Production & Quality Technician

About Vanilla Etc Ltd – Vanilla Etc Ltd is a family-run, BRCGS AA-graded food manufacturer, specialising in premium vanilla products for both B2B and B2C markets. Our range includes grade A vanilla pods, vanilla powder, and our in-house manufactured vanilla extracts and vanilla bean paste, all sourced directly from Madagascar. Our products are trusted by leading food manufacturers, foodservice businesses, and premium retailers, including Booths Supermarket, Lakeland, and Selfridges, as well as international customers. Our standards are high because our customers’ standards are high. Every product leaving our site represents our reputation — and the people who work here play a critical role in protecting it.

About the role: We are looking for a Production & Quality Technician to join our small, growing team. This is a hands-on, technical role that combines practical production work with food safety, quality, and BRCGS compliance responsibility. This is not a basic pick-and-pack or warehouse role, not a purely desk-based QA role, but a role for someone who wants to be on the floor, involved, and accountable. You will work closely with the Production Director and Technical Director to ensure our products are made, checked, cleaned, tested, documented, and delivered to the highest standards. As the business grows, there is genuine potential for this role to evolve into a more dedicated technical/QA position, but initially it is deliberately broad and hands-on.

What you’ll be doing

• Quality & BRCGS Compliance
  • Assisting with internal BRCGS audits
  • Verifying and signing off quality and food safety records
  • Managing environmental swabbing, microbiological and product testing
  • Supporting external audits, traceability exercises and customer supplier questionnaires
  • Investigating quality issues and implementing corrective actions
  • Managing staff training and audit readiness at all times
• Production & Operations (Hands-On)
  • Supporting production: filling, labelling, packing and order preparation
  • Maintaining exceptionally high hygiene and cleaning standards
  • Assisting with picking, packing, and dispatch
  • Helping wherever needed in a small, fast-moving operation

Physical & Practical Reality

This role is physically demanding. You will be on your feet for much of the day, lifting and moving heavy materials regularly, and working in a production environment where stamina and consistency matter. If you are not comfortable with physical work as part of your role, this position will not be suitable.

Training & Onboarding

There is a significant amount of upfront training, particularly around:

• BRCGS systems and compliance
• Internal processes and verification
• Production methods and standards

This requires focus, patience, and resilience. It is not an “easy start” — but it is extremely rewarding for the right person.

Who This Role Is For

This role suits someone who:

• Has hands-on experience in a BRCGS-compliant food manufacturing environment
• Has carried out internal audits and understands compliance evidence
• Enjoys combining production work with technical responsibility
• Takes pride in detail, consistency, and doing things properly
• Is a team player who communicates well and supports others
• Wants responsibility and ownership, not just tasks
• Thrives in a small, family-run business where their work genuinely matters

Essential Experience & Skills

• Experience in food production or manufacturing
• Minimum 1 year in a quality / food safety / technical role
• Experience supporting or conducting audits
• Working knowledge of BRCGS standards
• Strong IT skills (Excel, Word)
• Excellent written and verbal communication
• Physically fit, reliable, and hands-on

Desirable Qualifications (or Working Towards)

• HACCP Level 2 or 3
• VACCP/TACCP
• Food Hygiene for Manufacturing – Level 2 or 3
• Equivalent experience will be considered

Who This Role Is Not For

Please do not apply if:

• You’re looking for a basic warehouse or pick-and-pack role
• You want a purely desk-based QA position
• You are heavily academic and not interested in hands-on production work
• You are not comfortable with physical work
• You do not have experience with food safety or BRCGS environments

Being honest here saves everyone time — including yours.

What We Offer

• Competitive salary based on experience
• Company pension scheme
• Onsite parking
• Ongoing training in Food Hygiene, HACCP, and BRCGS compliance
• A supportive, close-knit, family-run working environment
• The chance to play a key role in a respected, award-winning brand

If you’re practical, technically capable, detail-driven, and motivated by quality and standards — we’d love to hear from you. Apply with your CV and a short cover note explaining why this role suits you.