QA & Regulatory Manager

Job description

Job Title: Quality & Regulatory Manager

Salary: £55,000

Reporting to: Senior Leadership Team

Location: Kent, UK

Role Purpose

This role is responsible for leading and maintaining robust quality, food safety, and regulatory compliance systems within a food manufacturing environment. The post holder ensures ongoing compliance with legal obligations, customer requirements, and third‑party certification standards, while supporting continuous improvement across the business.

Key Responsibilities

Quality, Food Safety & Compliance

• Lead and maintain accredited food safety and quality standards, ensuring ongoing audit readiness.
• Own and manage food safety systems, including HACCP-based plans, food defence, and food fraud controls.
• Develop, maintain, and continuously improve the Quality Management System (QMS).
• Lead traceability exercises, incident management, and product withdrawals or recalls when required.
• Manage supplier approval, monitoring, and risk assessment for ingredients, packaging, and services.
• Produce and maintain product and material specifications.
• Ensure quality-related induction, training, and awareness activities are delivered across the business.
• Plan and complete routine quality activities including internal audits, hygiene audits, calibration, and verification checks.
• Oversee complaint management, root cause analysis, and corrective actions.

Leadership & Improvement

• Lead and develop the quality function, ensuring team capability, compliance, and engagement.
• Support product development, process changes, and operational improvements from a quality and food safety perspective.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives focused on efficiency, waste reduction, and risk management.
• Monitor food safety culture and emerging risks.
• Establish forums or committees to encourage communication and engagement on quality matters.

Regulatory Compliance

• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of applicable food legislation and regulatory requirements.
• Ensure product labelling and related information meet legal and certification standards.
• Manage compliance data, submissions, and statutory returns using relevant systems and platforms.
• Act as the primary contact with external regulators, auditors, and certification bodies.
• Monitor upcoming legislation and support timely implementation.
• Develop and improve systems, policies, and procedures to support regulatory compliance and due diligence.

General Responsibilities

• Act as a visible advocate for quality, food safety, and compliance across the organisation.
• Advise senior leaders on quality and regulatory matters, providing practical solutions.
• Lead relevant external audits.
• Contribute to senior leadership discussions and strategic planning.
• Promote a positive culture focused on safety, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Maintain accurate records to support compliance and due diligence.

Skills & Experience

• Strong knowledge of recognised food safety and quality standards.
• Proven experience in a quality or technical leadership role within food manufacturing.
• In-depth understanding of HACCP and food integrity systems.
• Health & safety qualification at management or supervisory level.
• Experience in low-risk food production environments (higher-risk experience advantageous).
• Audit experience, including internal and external audits.
• Food hygiene qualification at an appropriate level.

Extra information

Status

Open

Education Level

Secondary School

Location

Kent

Type of Contract

Full Time Jobs

Published at

21-02-2026

Full UK/EU driving license preferred

No

Car Preferred

No

Must be eligible to work in the EU

No

Cover Letter Required

No

Languages

English