At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead food safety systems and ensure high-quality standards in seafood production.
- Company: Join New England Seafood International, a leader in sustainable seafood sourcing.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, pension contributions, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Be part of a supportive team culture focused on continuous improvement.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on food safety and quality in a dynamic industry.
- Qualifications: Degree in Food Science and experience in food safety management required.
The predicted salary is between 40000 - 50000 £ per year.
New England Seafood International (NESI) was established in 1991 and is an importer and processor of premium fresh and frozen sustainable fish and seafood. NESI employs circa 850 people across three sites in the UK and imports a wide range of wild and farmed fish and shellfish from all around the world. Our vision is to “show people how to enjoy fish every day” and we pride ourselves on our supply chain integrity, sustainable sourcing and high-quality product. Our values run through our business and are Respect, Customer Care, By Learning We Grow, Team Spirit and Integrity.
Reports to: Technical Manager
Location: Chessington, Surrey KT9 1TW
Salary: Depending on Experience
Shift pattern: Monday to Friday (Full site presence and Factory based)
Hours: 8:00am – 5:00pm
The QA Manager (Retail & Food Service) is responsible for ensuring all food manufactured on site is safe, legal, and meets agreed quality standards. The role supports delivery of the Technical Strategy and business objectives by leading food safety systems, managing risk, supporting audits, and developing the Quality Assurance team while driving a strong food safety culture across the factory.
Role & Responsibilities
- Incidents & Crisis Management: Proactively identify and elevate any potential or actual food safety, legality, integrity, or quality risks to the Technical Manager. Support the Technical Manager during incidents, withdrawals, recalls, or crisis situations. Lead and manage incident test scenarios, including planning, execution, and review.
- Technical Strategy & Business Alignment: Support the alignment of site objectives with the Technical and Business Strategies. Contribute to personal development plans (PDPs) aligned with business goals.
- External Audits & Stakeholder Engagement: Approve traceability documentation used during audits. Present traceability audit results to external auditors. Ensure factory data and documentation are accurate and audit-ready prior to external visits. Support site management teams during external audits, customer visits, and regulatory inspections.
- Food Safety Management Systems (FSMS): Act as an active member of the HACCP and TACCP teams. Ensure HACCP, CCPs, QCPs, and OPRPs are validated, verified, and reviewed as planned. Support and update risk assessments and HACCP checklists relevant to factory operations.
- Quality Assurance & Product Release: Ensure all products released from site meet customer specifications (brand, own label, and food service). Implement and manage positive release systems where required.
- QMS & CMS Maintenance: Ensure controlled documents are correctly issued, implemented, maintained, and updated in line with amendments. Ensure site compliance with legal requirements, Codes of Practice, and industry standards, implementing changes via SOP or process updates.
- Investigations & Root Cause Analysis: Lead or support investigations into food safety, legality, and quality issues, including contamination, hygiene failures, process deviations, and audit non-conformances. Ensure robust root cause analysis and effective corrective and preventive actions. Verify and confirm end-to-end traceability on a daily basis, including factory start-up checks. Close out non-conformances promptly and elevate serious breaches to the Technical Manager.
- Training & Competency: Act as a subject matter expert, owning and delegating internal food safety training (e.g. HACCP, CCPs, OPRPs, internal auditing). Ensure training delivery supports compliance and continuous improvement.
- KPI & Performance Reporting: Maintain departmental KPIs and objectively challenge factory performance at site management meetings. Escalate sustained poor performance or emerging risks to the Technical Manager.
- People Management: Line management responsibility for site QA team, including holiday scheduling, performance reviews, and objective setting. Support the development of QA team competencies and capability to deliver the technical business plan.
- Food Safety Culture: Drive and support food safety culture initiatives across site. Ensure weekly trend analysis is completed, communicated, and demonstrates measurable cultural improvement.
- Complaints Management: Support investigation of customer complaints through cross-functional root cause analysis. Escalate adverse complaints to Tier 3 (T3) discussions as required. Support CI projects linked to traceability, documentation, and ways of working. Participate in working groups to implement regulatory or system improvements.
- NPD & Change Management: Support new and existing product development, focusing on factory readiness (quality, equipment, and processes). Attend NPD meetings and drive action completion ahead of launch. Provide final approval of revised Quality Attribute Sheets (QAS). Confirm and implement sampling plans to validate technical processes during commissioning or change management activities.
- Flexibility & Other Duties: Maintain flexibility to support new systems, ideas, and initiatives implemented across the business. Provide full support to site and technical teams as required.
What experiences, knowledge and capabilities do I need to demonstrate?
- A degree or equivalent in a Food Science or related discipline
- Proven experience managing and developing a team – delivering training
- Experience within the food industry, must include high risk RRTE practices, food safety, food safety culture
- Experience within a FMCG environment
- Retail Manufacturing standards experience – specifically M&S
- Working knowledge of technical management systems
- Sound organizational skills
- Ability to analyze data and support in the formulation of action plans
- Ability to drive increased technical compliance through a coaching and development style
Pension: 5% employee / 3% employer contribution
Quality Assurance Manager in London employer: New England Seafood International
New England Seafood International (NESI) is an exceptional employer located in Chessington, Surrey, offering a vibrant work culture that prioritises respect, customer care, and continuous learning. Employees benefit from a supportive environment that fosters professional growth through training and development opportunities, alongside a commitment to sustainable practices and high-quality products. With a strong focus on food safety and integrity, NESI provides a meaningful career path for those passionate about the seafood industry.
Contact Details:
New England Seafood International Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Quality Assurance Manager in London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the food industry, especially those who work at New England Seafood International. A friendly chat can open doors and give you insider info about the company culture and what they really value.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for the interview by brushing up on your knowledge of food safety systems and quality assurance practices. Be ready to discuss how you can contribute to their mission of sustainable sourcing and high-quality products.
✨Tip Number 3
Show off your passion for seafood and sustainability! Share any relevant experiences or projects that highlight your commitment to these values during your conversations with the team.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining the NESI family.
We think you need these skills to ace Quality Assurance Manager in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV is tailored to the Quality Assurance Manager role. Highlight your relevant experience in food safety, team management, and any specific standards you've worked with, like M&S. We want to see how your background aligns with our values and the job requirements.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to tell us why you're passionate about food safety and quality assurance. Share specific examples of how you've driven improvements in previous roles, and don’t forget to mention how you embody our values like integrity and team spirit.
Showcase Your Achievements:When detailing your experience, focus on your achievements rather than just responsibilities. Use metrics where possible to demonstrate your impact, like improvements in compliance rates or successful audit outcomes. We love seeing how you've made a difference!
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother application process. It helps us keep track of your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it’s super easy – just follow the prompts and submit your documents!
How to prepare for a job interview at New England Seafood International
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you brush up on your food safety knowledge, especially around HACCP and food safety management systems. Be ready to discuss how you've implemented these in past roles, as this will show your expertise and commitment to quality.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
As a QA Manager, you'll be leading a team. Prepare examples of how you've developed and trained teams in the past. Highlight any specific training programmes you've implemented and the positive outcomes that resulted from them.
✨Be Audit-Ready
Familiarise yourself with the audit processes and standards relevant to the food industry, particularly those related to retail manufacturing. Be prepared to discuss how you've ensured compliance and readiness for audits in previous positions.
✨Crisis Management Experience
Think of instances where you've had to manage food safety incidents or crises. Be ready to explain your approach to incident management, including how you led investigations and implemented corrective actions to prevent future issues.
