Raw Material Quality Manager

Raw Material Quality Manager 

We're looking for a Raw Materials Quality Manager to join our Technical team at our Clitheroe site, playing a key role in ensuring the highest standards of food safety, quality, legality and customer compliance.

About The Compleat Food Group

At The Compleat Food Group, we’re proud to be a food business built on purpose and passion. Formed in 2021, we’re on a mission to create Food to Feel Good – great quality, tasty and affordable food that people love to eat.

We’re home to some of the UK’s most exciting and loved food brands, including Wall’s Pastry, Pork Farms, Wrights, The Real Yorkshire Pudding Co., unearthed, Vadasz, Squeaky Bean, Palace Culture, and Harvey & Brockless. Alongside our branded portfolio, we’re a leading supplier of delicious own-label pastry, sweet bakery, party food, olives and antipasti, added-value egg products, continental meats, dips and sauces and plant-based food to the UK’s major retailers, as well as across foodservice.

With over 6,000 talented colleagues across 17 sites, and an annual turnover of £1.3bn, we’re united by a shared ambition to shape the future of food for the better.

We are backed by European private equity firm PAI Partners.

Location: Clitheroe

Hours: Monday – Thursday: 8:30am – 5pm and Friday: 8:30am – 4pm

Salary:  £40,000 – £45,000 per annum

Purpose:

We are looking for a Raw Materials Quality Manager to lead and manage the Raw Materials Quality function across the Clitheroe sites (Lincoln Way and Twin Brook), ensuring all raw materials meet the required standards of food safety, quality, legality and customer compliance to support the manufacture of safe, high-quality products.

The Raw Materials Quality Manager is responsible for leading the Raw Materials Quality team, monitoring and ensuring compliance with quality systems across the function and the Low-Risk Warehouse, supporting internal and external audit compliance and driving a culture of continuous improvement across the site on the designated shift.

Key Duties, Responsibilities & Accountabilities:

Team Leadership & Management:

• Lead, develop, and manage the Raw Material team to enable them to fulfil their responsibilities 
• Ensure all Raw Material team positions are robustly structured, including covering Shift Supervision where necessary 
• Set objectives and performance standards for the Raw Material Team department. 
• Conduct performance reviews and identify training and development needs. 
• Foster a proactive food safety and quality culture across the shift with all departments. 
• Provide technical guidance and support to other departments. 

Food Safety & Quality Management:

• Approval of raw materials and ongoing assessment against UK food law, BRCGS standards, customer Codes of Practice, internal specifications and HACCP based food safety hurdles required by the sites 
• Ensure raw material controls align with the site HACCP plan, including PRPs and CCP support activities. 
• Manage supplier issues, communications and enquiries related to raw materials  
• Review and/or manage raw material risk assessments, including biological, chemical, physical and allergen risks 
• Control raw material intake process to ensure raw materials are compliant for food safety, quality, authenticity and legality at site and at third party storage providers. 
• Control sampling plans for intake of raw materials including organoleptic, micro and chemical testing

Environmental Control: 

• Monitor adherence to hygiene procedures and personnel practices. 
• Verify effectiveness of cleaning and sanitation programmes in low-risk warehouse. 
• Ensure allergen controls and segregation procedures are maintained. 
• Conduct regular low-risk warehouse inspections and GMP audits. 
• Identify and escalate food safety risks promptly. 

Compliance & Auditing:

• Support in certification compliance for BRCGS and customer audits at intake and the low-risk warehouse. 
• Support the Site Technical Manager and be actively involved during any audit or customer visit, either through shop floor presence or documentation acquisition/presentation. 
• Monitor the return of out of specification micro results for raw materials and react in accordance with quality system requirements 
• Manage internal audit non-conformances for the raw materials team 
• Maintain site quality documentation and records, including NCR’s and concessions raised on shift 

Product Quality Assurance:

• Oversee raw material assessment and release procedures, leveraging supply chain knowledge and seasonal factors 
• Complete raw material traceability with suppliers on request including unannounced internal and external audits 
• Raise non-conformances with suppliers and manage for adequate close out  
• Support in export preparation, compliance and visits  
• Arrange and manage GMP audits in warehouse and close out of any deviations 
• Act as the technical contact for supplier quality issues and escalations 
• Manage, communicate and approve/reject raw material concessions in a timely manner 
• Control delivery artwork checks to ensure packaging is correct for compliance and legality.  
• Manage communication of issues of ingredient held stock. 
• Lead raw material input into food safety incidents, withdrawals and recalls as required 
• Ensure RCA is completed to identify preventive actions 
• Support process department during the concept to launch process to ensure all new products, once launched, comply with current quality system requirements.

