Quality Control Team Lead in Uddingston

Join our Team at Macphie. Let us introduce ourselves - Macphie, an internationally acclaimed family ingredient manufacturer, proudly situated in the picturesque and tranquil landscapes of Glenbervie in Aberdeenshire with sites in Glasgow, Tannochside, and Midlands too. Our expertise spans across a spectrum of delectable delights, including sauces, bakery creations, and heavenly ice cream toppings. We also cater to the evolving culinary landscape with our plant-based and gluten-free offerings. Trusted partners to some of the globe’s leading food brands, we are dedicated to transforming ideas and creativity into tangible, delectable solutions.

About the role:

• Reporting into the QA manager, the QA Team Leader's role is to lead and oversee the Quality Control function, ensuring effective day-to-day operation, resource planning, and adequate QC cover across all areas.
• The role ensures QC staff are suitably trained, competent, and maintain up-to-date skills.
• Working in partnership with Production Team Leaders, the role drives the investigation of quality and production issues, customer complaints, and non-conformances, ensuring timely root cause analysis, completion of NCRs, and implementation of corrective actions, with accurate recording on the IFS system.
• The role also ensures scheduled shelf-life testing and hygiene audits are completed in line with required standards.
• To arrange shift patterns for QC staff (all areas).
• To ensure QC staff are suitably trained and competent for the area that they provide QC cover.
• To be a food safety and quality leader who demonstrates the highest food safety and quality standards of the business and ensures the compliance of all others with these standards.
• To organise and manage QC staff ensuring adequate cover.
• To carry out disciplinary procedures as per company handbook.
• Decision making of product quality, seeking advice as necessary.
• Release of Finished/Factored/Raw Material Goods within specification.
• Authorising the release of product for despatch in advance of all tests being completed following a risk assessment (Pre-QC Release).
• In conjunction with Production/Quality Management, stop production in event of any quality/safety/pack integrity concerns.
• Prevent the use of any faulty equipment that is out-with specification when calibrated.
• To prioritise any evaluation, investigative work required arising from the receipt of customer complaints; non-conformances; product quality concerns liaising closely with the QC Manager.
• To ensure root cause is identified and corrective action is taken to control any issues and preventative action is taken to prevent recurrence.
• To complete HACCP and Internal audits as per schedule.
• Reporting compliance along with non-compliance.
• Recording and reporting of any non-conformances raised highlighting risk to food safety or on quality.
• Identifying root cause with individuals responsible for the area.
• Agreeing corrective and preventative actions required and agreeing timescales for implementation.
• Verifying the effective implementation of any corrective or preventative action taken, including updated SOPs, training records or briefing records.
• Recording of all results and actions on the IFS system.
• Ensure monitoring of average weight/volume control ensuring the system complies with agreed legal weight requirements relevant to the product weight.
• Maintain sufficient levels of stock & consumables for the job.
• Organise for routine hygiene monitoring to be carried out and recorded accordingly, in collaboration with departmental Team Leader and QC Co-ordinator.
• To complete regular shadow audits with QC staff to ensure sufficient ongoing level of scrutiny on audits.
• Organise and/or carry out test equipment (internal or external) calibration, highlighting any discrepancies to the appropriate area.
• To assist in the investigation and implementation of HACCP as required.
• To assist with the investigation and response to product complaints with consultation with Quality Manager as necessary identification of root cause and report on product complaints in a timely manner.
• Active trending of complaints to identify trends with particular products or processes.
• Implementation and monitoring of any identified actions and reporting on success of implementation / highlighting of any continued issues.
• To assist with testing the product Recall system as necessary, as part of a team.
• To organise Sensory Evaluation as required.
• Assess and monitor new work methods & testing equipment, suggesting any improvements to management for approval.
• Carry out any other duties as assigned by functional leads.
• Work safely at all times in accordance with company Health & Safety policies, procedures, practices and legislation.
• Complete food safety inductions with all new and temporary staff.

Experience & Qualifications:

• Experience in production/Quality Management and manufacturing processes and techniques.
• Previous experience in a supervisory role would be preferred.

Skills:

• Excellent communication skills through all stakeholders within the business.
• Strong & Confident presentation skills.
• Experienced and capable in leading external audits and understanding BRC and retailer requirements and expectations.
• Robust management skills and resilience through leading strong and established technical teams.
• Customer complaints trend analysis, investigation, root cause analysis and preventative measures.
• External & internal site rejections, investigation, root cause analysis and preventative measures.
• Raw materials nonconformities, investigation, root cause analysis and preventative measures.
• Product, swabbing and water testing results trending, investigation of failures, including root cause analysis and preventative measures.
• Reviewing, trending Quality & Taste Panels results in partnership with R&D.
• QMS delivery and compliance, including colleague training.