Quality Technician

Function: Supply Chain

Location: UK - Eaglescliffe

Reporting To: Quality Manager

At Tata Consumer Products Ltd, we stand #Forbetter – Planet, Sourcing, Nutrition, Communities. And #ForBetter Opportunities …. Here’s an exciting one!

How does this Job align to our Strategy?

At the core of Tata Consumer Products' business approach lie six strategic pillars that serve as the foundation for its growth and success: Strengthening & Accelerating our Core Business, Driving Digital and Innovation,Unlocking Synergies, Creating a Future-Ready Organization, Exploring New Opportunities and Embedding Sustainability.

This role aligns closely with the pillars of Strengthening & Accelerating our Core Business and Creating a Future-Ready Organisation. The Quality Technician plays a key role in ensuring products, materials and processes consistently meet customer, regulatory and brand requirements while driving continuous improvement across manufacturing operations.

The position contributes to maintaining product quality, enhancing supplier performance, improving process capability and ensuring robust quality systems are embedded throughout the business.

Top dimensions:

Geography: UK

Type of Role: Technical Specialist - Quality

Direct reports: 7

Indirect reports: 0

Matrix reports: No

Complexity of Role:

General

Quality Management

• Responsible for maintaining and improving quality systems across the Eaglescliffe manufacturing site and it’s Co Manufacturers..
• Coordinate supplier quality activities including APQP, Supplier PPAP and supplier development programmes.
• Ensure packaging materials and finished products comply with quality standards and specifications.
• Support quality assurance activities relating to Co Manufacturers and Co Packers.
• Maintains calibration, product assessment and retained sample systems
• Contributes to the effective management of consumer complaints, product investigations and corrective actions.
• Management of the Internal Quality Co-Ordinators and Quality Testers

Continuous Improvement

• Apply data analysis and structured problem-solving techniques to improve product quality and process performance.
• Participates in capability improvement projects and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Drives defect reduction and waste reduction activities through root cause analysis and corrective action.

Primary Stakeholders: Operations, Engineering, Procurement, Supply Chain, Suppliers, Co-Manufacturers, Quality Coordinators, Product Testers and External Service Providers.

What are the Key Responsibilities of this role?

Quality – Internal & External

• Maintain and continually improve quality systems and processes across the business.
• Administer internal quality processes, APQP activities and supplier PPAP programmes.
• Manage defect handling activities including investigation, containment and resolution of non-conforming materials and products.
• Ensure packaging materials and finished products meet agreed specifications and quality standards.
• Coordinate supplier quality activities and contribute to supplier development and performance improvement programmes.
• Monitor quality performance of co-manufacturers and co-packers against agreed requirements.
• Conduct consumer and customer complaint investigations, applying root cause analysis and ensuring timely closure of corrective actions.
• Maintain product quality standards, testing requirements and associated documentation.
• Administer site calibration systems to ensure compliance and measurement accuracy.
• Manage retained sample and product assessment programmes.
• Coordinate material approval activities associated with new product development and product change projects.
• Contribute to the development and review of procedures, standards and quality documentation.
• Provide technical guidance and coaching to Quality Coordinators and Product Testers.
• Ensure compliance with customer, regulatory, food safety and brand requirements.

Continuous Improvement

• Utilise data analysis to identify trends, opportunities and emerging quality issues.
• Lead and facilitate structured problem-solving activities using Practical Problem Solving (PPS) methodologies.
• Contribute to Capability Workbook (CWB) initiatives and site improvement programmes.
• Drive improvements in process capability, product quality and operational performance.
• Recommend and implement corrective and preventive actions based on data analysis and investigation findings.

Strategic & Operational Contribution

• Deliver initiatives aligned to site Hoshin priorities.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to improve quality performance and customer satisfaction.
• Promote a culture of quality ownership, continuous improvement and right-first-time manufacturing.
• Coaching and development of direct reporting roles.
• Working with group sites establishing best practice and supporting where necessary.
• 7 direct reports (all NonGG)

What are the Critical success factors for the Role?

General

• 5+ years minimum experience in FMCG environment.
• Great levels of collaboration and influencing skills.

Quality

• Excellent knowledge of quality management systems and quality assurance principles.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Knowledge of key quality tools (SPC, DOE, FMEA, etc.).
• Ability to interpret data and translate findings into improvement actions.
• Proven track record of supplier quality management and development.

Continuous Improvement

• Experience applying structured problem-solving methodologies.
• Knowledge of Lean Manufacturing and Continuous Improvement tools.
• Proficient in the use of statistical analysis techniques and process improvement methods.

General

• HND/HNC or equivalent qualification on a science or materials-based discipline
• Strong communication, interpersonal and presentation skills.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office applications, particularly Excel, Word and PowerPoint.
• Excellent organisational skills with the ability to manage competing priorities and deadlines.
• Ability to travel to suppliers, co-manufacturers and external sites as business requirements dictate

Preferred Experience & Knowledge

• Minimum 5 years’ experience within a quality function in an FMCG or manufacturing environment.
• Understanding of ISO 9001 and ISO 22000 standards.
• Knowledge of supplier quality management and supplier development programmes.
• Experience of product testing and quality assurance activities.
• Knowledge of packaging material production and conversion processes.
• Experience of implementing improvement activities and delivering effective change.

TCPL Growth Mindset and Behaviors

We are obsessed about keeping Consumers & Customers first in our hearts – that’s why we are here!

We are trailblazers in executing with Excellence … Together as One Team!

We take Ownership of our business …delivering value for our Stakeholders ... no Compromises!

We are Open to Continuously improving … Continuously innovating … For Better!

We live & breathe our Tata Code of Conduct

About Us: At Tata Consumer, we stand ‘For Better.’

Tata Consumer Products is a focused consumer products company uniting the principal food and beverage interests of the Tata Group under one umbrella. Our brands embody our purpose of ‘For Better” through the value they deliver to consumers with a focus on innovation, health and wellness, convenience and premiumisation. The Company’s portfolio of products includes tea, coffee, water, RTD, salt, pulses, spices, ready-to-cook and ready-to-eat offerings, breakfast cereals, snacks and mini meals. Our key brands include Tata Tea, Tetley, Eight O’Clock Coffee, Tata Coffee Grand, Himalayan Natural Mineral Water, Tata Copper+ and Tata Gluco+, Tata Salt, Tata Sampann and Tata Soulfull. In India, Tata Consumer Products has a reach of over 200 million households, giving it an unparalleled ability to leverage the Tata brand in consumer products.

The Company has a consolidated annual turnover of ~Rs. 13,783 Crs with operations in India and International markets. For more information please visit www.tataconsumer.com