Quality Group Leader

Group Quality Leader

Join Our Technical Team at The Compleat Food Group!

We’re looking for a motivated and detail-focused Quality Group Leader, to lead our team of Quality Control Technicians. In this key role, you’ll support our commitment to compliance with Group, Customer, and BRC standards while driving continuous improvement across the business. You'll play a vital part in upholding our due diligence processes and ensuring product quality at every step.

The Group Quality Leader will be responsible for maintaining, updating, and effectively implementing the Poole Bakery Food Safety and Quality Plans in line with customer requirements and legislative standards. This role will also lead, manage and motivate the Quality Control Technicians to ensure high standards across the factory.

Who We Are:

At The Compleat Food Group, we're on a mission to create delectable food that not only brings joy to your taste buds but also extends love to our planet. We fondly refer to it as 'Food to Feel Good' because we believe in savouring every bite whilst making a positive impact.

Our team of over c6,000 remarkable individuals forms the core of all that we undertake. Their genuine passion drives the creation of delectable products for UK consumers, prominent retailers, and our thrilling market-leading brands such as Wall's Pastry, Squeaky Bean, and Unearthed.

Our site at Poole Bakery produces chilled savoury sausage rolls, hot pies, pasties and slices. The business has been producing products at its current site since 1937 and previously as Millers of Poole.

Working Hours: 3 on 3 off: 6am to 6pm

Location: Poole

Salary: £38,000 – £40,000 DOE per annum

Key Duties, Responsibilities & Accountabilities:

• Manage the shift QCTS to ensure effective: recruitment, personnel management, training and succession planning.
• Engage with site stakeholders and departments including HR, SHE, hygiene, process development, operations, planning, technical services, engineering and site services.  
• Lead Shift Quality Meetings based on food safety and quality issues.
• Management of product surveillance, complaints, microbiological, chemistry, taste panel and environmental testing.  
• Management of non-conformity and control of out of specification product and materials.
• Concessions management. 
• Manage artwork/packaging verification/approval, to ensure new artwork is compliant to customer and legal requirements. 
• Manage Internal Audits and GMPs – Issue schedule based on risk assessment, assign audits, complete internal, system, process, traceability / mass balance, CCP and GMP audits as required.
• Manage technical quality equipment and consumables within budget.
• Generate and manage KPIs reports as required by the site, group, and customers.
• Traceability and Mass Balance – in compliance with customer requirements.
• Creation and maintenance of technical procedures as required.
• Complete validations and verifications.  
• Support HACCP Team as required.
• Management of different audits, e.g. internal audits, quality system, fabrication, CCPs, traceability, mass balance, and GMP audits according to company schedule.
• Management of the FSA contacts and completion of export documentation. 
• Manage inline packaging verification system (AutoCoding).
• Site Lead on Internal Audits, Including process, traceability, fabrication, CCP, GMP 
• Site Lead on Validation 
• Drive factory standards to be audit ready all the time.
• Step down to provide quality control technician cover when needed.
• Any other tasks/projects delegated by Factory Technical Manager that are related to the job.

Additionally, as a Quality Group Leader there will be opportunities to work and gain experience on key technical systems and projects:

• Site Lead on QUID 
• Site Lead on Technical Projects including the implementation of new technologies on site.  
• Site Lead on Microbiology and Testing  
•  Complete Gap Analysis to customer, group and industry codes of practice
• Be the site subject matter expert on:
• Traceability 
• SUSSLE
• Auto Coding
• Foreign Body Detection
• Weight Control

Knowledge, Skills and Experience: 

Experience:

• Minimum 5 years of experience in food industry
• Experience with working with Quality Management System
• Applied knowledge of quality assurance principles and GMP
• Validations design and implementation
• Traceability
• Internal audit
• Gap analysis
• Management of product testing and micro investigations
• Experience of managing a small team is advantageous.

Key Skills:

• Good administrative skills
• Ability to consistently meet deadlines
• Good analytical skills
• Good people management skills
• Proficient in the use of MS Office tools
• Problem solving 
• Clear written and verbal communication with a flexible approach for appropriate bottom-up and top-down communication channels.
• Good time management 
• Positive “can do” attitude
• Ability to identify and act on opportunities for improvements
• Be able to engage with site colleagues at all levels to share knowledge and act as site expert 
• To act with integrity 

Knowledge:

• Familiarity with the food legislation
• Food degree or relevant field qualification is advantageous 
• HACCP level 3 is advantageous
• Food safety level 3 is advantageous

Benefits:

• 2 Employee Volunteering Days per year
• Online and High-street retailer discount scheme
• Employee well-being and community support groups
• Informal and Formal training opportunities with personalised online LMS platform
• Charity Initiatives and Team events
• 24/7 Access to Grocery Aid (Free Financial, Emotional and Practical Support)
• Physical Wellbeing Benefits – Free on demand exercise hub and various gym discounts.
• Online Wellbeing benefits
• Free Financial wellbeing – mortgage calculators, budget tools, financial aid tools
• Holiday Discounts via Online Retail Discount

The Compleat Food Group fosters an inclusive, respectful culture where everyone feels safe, supported, and valued. We welcome diverse talent, knowing it drives exceptional results and a better workplace.

We are committed to Fairness, Equity, Inclusivity, and Respect, we ensure all colleagues can thrive by bringing their whole selves to work. As an equal opportunity’s employer, we provide all the support you need to succeed.

Contact us with any questions about Diversity & Inclusion or accessibility during the application process.

Recruitment Agencies: 

We have a small, active and trusted Preferred Supplier List to assist us if required. We do not acknowledge any speculative CVs or unsolicited candidate introductions. We only accept CV submissions for roles released to you directly by our Talent Acquisition team.