Continuous Improvement:

• Review and implement action plans for trends in all areas including GMP, audit non-conformances, supplier issues, intake sampling 
• Analyse quality data and KPIs to drive performance improvements by identifying recurring deviations. 
• Identify opportunities to reduce waste, defects, complaints, and non-conformances. 
• Support site improvement projects and process optimisation initiatives. 
• Promote best practice throughout the manufacturing operation.
• Building relationships with our suppliers with the support of the outsourced department
• Quality improvement initiatives through supplier engagement and specification reviews

Reporting & Communication:

• Ensure reports are completed and handed over 
• Work closely with Production, Technical, Engineering, Hygiene, Planning, and Supply Chain teams. 
• Provide quality input into new product development and process changes. 
• Ensure quality considerations are embedded in operational decision-making.

Training & Support:

• Ensure Raw Material team training needs are known, up to and completed in a timely manner 
• Support production teams in understanding quality requirements.  
• Promote positive food safety and quality culture.  
• Assist with staff training in quality and hygiene procedures when required

Health & Safety:

• Ensure that the objectives of the company Health Safety & Environment Policy are fully understood and observed by all levels of managers and employees, especially with regards to their individual duties and responsibilities.  
• Ensure that resources are available so that the requirements of the company’s policy for Safety, Health & Welfare, and all applicable legislation can be complied with.  
• Ensure that risk assessments and systems of work are safe and free from risk to health, so far as is reasonably practicable, and are formulated, documented, communicated, and trained. Continually seek to identify ways to reduce risk
• Ensure that adequate supervision is provided so that the work procedures are carried out. This is also to include works carried out by contractors and service personnel.  
• Staff undertaking management responsibilities outside normal working hours are adequately trained, and as necessary generally made aware of procedures to be followed in the event of circumstances arising relating to Health & Safety.  
• Before any plant or equipment is taken in to use, it conforms to legal requirements with regards to Health & Safety at Work, including noise.  
• Ensure that, where required, protective clothing and equipment is available to all employees, and that it is correctly used by all persons.  
• Take responsibility for all Visitors / Contractors within their departments.  
• Ensure that good housekeeping standards are maintained throughout their areas of responsibility.  
• Ensure that appropriate remedial action is taken in respect of all reported defects and complaints / non-conformances.  
• Ensure that all equipment is properly and regularly maintained, and repaired by competent persons, and that records are maintained of these works.  
• Assist in conducting audits and routine inspections.  
• Stop a process that is operating out of compliance or specification on legal requirements or is unsafe.  
•  Monitoring the performance with regard to Health & Safety at work of those persons who have responsibility for implementation of the Health Safety & Environment Policy of the company is delegated.  
• Provide adequate incentives to managers and employees to perform in accordance with the relevant standards, laws, and regulations. This involves recognition of exemplary performance and discipline (following full investigation) of behaviour that violates these laws, regulations, and standards

Knowledge, Skills and Experience:

Qualifications:

• L3 Food Safety 
• L3 HACCP Principles 
• Internal Auditor 

Experience:

• Experience in a food manufacturing or high-care production environment, with raw material management experience 
• Experience with BRCGS Food Safety Standards and major UK retailers 
• Understanding of allergen management and environmental monitoring.  

Key Skills:

• Understanding of food safety principles and quality systems.  
• Knowledge of GMP, micro, allergen management, weight control, training and coaching 
• Good English (written, verbal) and good basic numeracy. Good communicator at all levels. 
• Ability to work in an organized, methodical manner 
• Good attention to detail and record-keeping skills 
• Address instances of non-conformance now, not later 
• Ability to work independently and make informed decisions.  
• Strong communication and teamwork skills. 
• Computer literacy (Microsoft Office and quality management systems).  

Qualities:

• Highly observant and detail oriented.  
• Reliable and professional.  
• Proactive approach to problem-solving.  
• Able to work under pressure and meet deadlines.  
• Committed to maintaining high standards of food safety and qualit

Why Join Us?

At The Compleat Food Group, we believe our people are the heart of our success. That’s why we offer a wide range of benefits designed to support your lifestyle, wellbeing and career growth:

Financial & Lifestyle Benefits:

• Salary Sacrifice Schemes – including Electric Vehicles, