Quality Assurance Auditor in Ashington

Who We Are

Sweetdreams Ltd is a UK-based confectionery manufacturer with a heritage of over 30 years, creating bold, distinctly different brands like Choc Nibbles. Part of the SugaRich Group, we are leading the way in the circular economy, rescuing perfectly imperfect ingredients and transforming surplus food products into delicious treats. We are ambitious, creative, and passionate about doing things differently.

Site Quality & Compliance Leadership

• Support the Site Technical Manager and the Quality Assurance Supervisor in maintaining full site compliance with food safety, legality, authenticity, and quality standards.
• Support the delivery of a strong food safety and quality culture across site, reinforcing accountability and right-first-time behaviours.
• Maintain audit readiness across internal, customer and third-party standards, including BRCGS Food Safety.
• Participate in the HACCP and Food Defence (TACCP/VACCP) teams, supporting risk assessments, validation and verification activities.
• Manage elements of the internal audit programme, including GMP, hygiene, fabrication, glass and hard plastics, and process audits.
• Support the annual risk assessment schedule and verification of site quality management systems.

Food Safety, Quality & Compliance Verification

• Verify that raw materials, packaging and work-in-progress materials meet defined legal, safety, quality, traceability and labeling requirements.
• Support supplier approval processes through documentation review, compliance verification and risk assessment activities.
• Assist in monitoring supplier performance and escalating non-conformance where corrective action is required.
• Collect and prepare samples for internal and external laboratory testing.
• Ensure allergen controls, microbiological safety and traceability requirements are consistently applied and verified.
• Contribute to raw material risk assessments covering legality, authenticity and food safety compliance.
• Monitor and verify hygiene standards.

Auditing & Systems Management

• Provide technical support from raw material intake through to dispatch, ensuring safe and compliant production at all stages.
• Verify Critical Control Points (CCPs), including validation of metal detection systems and process control checks.
• Conduct internal audits in line with the site audit schedule, including GMP, hygiene, fabrication, glass and hard plastics, and process audits.
• Participate in external audits (customer, regulatory, and third-party audits such as BRCGS), supporting audit preparation and documentation collation.
• Perform equipment calibration verification checks in line with site procedures.
• Oversee management and archiving of production documentation and retained samples.
• Support management of non-conforming products and corrective action processes.
• Escalate food safety, quality or legality concerns promptly and verify corrective action implementation.
• Contribute to cross-functional continuous improvement initiatives to strengthen process capability and reduce risk.

Non-Conformance & Continuous Improvement

• Support specification accuracy, legal labeling verification and documentation collation for customer and retail compliance.
• Participate in traceability exercises and mass balance reconciliations to demonstrate system robustness.
• Support complaint investigations using structured root cause analysis and verification of CAPA effectiveness.
• Trend and analyse quality data, including laboratory results and complaint data, to identify recurring issues and drive preventative action.

Continuous Improvement & Food Safety Culture

• Champion a proactive food safety and quality culture through daily engagement with operational teams and leading by example.
• Provide real-time coaching and feedback to reinforce GMP, hygiene and process control standards.
• Encourage proactive reporting of issues and near misses to strengthen transparency and risk mitigation.
• Promote behavioral improvement initiatives that enhance ownership of food safety and product quality.
• Actively contribute to continuous improvement projects aligned to operational efficiency and compliance excellence.

Skills & Experience

• Previous internal audit experience.
• Desired: Educated to degree level with a Food specialism or equivalent qualification OR has relevant work experience.
• CCP/HACCP knowledge for manufacturing – HACCP Level 3.
• GMP knowledge and techniques.
• Awareness of traceability.
• Allergen awareness and risk understanding.
• Non-conformance reporting skills.
• Microbiological awareness & food safety basics.
• Knowledge of legal labeling and weight legislation.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office and technical IT systems.

Hours: Monday - Thursday 7am - 4.15pm, Friday 7am pm

Job Types: Full-time, Permanent

Pay: £28,136.16 per year

Work Location: In person