Quality Systems Manager

Quality Systems Manager

Full-Time 36000 - 60000 £ / year (est.) No home office possible
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At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead and enhance our Quality Management System to ensure top-notch food safety and compliance.
  • Company: Join Westfalia Fruit, a global leader in fresh produce with a vibrant culture.
  • Benefits: Enjoy 20 days holiday, free parking, and a company pension plan.
  • Why this job: Make a real impact on food safety and quality in a dynamic environment.
  • Qualifications: Experience in quality systems and strong knowledge of food safety legislation required.
  • Other info: Be part of a team that values continuous improvement and collaboration.

The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.

Westfalia Fruit is a leading multinational supplier of fresh fruit and related value-added products to global markets. Through our vertically-integrated supply chain, we grow, source, ripen, pack, process and market quality avocadoes and fresh produce - 365 days a year across the globe. With the largest avocado-growing footprint in the world, we are recognised as the leading #avoexperts and considered the supplier of choice to both retail and wholesale customers whom we serve from sales offices in the UK, Europe, North America, Latin America and Southern Africa.

The Quality Systems Manager is responsible for maintaining and improving the UK site-level Quality Management System (QMS), ensuring compliance with food safety, legal, and customer standards. The role supports the development of the HACCP/Food Safety and Quality Plan, manages internal and third-party audits, and embeds a strong culture of compliance, food safety, and continuous improvement. This position plays a critical role in safeguarding product integrity, supporting customer satisfaction, and enabling operational efficiency by ensuring systems, documentation, and processes are robust, effective, and consistently applied.

Responsibilities

  • Lead the Quality Standard - Own and maintain a fully functional Quality Management System (QMS), ensuring full compliance with all legal, customer, and industry standards.
  • Champion Food Safety - Drive the ongoing development of HACCP and Food Safety & Quality Plans, embedding a strong food safety culture across site operations.
  • Audit-Ready, Always - Manage internal audit schedules, lead corrective and preventive actions, and ensure the site is always prepared for external certifications like BRC and GG COC.
  • Train & Empower Teams - Deliver impactful training on QMS, GMP, and food safety practices to build knowledge and accountability across the workforce.
  • Drive Compliance Metrics - Track and deliver key site KPIs for audits, hygiene, GMP, and environmental standards, ensuring continuous performance improvement.
  • Control Hygiene & Pest Management - Oversee hygiene service providers and pest control contractors to maintain the highest site standards.
  • Cross-Functional Collaboration - Work closely with Operations, Technical, Hygiene, and Engineering teams to enhance processes and ensure quality at every stage.
  • Support Continuous Improvement - Be a key player in site improvement initiatives, evolving systems to meet changing business and regulatory demands.
  • Right First Time Approach - Champion grading and defect management at source to reduce waste and increase product quality from the ground up.
  • Key Liaison Point - Act as the main contact for third-party auditors, industry bodies, and certification organizations to represent the site professionally and confidently.

Travel Requirements

  • Occasional UK travel to suppliers, service providers, or industry bodies for audits, training, or system alignment.
  • Limited international travel may be required to support alignment with global systems.

Requirements

  • Essential Experience in a quality systems role within fresh produce, FMCG, or food manufacturing.
  • Demonstrable experience managing QMS, audits, and certification processes.
  • Strong working knowledge of UK food safety legislation and retailer standards.
  • Proficient in HACCP, GMP, and internal auditing practices.
  • Experience with QMS platforms and data-driven quality management.
  • Ability to interpret and apply standards from BRC, GlobalG.A.P, and customer codes of practice.
  • Detail-oriented and systematic, with strong organisational skills.
  • Confident communicator able to influence at all levels.
  • Problem-solver with a continuous improvement mindset.
  • Collaborative team player with a proactive, hands-on approach.

Desirable

  • Food Safety or Quality Management qualifications (HACCP, Lead Auditor, BRC) preferred.
  • Experience working with fresh produce, ripening, or packing operations.
  • Exposure to digital quality systems, traceability tools, and data analytics platforms.
  • Continuous improvement certification (Lean Six Sigma, Kaizen).
  • Prior engagement with UK retailer audits and customer quality requirements.

Benefits

  • 20 days holiday plus public holidays.
  • Free on-site parking.
  • Additional Annual Leave day on your Birthday.
  • Company pension plan.
  • Medicash plan.
  • Life Insurance.

Please note that this position does not have a specific closing date. We encourage you to apply as soon as possible as we will be reviewing applications on a rolling basis and the advert may be removed at any time. We're an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to age, ethnicity, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, family or parental status, national origin, or veteran, neurodiversity or disability status.

Quality Systems Manager employer: Westfalia Fruit

Westfalia Fruit is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment in Spalding, UK, where employees are empowered to lead quality initiatives and champion food safety. With a strong focus on continuous improvement, comprehensive training opportunities, and a commitment to employee well-being through benefits like additional annual leave on birthdays and a company pension plan, we foster a culture of collaboration and professional growth. Join us and be part of a globally recognised team dedicated to delivering the highest standards in fresh produce.
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Contact Detail:

Westfalia Fruit Recruiting Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫

We think this is how you could land Quality Systems Manager

✨Tip Number 1

Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the industry, attend events, and connect on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.

✨Tip Number 2

Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its values. Understand their quality management systems and food safety practices. This will help you show that you're not just a fit for the role, but also for their culture.

✨Tip Number 3

Practice your answers to common interview questions, especially those related to quality systems and compliance. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your responses and highlight your achievements.

✨Tip Number 4

Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive about their job search.

We think you need these skills to ace Quality Systems Manager

Quality Management System (QMS)
HACCP
Food Safety
GMP
Internal Auditing
BRC Standards
GlobalG.A.P
Data-Driven Quality Management
Organisational Skills
Communication Skills
Problem-Solving Skills
Continuous Improvement Mindset
Collaboration
Digital Quality Systems
Traceability Tools

Some tips for your application 🫡

Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV reflects the specific skills and experiences that match the Quality Systems Manager role. Highlight your experience with QMS, HACCP, and food safety to show us you're the right fit!

Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to tell us why you're passionate about quality systems in fresh produce and how you can contribute to our team at Westfalia Fruit.

Showcase Your Achievements: Don’t just list your responsibilities; share your achievements! Quantify your successes in previous roles, like improvements in compliance metrics or successful audits, to grab our attention.

Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website for the best chance of being noticed. It’s the easiest way for us to keep track of your application and get back to you quickly!

How to prepare for a job interview at Westfalia Fruit

✨Know Your QMS Inside Out

Make sure you have a solid understanding of Quality Management Systems, especially in the context of fresh produce. Be ready to discuss how you've managed QMS in previous roles and any specific challenges you've faced.

✨Showcase Your Food Safety Knowledge

Brush up on UK food safety legislation and standards like HACCP and GMP. Prepare examples of how you've implemented these practices in past positions, as this will demonstrate your expertise and commitment to food safety.

✨Be Audit-Ready

Since the role involves managing audits, think about your experiences with internal and external audits. Be prepared to share how you've led corrective actions and ensured compliance, as this will highlight your proactive approach.

✨Emphasise Collaboration Skills

This position requires working closely with various teams. Think of examples where you've successfully collaborated across departments to enhance quality processes. This will show that you're a team player who can drive compliance and continuous improvement.

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