At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead product quality and food safety in a fast-paced food manufacturing environment.
- Company: Established food manufacturing business with a focus on quality and safety.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, career development, and the chance to influence brand standards.
- Other info: Collaborative culture with opportunities for growth and travel.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on product integrity and drive continuous improvement.
- Qualifications: Experience in food quality management and strong knowledge of food safety legislation.
The predicted salary is between 40000 - 50000 £ per year.
An established food manufacturing business is seeking an experienced Product Manager to lead product quality and food safety at a high‑volume production facility. This is a key role within the site leadership structure, responsible for safeguarding product integrity, driving continuous quality improvement and acting as the guardian of brand standards.
Operating within a fast‑moving FMCG environment, the role offers genuine influence across operations, technical and supply chain teams, with exposure to customer and regulatory stakeholders both in the UK and overseas.
Key Responsibilities
- Full accountability for site product quality and food safety performance
- Lead all regulatory, customer and third‑party audits (announced and unannounced)
- Maintain, develop and audit the Total Quality Management System
- Drive a continuous improvement culture focused on quality, yield and consumer value
- Act as a HACCP team member, ensuring risk assessments, validation and verification are robust
- Oversee raw material intake quality, yield optimisation and allocation
- Manage product quality incidents and complaints through effective RCA and corrective action
- Ensure customer specifications and quality systems are accurate, current and clearly communicated
- Partner with cross‑functional teams to embed best practice and consistent ways of working
- Lead, coach and develop technical team members to ensure capability and engagement
- Act as the custodian of brand quality and integrity
About You
- An experienced Product Quality / Technical Manager from a food or fresh produce environment
- Confident leading audits and acting with authority in a regulated manufacturing setting
- Strong working knowledge of food safety legislation and customer standards
- Collaborative, resilient and commercially minded
- Comfortable influencing across functions and managing multiple stakeholders
- Detail‑focused, analytical and proactive in problem solving
Qualifications & Experience
- Degree in Food Science, Horticulture, Agriculture or similar discipline
- HACCP Level 4 and Level 4 Food Safety
- Internal and third‑party auditing experience
- Proven leadership experience within FMCG or fresh food manufacturing
- Experience driving continuous improvement initiatives
- Full UK driving licence and flexibility to travel to UK and overseas sites as required
Product Manager in City of London employer: Zest
Contact Detail:
Zest Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Product Manager in City of London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to folks in the food manufacturing industry, especially those who work in product management. A friendly chat can lead to insider info about job openings or even a referral.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by brushing up on your knowledge of food safety legislation and quality management systems. We want you to be ready to impress with your expertise and show how you can safeguard product integrity.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your leadership skills! Be ready to discuss how you've led teams or driven continuous improvement initiatives in past roles. We love hearing about real-life examples that demonstrate your impact.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we’re always keen to see candidates who are proactive and engaged.
We think you need these skills to ace Product Manager in City of London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the Product Manager role. Highlight your experience in food safety and quality management, and don’t forget to mention any relevant audits you've led. We want to see how your background aligns with our needs!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to tell us why you're passionate about product quality and how you can drive continuous improvement. Be sure to connect your skills to the key responsibilities listed in the job description.
Showcase Your Achievements: When detailing your experience, focus on specific achievements that demonstrate your impact in previous roles. Whether it's improving product quality or leading successful audits, we love to see quantifiable results that show your capabilities.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother process. It helps us keep everything organised and ensures your application gets the attention it deserves. Plus, it’s super easy!
How to prepare for a job interview at Zest
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of food safety legislation and quality management systems. Familiarise yourself with HACCP principles and be ready to discuss how you've applied them in past roles. This will show that you're not just a candidate, but a knowledgeable expert.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Prepare examples of how you've led teams or projects in the past, especially in a regulated environment. Think about times when you’ve driven continuous improvement initiatives or managed product quality incidents. This will demonstrate your capability to lead and influence others effectively.
✨Be Ready for Audits
Since this role involves leading audits, practice discussing your experience with both internal and third-party audits. Be prepared to explain how you handle unannounced audits and what steps you take to ensure compliance with customer and regulatory standards.
✨Engage with Cross-Functional Teams
Think of examples where you've collaborated with different departments, like operations or supply chain teams. Highlight how you’ve embedded best practices and improved communication across functions. This will show that you can work well in a fast-paced FMCG environment and manage multiple stakeholders.