Quality Assurance Auditor

Quality Assurance Auditor Job Advert

Job Details

Job Title: Quality Assurance Auditor

Location: On Site

Reports to: Senior Technical Manager

Annual Salary: 30,000 - 32,000

Key Internal Relationships: Production, Technical, Hygiene, Supply Chain, Sales

Key External Relationships: Clients, External Audit Providers, Relevant Authorities

The Opportunity

We are looking for a hands-on Quality Assurance Auditor to join our growing FMCG bakery business.

Panificio Italiano is an independent bakery operating from a new, state-of-the-art automated site, producing a range of products from traditional recipes through to new speciality breads.

This is a key role responsible for maintaining the day-to-day quality assurance framework across the bakery, ensuring that products and processes consistently meet the required quality, food safety and regulatory standards.

You will conduct production, hygiene and quality audits, oversee critical control checks, investigate non-conformances and customer complaints, and drive corrective and preventative actions through to effective closure.

The site currently operates within a largely manual, document-based quality environment, so strong attention to detail, accurate record keeping and a structured approach will be particularly important. This role will also play an important part in improving quality discipline, audit readiness, traceability and operational control across the site.

Working closely with Production, Technical and Hygiene, you will be visible on the bakery floor, identifying potential issues, challenging standards where required and helping teams to resolve quality and food safety risks before they become problems.

Key Responsibilities

Quality Systems and Standards

· Maintain and support the implementation of quality assurance standards, procedures and inspection systems.

· Review the effectiveness of existing quality and inspection systems and recommend improvements where required.

· Monitor production and quality standards and support the development of appropriate testing protocols.

· Own and maintain the site's document management system, including the daily monitoring and review of quality documentation and feedback.

· Ensure quality records and documentation are maintained to a consistent, accurate and audit-ready standard.

Auditing and Inspection

· Plan, conduct and monitor inspections and testing of raw materials, work in progress and finished products.

· Conduct daily, weekly and monthly production quality audits.

· Conduct hygiene audits and scheduled checks including silo sieve, magnet and G&P checks where required.

· Document internal audits and other quality assurance activities accurately and consistently.

· Coordinate and support external audits conducted by clients, audit providers and relevant authorities.

· Carry out goods-in and dispatch checks where required.

· Identify quality issues promptly and work with the relevant teams to ensure appropriate action is taken.

Non-Conformance, Complaints and Corrective Action

· Investigate customer complaints and internal non-conformances, identifying root causes and appropriate responses.

· Develop, recommend and monitor corrective and preventative actions.

· Track actions through to effective closure and verify that agreed actions have been implemented.

· Evaluate audit findings and ensure appropriate corrective actions are completed.

· Identify and help resolve production and workflow issues that may affect product quality.

· Monitor quality risks across the site and escalate emerging issues promptly.

· Analyse quality information and trends to identify opportunities for improvement.

Calibration, Verification and Traceability

· Carry out daily and monthly scale and probe verification as required.

· Maintain calibration records, files and schedules.

· Identify and immediately escalate equipment that is out of specification and ensure appropriate action is taken.

· Carry out the monthly traceability exercise and report the results.

· Support the maintenance of effective traceability and verification systems across the site.

Taste Panel and Product Review

· Conduct the daily taste panel exercise.

· Record and report taste panel findings accurately.

· Communicate findings to the relevant teams and follow up on any actions arising from the review.

Reporting and Communication

· Prepare clear and accurate reports covering quality activities, audit findings and areas for improvement.

· Provide timely quality information to support day-to-day operational decision making.

· Work closely with Production, Technical, Hygiene and Supply Chain to maintain clear visibility of quality performance and risks.

· Communicate quality issues confidently and constructively across different levels of the business.

Health, Safety and Food Safety

· Follow all relevant health, safety, food safety and quality policies, procedures and instructions.

· Contribute to maintaining a safe, hygienic and compliant working environment.

· Report potential food safety and quality issues promptly to the relevant manager.

· Support the effective implementation and maintenance of the site's Food Safety Management System.

· Monitor and report on food safety and quality practices across the site.

· Assist with internal and external audits and support the completion of remedial actions.

· Liaise with customers, external organisations and relevant authorities where required.

What We’re Looking For

· Previous experience in a Quality Assurance, Quality Control or auditing role within a manufacturing environment.

· Experience working in FMCG, food manufacturing, bakery or another fast-paced production environment.

· Practical experience of quality inspection, auditing, testing and defect management.

· Good understanding of quality assurance principles, testing best practice and relevant regulatory requirements.

· Experience investigating non-conformances, identifying root causes and implementing corrective actions.

· Strong computer skills, including Microsoft Office and confidence working with quality systems, databases or similar applications.

· Strong attention to detail and the ability to maintain accurate records in a fast-moving environment.

· Good written and verbal communication skills, with the confidence to work across Production, Technical and Hygiene teams.

· A practical, hands-on approach with the ability to work independently and use initiative.

· Organised and process-minded, with a focus on improving structure, accuracy and control.

· Confidence to challenge constructively where standards, procedures or practices fall short.

Desirable:

· Degree-level qualification or 2–3 years' relevant experience within bakery, food manufacturing or a similar environment.

· Qualifications or certifications in Food Safety, Food Hygiene, HACCP, Internal Auditing or Site Auditing.

· Experience within food manufacturing, packaging, process manufacturing or other high-volume manufacturing environments.

· Experience improving quality documentation, reporting systems or operational processes.

· Familiarity with quality management systems or ERP systems.

Why Join Us

This is an important opportunity to join a growing FMCG bakery business and play a key role in strengthening the quality function across a new, state-of-the-art manufacturing site.

You will have the opportunity to bring greater structure, discipline and visibility to the site's quality assurance activities, while working closely with Production, Technical, Hygiene and Supply Chain to improve quality performance and operational control.

The role provides genuine scope to identify improvements, influence working practices and help build a more robust and reliable quality culture across the bakery.

This role would suit someone who enjoys being close to the production floor, solving practical problems, investigating issues and working collaboratively with different teams to maintain high standards.

If you have experience in quality assurance, quality control or auditing within a fast-paced food or manufacturing environment and enjoy bringing structure, accuracy and continuous improvement to quality operations, we would like to hear from you.

Pay: £30,000.00-£32,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• On-site parking

Work Location: In person