At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead food safety and quality assurance in a dynamic seafood processing environment.
- Company: Join New England Seafood International, a leader in sustainable seafood sourcing.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, pension contributions, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Flexible work environment with a focus on continuous improvement and team development.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on food safety and quality in a vibrant team culture.
- Qualifications: Degree in Food Science or related field and experience in food safety management.
The predicted salary is between 45000 - 55000 £ 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. We are part of the Sealaska Corporation, an Alaska Native corporation formed in 1971 and which is owned by 26,000 Tlingit, Haida and Tsimshian shareholders, who are all bloodline descendants of the first settlers to the Americas. 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 Leader — Food Safety & Compliance employer: New England Seafood International
New England Seafood International is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment in Chessington, Surrey, where employees are encouraged to grow and develop their skills within the food safety and compliance sector. With a strong commitment to sustainability and quality, NESI fosters a culture of respect, teamwork, and continuous learning, providing ample opportunities for professional advancement while ensuring a supportive atmosphere that values each team member's contributions.
Contact Details:
New England Seafood International Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Quality Assurance Leader — Food Safety & Compliance
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to folks in the food safety and quality assurance sectors. Attend industry events or webinars, and don’t be shy about introducing yourself. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings!
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by brushing up on your knowledge of HACCP and food safety regulations. Be ready to discuss how you’ve handled food safety incidents in the past. Show them you’re not just a candidate, but a potential leader in their food safety culture!
✨Tip Number 3
When you get that interview, ask insightful questions about their current food safety practices and challenges. This shows you’re genuinely interested and already thinking about how you can contribute to their team’s success.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive about their job search!
We think you need these skills to ace Quality Assurance Leader — Food Safety & Compliance
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV is tailored to the Quality Assurance Leader role. Highlight your experience in food safety, compliance, and team management. We want to see how your skills align with our values and the specific requirements of the job.
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 how you can contribute to our mission. Be sure to mention any relevant experiences that showcase your expertise in the field.
Showcase Your Achievements:When detailing your work history, focus on achievements rather than just responsibilities. Use metrics where possible to demonstrate your impact, like improvements in compliance rates or successful training initiatives you've led.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website for the best chance of getting noticed. It’s the easiest way for us to keep track of your application and ensure it reaches the right people!
How to prepare for a job interview at New England Seafood International
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you brush up on food safety regulations and quality assurance practices. Familiarise yourself with HACCP, CCPs, and the specific standards relevant to New England Seafood International. Being able to discuss these topics confidently will show that you're serious about the role.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
As a Quality Assurance Leader, you'll need to demonstrate your ability to manage and develop a team. Prepare examples of how you've successfully led teams in the past, particularly in high-risk food environments. Highlight any training initiatives you've implemented to foster a strong food safety culture.
✨Be Audit-Ready
Understand the audit process and be prepared to discuss how you ensure compliance with legal requirements and industry standards. Bring examples of how you've managed audits or inspections in previous roles, and be ready to talk about how you handle non-conformances and corrective actions.
✨Align with Company Values
New England Seafood International values respect, customer care, and integrity. Think about how your personal values align with theirs and be ready to share examples that demonstrate your commitment to these principles. This will help you connect with the interviewers on a deeper level.
