Senior Quality Assurance Manager

Alexander Steele Recruitment is working in partnership with an established food manufacturing business that is looking to appoint an experienced Senior Quality Manager to join its Technical and Quality function in Bedfordshire.This is a senior, influential role with responsibility for maintaining and improving quality and food safety standards across a multi-site manufacturing operation. You will work closely with Operations, site Quality teams and senior leadership to ensure robust systems are in place, standards are consistently achieved and opportunities for continuous improvement are identified and delivered.The position would suit an experienced Quality Manager, Senior QA Manager or Technical professional who enjoys combining hands-on quality management with wider multi-site responsibility.On offerExcellent salary offering25 days holiday + bank holidaysEnhanced company pensionPrivate healthcare optionsThe RoleAs Senior Quality Manager, you will take ownership of a broad range of quality, compliance and improvement activities, including:Leading and developing quality standards across multiple manufacturing sites, providing day-to-day support to site Quality Managers and deputising for senior Technical leadership when required.Managing site compliance against BRCGS, customer, legal and internal standards, including coordinating customer, accreditation and regulatory audits and ensuring non-conformances are effectively closed out.Overseeing Quality Management Systems, HACCP, document control, risk management and incident management processes, ensuring systems remain current, robust and effective.Working closely with Operations to identify quality trends, improve manufacturing performance and investigate customer complaints, stock rejections, factory non-conformances and microbiological issues.Managing product and environmental monitoring programmes, including raw material, work-in-progress and finished product testing, while ensuring appropriate corrective actions are implemented where required.Supporting supplier and service-provider performance, including supplier scorecards, audit schedules and key technical contracts, alongside producing weekly, monthly and board-level quality reporting.About YouWe are looking for an experienced food manufacturing quality professional who can confidently operate across both operational and senior management environments.You will ideally have:At least four years' experience within a Technical or Quality Assurance management position in food manufacturing, with proven experience leading and developing Quality teams.Strong knowledge of food safety legislation, BRCGS, retailer requirements, certification standards and Quality Management Systems.Practical experience of auditing manufacturing and quality systems, supported by a Lead Auditor qualification.HACCP Level 4 with practical experience managing and maintaining HACCP systems.Strong communication, leadership and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence across Operations, Technical and wider business functions.A degree or equivalent qualification in Food Science or a related discipline would be advantageous, as would experience within cereal, ingredients or a similar manufacturing environment.You will also need to be comfortable working across different sites when required and be confident managing priorities in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.Why Join?This is a great opportunity to take on a senior quality role within an established food manufacturing business where you will have genuine influence across multiple sites.You will work closely with both operational and senior leadership teams, supporting the continued development of quality standards, systems and people across the business.The role offers plenty of variety, combining strategic quality leadership with hands-on involvement in audits, compliance, continuous improvement and day-to-day manufacturing operations.