Quality Operations Lead in Watford

There's nothing beige about McCain... Except our potatoes - and we're extremely passionate about them. When you join McCain, you'll be joining the biggest player in the frozen potato game, bringing people together around the nation for over 60 years by sharing simple, delicious planet friendly food.

We've partnered with thousands of the country's supermarkets, pubs, restaurants, hospitals, and schools to change the way people see the humble spud. It's all about elevation and creating something better. So, come and make your career at McCain Foods.

ABOUT THE JOB

Working as part of an integrated Technical team, the Quality Operations Lead will focus on building and promoting a Food Safety culture at all levels on site. You will be responsible for safety, quality and legality of products manufactured on shift to agreed quality specifications and standards and delivery of agreed departmental plans as determined by the Quality Assurance Manager.

Responsibilities and Accountabilities:

• Ensuring a high standard of compliance in relation to food/feed safety and that all quality activities onsite comply with all company, industry (eg; BRC), and retailer codes of practice.
• Non-conformances are recognised and documented evidence is collected to mitigate the risk to food safety and quality.
• Leading your team of QC & QA and allocating work to ensure a structured, systematic approach to all aspects of quality, hygiene, and GMP.
• Assisting with the completion of Internal Audits and inspections.
• Investigating customer complaints, identifying root cause and communicating corrective action required to key stakeholders.
• Driving improvements in the standards of product quality and safety.
• Managing weight legislation on shift and action any issues to prevent reoccurrence.
• Working closely with cross-functional departments ensuring compliance to relevant SOPs and GMP standards.
• Deviation reports, Change Controls, CAPAs and SOPs and support continuous improvement projects.
• Responsible for stock management on shift.
• Identifying Food Safety risks i.e. foreign body, chemical or microbiological risks and taking appropriate corrective/preventative action or ensuring it is reported accurately to the business.
• Understanding and implementing the Allergen awareness, procedures and controls.
• Verifying that finished products are assessed on QA taste panel and meet agreed specification.
• Notifying contractor and following up any onsite Pest Control issues.
• Conducting traceability exercises (present information to the auditor) to internal and external auditors.
• Deputising for the Quality Manager where required.

WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR...

You will have the ability to work autonomously and use initiative, whilst being part of a team. You will also have previous experience of working in an environment whereby you have needed to fulfil key performance indicators, working under pressure and to tight deadlines.

You’ll also have...

• Knowledge of Quality & Technical systems.
• Influencing skills.
• Qualification in HACCP & Food Safety.
• Able to communicate effectively at all levels.
• Demonstrable problem-solving ability.
• How to interpret procedures.

WHAT'S IN IT FOR YOU?

Although we do encourage you to taste the goods, you'll be pleased to know we don't pay you in chips. For working hard, you'll also get a great salary and some pretty good benefits including:

• An excellent pension where we will pay double what you do, up to a maximum of 12% of your pay.
• Flexible holidays - where you can buy & sell up to 5 days holiday per year.
• Private medical insurance scheme.
• Optional health cash plan.
• Cycle to work scheme.
• 'Chips In' Volunteering Day Off - to make a positive impact to the competitiveness, resilience, and long-term development of McCain communities across the globe.
• And of course, being part of a Global business there are great opportunities to shine/thrive should you wish to relocate in the future.

We have an ambitious 5 year growth plan that presents development & progression opportunities for those who seek it out.

WHERE YOU'LL WORK...

You'll be based at our Whittlesey plant in Peterborough. If you've spotted our three wind turbines, then you'll know where we are! With about 350 employees on site, we're one of our largest plants across the GB business. Our Whittlesey plant is where we make our famous French Fries as well as our chilled products, such as our Shake Shake Fries.

WHAT HOURS WILL I WORK?

Our shifts are typically 12-hours, working 2 days on (7am-7pm), 1 day off, 2 nights on (7pm-7am), 3 days off.

McCain Foods is an equal opportunity employer. As a global family-owned company, we strive to be the employer of choice in the diverse communities around the world in which we live and work. We recognize that inclusion drives our creativity, resilience, and success and makes our business stronger. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, age, veteran status, disability, or any other protected characteristic under applicable law.

McCain is an accessible employer. If you require an accommodation throughout the recruitment process (including alternate formats of materials or accessible meeting rooms), please let us know and we will work with you to find appropriate solutions.

Your privacy is important to us. By submitting personal data or information to us, you agree this will be handled in accordance with McCain's Global Privacy Policy and Global Employee Privacy Policy, as applicable. McCain leverages AI in the hiring process, though all final decisions are made by humans. You can understand our approach to AI and how your personal information is being handled here.