming material quality control. You support the management of MSC, ASC, and BRC certification standards, ensuring ongoing adherence to quality, GMP, hygiene, and pest control requirements.
Your role also includes conducting raw material intake checks, overseeing traceability and labelling accuracy, coordinating sample testing for internal and external assessments, and analyzing results for trends to maintain high product standards.
Key accountabilities:- Continuously improve and enforce QMS through audits, technical support, and consistent system implementation.
- Support customer, regulatory, and 3rd party audits (BRC, MSC, ASC) and ensure compliance with quality, GMP, hygiene, pest control, and legal standards.
- Manage non-conformance investigations, complaints, raw material intake checks, traceability, labelling, and environmental monitoring.
- Maintain QMS documentation, review artwork and labels, manage product specifications, and coordinate internal/external sample testing including sensory and shelf-life assessments.
- Promote food safety culture, manage product traceability and recall processes, and support food safety training.
- Develop and monitor internal audit programs, oversee the Quality Controller, and ensure effective communication with customers, suppliers, and production teams.
- Conduct specification reviews, product quality assessments, and data management using Assure and Nutritics; analyze KPIs and quality data for improvement.
- Lead allergen management initiatives and support New Product Development and technical projects.
- Ensure compliance with Health & Safety standards, including PPE use, and lead by example.
About you:
To be successful in this role you must hold a full clean Drivers Licence, have a Food Science or Technology degree (or equivalent) and ideally be minimum HACCP level 3 certified and Internal Auditor/ Lead Auditor qualified. You will ideally have high risk manufacturing and seafood knowledge, (including food safety and quality requirements) and knowledge of relevant food safety legislation, QMS, BRC standards and audits. It is key to have excellent communication skills as you will be customer focused and be well organised and use effective project management skills. You will show tenacity and a desire to follow things through to completion, with strong planning and organisational skills, and a high attention to detail. Previous experience in recipe management systems and developing and reviewing of specifications and artwork approval would be desirable.
What we offer:
- A competitive salary
- Pension scheme
- Generous holiday allowance of 25 days, with option to purchase additional holidays + bank holidays.
- Huge discounts on all sorts of lovely food and award-winning products through our staff shop
- Discounts on Cinema tickets, shopping and earn cashback on purchases through Sodexo.
- Recognition awards and Incentives
- Real career opportunities - being part of Sysco, the world’s leading foodservice business, opens a world of possibility.
Quality Manager employer: Fresh Kitchen
Contact Detail:
Fresh Kitchen Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Quality Manager
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with the specific quality management systems (QMS) used in the food industry, particularly those related to BRC, MSC, and ASC standards. Understanding these frameworks will not only help you during interviews but also demonstrate your commitment to maintaining high-quality standards.
✨Tip Number 2
Network with professionals in the food safety and quality management sector. Attend industry events or join relevant online forums to connect with others who can provide insights into the role and potentially refer you to opportunities at Fresh Kitchen.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare to discuss your experience with audits and compliance checks in detail. Be ready to share specific examples of how you've successfully managed non-conformance investigations or improved QMS processes in previous roles.
✨Tip Number 4
Showcase your communication skills by preparing questions for the interview that reflect your understanding of the role's responsibilities. This will highlight your proactive approach and genuine interest in contributing to the team at Fresh Kitchen.
We think you need these skills to ace Quality Manager
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights relevant experience in quality management, food safety, and compliance. Use keywords from the job description to demonstrate that you meet the specific requirements for the Quality Manager role.
Craft a Strong Cover Letter: Write a cover letter that showcases your passion for food safety and quality management. Mention specific experiences that align with the responsibilities listed in the job description, such as managing audits or improving QMS.
Highlight Relevant Qualifications: Clearly state your qualifications, including your Food Science or Technology degree, HACCP certification, and any auditing qualifications. This will help the hiring team see that you have the necessary background for the role.
Showcase Communication Skills: Since excellent communication is key for this position, provide examples in your application of how you've effectively communicated with teams, suppliers, or customers in previous roles. This can set you apart from other candidates.
How to prepare for a job interview at Fresh Kitchen
✨Know Your QMS Inside Out
As a Quality Manager, you'll be expected to have a deep understanding of Quality Management Systems. Brush up on your knowledge of QMS principles and be ready to discuss how you've implemented or improved these systems in previous roles.
✨Demonstrate Your Audit Experience
Since the role involves regular audits, be prepared to share specific examples of audits you've conducted or participated in. Highlight any challenges you faced and how you overcame them, especially in relation to BRC, MSC, or ASC standards.
✨Showcase Your Communication Skills
Excellent communication is key in this role. Think of examples where you've effectively communicated with suppliers, customers, or team members to resolve quality issues or improve processes. Be ready to demonstrate your customer-focused approach.
✨Prepare for Technical Questions
Expect technical questions related to food safety legislation, HACCP, and allergen management. Brush up on relevant regulations and be ready to discuss how you've applied this knowledge in practical situations.
