Quality Technologist

Overview

This is a unique opportunity to make a visible impact within a market-leading company that prioritises sustainability, integrity, and natural goodness. We’re proud to be using business as a force for good, for people and the planet. You’ll find our offices in sunny Bournemouth, and the heart of London as well as our Deliciously Ella factory in Milton Keynes, where our super passionate teams make the delicious food you love. We’ve been named a Great Place to Work, and we’re seriously proud of the positive culture and business we’ve built together.

About The Role

We are hiring a Quality Technologist to support the Quality Manager in maintaining and continuously improving the Food Safety and Quality Management System. You will ensure compliance with regulatory, customer, and internal standards, and will deputise for the Quality Manager in their absence, covering essential quality and food safety responsibilities.

The Scope Of The Role Will Be To:

• Support crisis management and risk assessment
• Manage customer complaints and corrective actions
• Review artwork for legal and technical accuracy
• Lead or support supplier approval and monitoring
• Participate in cross‑functional projects (NPD, packaging, process improvements)

Key relationships internally will be the UK Management team, Project Management team, Marketing & Sales Teams, Consumer Care Manager and Supply Chain. External relationships will include HERO teams (R&D, Quality TPM, Quality Excellence, Procurement, Spec Management), Certification Bodies (e.g.: BRCGS, Soil Association etc.), Industry experts (BSNA, FSA, CCFRA etc.) and Customers (queries/complaints).

Sole management of the UK and Ireland product safety and quality requirements, whilst being part of the wider Hero Quality teams. We work with unique regulations (organic and baby food) so a familiarity with these will be desirable.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide day-to-day support to the Quality Manager in maintaining the Food Safety and Quality Management System.
• Assist with implementation of quality objectives and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Prepare documentation, reports, and data analysis to support management review.
• Deputise for the Quality Manager during periods of absence, ensuring continuity of critical food safety and quality activities.
• Act as a key point of contact for internal and external quality-related matters when required.

BRC [GFSI] Agents & Brokers Certification Management

• Support Quality Manager with implementation of the BRC Agents & Brokers quality management system (monitor review dates and report to relevant departments).
• Support and collaborate with the wider internal teams also responsible for maintaining the standard.
• Support on annual audit for the UK.

Designated Internal Auditor

• Conduct internal audits according to the audit schedule.
• Ensure compliance with food safety standards, internal procedures, and customer requirements.
• Document findings and manage corrective action follow-up to timely closure.

QMS

• Maintain and monitor the Quality Manual, including policies, procedures, and records.
• Track review dates and ensure documentation remains current and controlled.
• Support Quality Manager with ongoing improvement of the QMS.
• Complete and maintain customer technical questionnaires and portal submissions.
• Provide technical support to customers through online systems.
• Ensure accuracy and consistency of technical information provided.

Customer Complaints (Food Safety & Quality):

• Collaborate with Customer Care Manager on Food Safety & Quality Complaints.
• Investigate food safety and quality-related complaints (excluding general service queries).
• Conduct root cause analysis in collaboration with TPM Quality Managers and ensure that corrective and preventive actions (CAPA) have been implemented by suppliers.

HERO Quality Teams

• Active collaboration with HERO quality teams, participation in regular meetings, and implementation of requirements for local activities in the UK.
• Regular KPI and CPMU reporting.

Support With Laboratory Testing

• Arrange ordering of samples.
• Support with logging the samples into the portal and other reports.

Sustainability

Responsible for ensuring that sustainable and ethical practices are a key function of your day-to-day role. As the interface with our customers and consumers you will have a clear understanding of Hero UK&I sustainability policies, plans and practices and communicate these with stakeholders, as well as support delivery of initiatives. You will ensure best practice is delivered on all projects so excessive packaging, wastage, poor supply chain practices and potential write-off concerns are not incurred.

Values

We have strong values; Create Wow, Everyone Hero, Nourish Others, Take Responsibility. It is a standard of performance to work to these values as part of your role.

About You

• Demonstrate sufficient experience in quality management within the food industry.
• Knowledge of BRCGS and IFS (GFSI) Quality Management Standards within the food industry.
• Experience in internal auditing and corrective action management.
• Experience in Food Manufacturing.
• Understanding principles of HACCP, TACCP and VACCP.
• Organisational skills (identifying and quickly resolving issues related to quality and food safety under multiple brands).
• Ability to multi-task diverse areas.

What We Offer

Our Values Are At The Heart Of Everything We Do. Developed Through An Inclusive Process Involving Colleagues From Across The Business, They Guide How We Work, Collaborate, And Succeed Together. They Reflect Who We Are Today And The Future We Are Building.

• Create Wow - We go beyond expectations and strive to make a meaningful impact.
• Everyone Hero – Every individual matters and every contribution counts.
• Nourish Others – We support, inspire, and help each other grow.
• Take Responsibility - We own our actions and outcomes, individually and as a team.

You Will Have The Opportunity To Be Part Of a Mission Driven Business At a Hugely Exciting Point In Our Growth Trajectory, Where Your Voice Is Heard And Where You’re Able To Actively Impact Our Business.

Some Great Perks In Working For Hero UK&I Include:

• 25 days holiday. You will also get an extra day’s holiday to be taken on or around your birthday.
• Free Deliciously Ella App Access for you and five friends and family.
• Private Medical Insurance.
• Contributory pension scheme and access to free pension advice.
• Access to Grocery Aid employee assistance resources.
• Massages & Reflexology when you are in our Bournemouth office.
• Psycle Classes when you are in our London office.
• Nursery Benefit.
• Bike to Work and Electric Car Schemes.
• Car Park benefits at our Bournemouth Office.
• Hybrid Working and Flexible Bank Holidays.
• Team breakfasts and Lunches and unlimited access to tea, coffee, milk, fruit and snacks from all our UK brands (depending on availability).
• Learning Opportunities and Study Leave.

Our commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion

At Hero UK&I we are committed to cultivating and maintaining a culture that is inclusive and diverse. We celebrate differences and continually support all team members to be proud of who they are. We pride ourselves on equal employment opportunity regardless of gender, sex, age, disability, race, religion, sexual orientation, or social class. We hire the best people based on an evaluation of their abilities and effectiveness, nothing else.