Job Description
Our Client
We are partnering with a well-established international FMCG food business that is strengthening its UK operations and is looking to appoint a Head of Quality Assurance. As the business continues to expand, this role will be instrumental in building a robust quality and food safety framework that supports manufacturing, retail operations, and imported product compliance across the UK.
Role Overview
This is a rare opportunity to build the Quality function from the ground up, reporting directly to the Managing Director. You will establish the Quality Management System, food safety framework, and operational standards across the UK business, covering manufacturing, retail food operations, and imported products.
This is a highly hands-on individual contributor role, ideal for someone who enjoys building systems, driving change, and creating best practices rather than managing a large, established quality team.
Key Responsibilities
- Design, implement, and lead the Quality Management System (QMS) for the UK business
- Develop the company’s Quality Playbook, including SOPs, food safety procedures, quality standards, and governance frameworks
- Ensure compliance with UK Food Standards Agency (FSA), BRCGS, HACCP, ISO 22000, and all applicable UK food regulations
- Lead quality assurance across the UK manufacturing facility, ensuring product quality, food safety, and process control
- Support quality and food safety standards across the company’s retail food outlets (QSR channel)
- Establish supplier approval, raw material inspection, and incoming goods quality processes
- Develop factory quality controls, process validation, and product release procedures
- Drive root cause analysis, CAPA, and continuous improvement initiatives to reduce quality deviations, complaints, and waste
- Lead internal audits, external audits, and retailer technical audits while maintaining audit readiness
- Partner closely with Operations, Supply Chain, Procurement, Commercial, and R&D teams to embed quality across the business
- Develop quality KPIs, reporting dashboards, and performance monitoring systems
- Lead product complaint investigations, recall preparedness, and risk management activities
- Provide technical guidance on new product development, shelf-life validation, and product specifications
Must-Have
- 12+ years of experience in FMCG food manufacturing quality
- Strong hands-on experience within factory quality and food manufacturing environments
- Demonstrated experience building or implementing Quality Management Systems from scratch
- Strong knowledge of BRCGS, HACCP, ISO 22000, and UK food regulations
- Experience leading BRCGS implementation, certification, or major retailer audits
- Proven experience in supplier quality management, factory audits, and food safety governance
- Experience within Indian, Asian, or ethnic food manufacturing is highly preferred
- Exposure to imported food products and international supply chains is advantageous
- Strong understanding of root cause analysis, CAPA, product specifications, and continuous improvement methodologies
- Degree in Food Science, Food Technology, Microbiology, or a related discipline
Next Steps
Upload your resume via our ATS platform and ensure all form details are complete. Shortlisted candidates will be contacted within 5–7 working days for a more detailed discussion about the role. Please note, due to high application volumes, we will only respond to shortlisted profiles.