Process Quality Manager in Bridgwater

We are looking for an experienced Process Quality Manager to provide day-to-day quality leadership across our process operations at Bridgwater. This is a critical role focused on ensuring that all activities — from raw material intake through blending and syrup room operations — consistently meet Refresco’s quality, food safety and GMP standards. Working closely with Production, Engineering and Technical teams, you will be highly visible in the process areas, supporting decision‑making, driving compliance and embedding a proactive quality culture across operational teams.

About the role: Reporting to the Site Technical Manager, the Process Quality Manager is accountable for quality performance across the process area. You will oversee raw material acceptance, in‑process quality controls and out‑of‑specification (OOS) decision‑making, ensuring product integrity and compliance at every stage. This role plays a key part in protecting brand reputation, maintaining audit readiness and driving continuous improvement in process quality and hygiene standards.

• Key Responsibilities:
• Raw Material & Incoming Quality

• Own and maintain incoming goods acceptance criteria for all raw materials, ingredients, packaging and processing aids.
• Ensure robust raw material verification and inspection processes are consistently applied prior to production.
• Maintain and embed an effective process quality plan.
• Support Supplier Assurance and Central Technical teams with feedback on material performance.
• Lead escalation and investigation of non‑conforming raw materials.
• Ensure relevant sensory programmes are in place, maintained and adhered to.

• Oversee in‑process quality checks, ensuring critical parameters (Brix, pH, acidity, carbonation, temperature, etc.) meet specification.
• Review and verify batching accuracy, completeness and compliance across all shifts.
• Lead OOS decision‑making, including product hold, rework or release, in collaboration with QA, Production and Technical leadership.
• Support validation and verification of quality‑critical process parameters and equipment.

• Champion GMP across the process area through coaching, audits and corrective action follow‑up.
• Support effective cleaning, validation and verification, particularly for allergen and flavour changeovers.
• Drive foreign body controls and wood, glass and plastic audits.
• Support pest control, housekeeping and environmental monitoring relevant to hygienic zoning.

• Lead or support process‑related quality incident investigations.
• Coordinate with the Assistant Technical Manager on product holds, traceability and complaint investigations.
• Drive reduction of internal and external quality losses, including non‑conforming product and complaints.
• Ensure quality records are accurate, complete and audit‑ready.

• Deliver GMP and quality training to operators and team leaders.
• Coach production teams on quality standards and expectations at line level.
• Identify and implement improvement initiatives to reduce waste, improve compliance and enhance consistency.
• Analyse trends (OOS, holds, micro failures) and implement preventative actions.
• Act as the site sensory super user, ensuring training, verification and escalation of programme concerns.

• Support BRCGS, retailer, co‑man and internal audit readiness for the process area.
• Conduct internal audits and factory inspections, ensuring timely closure of findings.
• Work closely with Central Compliance and the Assistant Technical Manager during verification and follow‑up activities.

About you:

• Experience in a Quality leadership role within an FMCG environment.
• Strong knowledge of QMS, HACCP, GMP and audit standards.
• Confidence managing non‑conforming product, incidents and risk.
• Proven ability to lead, coach and influence teams at all levels.
• A data‑driven, continuous improvement mindset.
• Clear communication skills and strong attention to detail.
• A proactive, resilient approach with a passion for quality and food safety.

About Refresco: Refresco is the global independent beverage solutions provider for Global, National and Emerging brands, and retailers with production in Europe, North America, and Australia. Refresco offers an extensive range of product and packaging combinations from juices to carbonated soft drinks and mineral waters in carton, PET, Aseptic PET, cans, and glass. Refresco continuously searches for new and alternative ways to improve the quality of its products and packaging combinations in line with consumer and customer demand, environmental responsibilities, and market demand.