Processing & Quality Manager in Skipton

Location: Grassington

Salary: £54,000 per annum (dependent on experience)

Hours: Monday-Friday, 7:00am-4:30pm

Permanent Position

Role Purpose

The Processing & Quality Manager is a senior leadership role with full accountability for processing, packing, quality, hygiene, and compliance within the dairy operation. The role is responsible for setting standards, leading teams, and ensuring that all processing activities consistently meet regulatory, food safety, quality, and commercial requirements. Acting as the site authority for Processing and Quality, the role drives operational excellence, risk management, and continuous improvement, while partnering with senior stakeholders to deliver safe, efficient, and compliant production aligned to business objectives.

Reporting & Key Relationships

Reports to: Senior Operations Manager

Deputising for: Production Manager (as outlined in Job Description 5 / Quality Manual Section 3.2)

Scope of Responsibility

The Processing & Quality Manager has end-to-end responsibility for performance, compliance, and continuous improvement across the following operational areas:

• Processing: Raw milk and juice intake, milk and juice processing, process control, quality assurance, and hygiene standards.
• Packing: All filling lines, glass bottle washing operations, packaging storage, and cold store management.

The role holds overall accountability for people leadership, food safety, quality systems, hygiene standards, stock control, supplier engagement, and equipment integrity across these areas.

Key Responsibilities

People Management

• Lead, manage, and develop all staff within the Processing and Packing areas.
• Ensure staff are adequately trained and competent to perform their duties in line with company policies, procedures, and work instructions.
• Conduct probation reviews, performance appraisals, and ongoing performance management.
• Manage staff rotas, attendance, and holidays using the company systems.
• Handle disciplinary matters, investigations, and meetings in line with the company’s disciplinary procedures.

Health, Safety & Compliance

• Ensure the safety of staff, contractors, and facilities within all Processing and Packing areas.
• Support and assist with accident and incident investigations.
• Ensure all contractors are correctly vetted, inducted, and compliant with company policies and procedures.

Quality & Hygiene Management

• Own, manage, and continuously improve hygiene policies, procedures, and standards.
• Lead HACCP meetings and actively participate in Quality Management meetings.
• Develop, review, and approve work instructions and specifications.
• Manage quality, nutritional, raw material, and finished product testing.
• Ensure the highest standards of hygiene are maintained throughout Processing and Packing areas.
• Manage internal quality records, check sheets, and system documentation, ensuring accurate completion, sign-off, and storage.
• Investigate non-conformances and support corrective and preventive actions.

Operations & Continuous Improvement

• Work closely with the Production Manager to ensure daily operational efficiency and business targets are met.
• Liaise with all departments to support the smooth and efficient running of the business.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives across Processing systems, procedures, and workflows.

Stock, Equipment & Supplier Management

• Manage stock control of processing consumables, chemicals, PPE, and related materials.
• Liaise with chemical suppliers and external service providers.
• Oversee calibration, servicing, and maintenance of processing instruments and equipment.
• Obtain and evaluate quotes for equipment, consumables, and external sample testing.
• Authorise and coordinate planned and reactive maintenance activities within Processing areas.

Training & Development

• Ensure personal competency and training requirements are met for all aspects of the role.
• Proactively identify training needs and inform the Senior Operations Manager where additional training is required.

General

• Carry out deputising duties for other management team members as outlined in the Quality Manual.
• Undertake any other duties reasonably requested by management to support business needs.

Click to Apply: To apply for this position, please contact Allison Owens (Bradford Office). SWIFT Recruitment Division is acting as an employment business in relation to this vacancy.