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- Tasks: Lead vendor quality assurance strategy across Europe and North America in the food industry.
- Company: Join Solina, a fast-growing company passionate about sustainable food solutions.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, dynamic work environment, and opportunities for international travel.
- Other info: Open to diverse backgrounds; we value your unique skills and experiences.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on food safety and sustainability while shaping supplier relationships.
- Qualifications: 15+ years in quality roles, strong leadership, and experience in multinational environments.
The predicted salary is between 80000 - 100000 £ per year.
Primary Location: BIGGLESWADE, United Kingdom. At Solina, our community of close to 5,000 people share a passion for food and live our entrepreneurial culture. We design customised savoury solutions for our clients operating in the food industry, food service, butchery and nutrition markets. With sustainability at the heart of our business model, we aim to produce food that is good in every sense of the word: delicious, nourishing, affordable, sustainable and convenient. Solina is a fast-growing business, with around 50 production sites and R&D laboratories present in more than 19 countries mainly in Europe and North America. By constantly rethinking culinary solutions, we make food matter for people and the planet. If you’re ready for a new adventure in a dynamic, expanding, passionate, international company, join us!
We are looking for an experienced Group Supplier Quality Assurance Manager to define and lead our vendor quality and food safety strategy across Europe and North America. In this pivotal role, you will shape how we work with suppliers at Group level, ensuring robust quality, food safety, regulatory compliance, and responsible sourcing, while actively supporting major procurement and digital transformation initiatives. You will play a key role in enabling supplier consolidation, complexity reduction, supply continuity, and long-term resilience.
As a member of the Group Quality Leadership Team and reporting to the Group Quality Director, you will act as a senior partner to Procurement, Sustainability, Operations, R&D, Regulatory Affairs, and external vendors. You will lead the evolution towards a risk-based, value-driven supplier governance model, supporting business growth, M&A integration, and increasing regulatory and customer expectations.
Your responsibilities will include:
- Defining and deploying the Group Supplier Quality Assurance strategy aligned with our overall Quality, Food Safety, Procurement, and ESG ambitions.
- Establishing clear Group policies, standards, and governance frameworks for vendor approval, monitoring, escalation, and performance.
- Acting as Quality & Food Safety lead for procurement transformation programs, ensuring supplier changes are robustly assessed.
- Leading vendor risk management, crisis preparedness, and incident response related to supplier quality, food safety, or supply continuity.
- Driving continuous improvement and performance management with strategic and preferred suppliers.
- Building and leading the Group Supplier Quality community, strengthening capabilities across regions.
This is a highly visible role combining strategy, execution, leadership, and influence in a complex, international environment.
Candidate’s profile
We are looking for a senior quality leader with strong credibility in multinational, matrix organisations.
- Master’s degree in Food Science, Quality, or a related field.
- 15+ years of experience in Quality roles within food, ingredients, or FMCG.
- Proven experience at senior management in an international organisation.
- Strong background in supplier audits, risk management, and food safety standards (BRCGS, IFS, FSSC 22000).
- Solid understanding of regulatory requirements and emerging EU regulations, as well as sustainability frameworks.
- Demonstrated experience with vendor consolidation, harmonisation, dual sourcing, and change programmes.
- Experience working across Europe and North America is a strong asset.
- Strategic mindset combined with strong execution capability.
- Excellent influencing skills, particularly in procurement-driven environments, collaborative, pragmatic, and partnership-oriented mindset.
- Ability to balance standardisation with pragmatic regional adaptation.
- Strong leadership presence and credibility with senior stakeholders, proven crisis leadership and change management skills.
Location
The preferred location is one of the following Solina sites: Biggleswade (UK), Bolingbrook (USA), Malmö (Sweden), or Eastvale (USA). The role involves frequent travel within Europe and North America.
We are open to talents of all backgrounds. Our recruitment process is based on competences, and we openly welcome all candidates of all types according to our DEI Commitment. Introduce yourself to our recruiters and we’ll get in touch if there’s a role that seems like a good match.
Head of Group Vendor Quality Assurance in Biggleswade employer: Solina Group
Contact Detail:
Solina Group Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Group Vendor Quality Assurance in Biggleswade
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the food industry, especially those connected to quality assurance. Attend events or webinars where you can meet potential colleagues and share your passion for food.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching Solina's values and sustainability efforts. Show how your experience aligns with their mission to make food matter for people and the planet. We want to see your enthusiasm!
✨Tip Number 3
Don’t just wait for job openings; be proactive! Use our website to apply directly and express your interest in roles that match your skills. A little initiative goes a long way in standing out.
✨Tip Number 4
Follow up after interviews with a thank-you note. Mention something specific from your conversation to remind them of your fit for the role. It shows you're genuinely interested and keeps you on their radar.
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Group Vendor Quality Assurance in Biggleswade
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV reflects the skills and experiences that align with the Head of Group Vendor Quality Assurance role. Highlight your experience in quality assurance, supplier management, and food safety standards to catch our eye!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to tell us why you're passionate about food quality and sustainability. Share specific examples of how you've led initiatives in previous roles that relate to our mission at Solina.
Showcase Your Leadership Skills: Since this role involves leading teams and influencing stakeholders, make sure to highlight your leadership experience. Share stories that demonstrate your ability to drive change and manage complex projects in international settings.
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 Solina Group
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of food safety standards and quality assurance frameworks like BRCGS and FSSC 22000. Being able to discuss these in detail will show that you're not just familiar with the concepts, but that you can apply them effectively.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Prepare examples of how you've led teams or projects in previous roles, especially in multinational settings. Highlight your experience in crisis management and vendor audits, as this will resonate well with the senior management aspect of the role.
✨Understand the Company Culture
Familiarise yourself with Solina's commitment to sustainability and their entrepreneurial culture. Be ready to discuss how your values align with theirs and how you can contribute to their mission of making food matter for people and the planet.
✨Ask Insightful Questions
Prepare thoughtful questions about the Group Supplier Quality Assurance strategy and how it aligns with procurement transformation initiatives. This shows your strategic mindset and genuine interest in the role, making you stand out as a candidate.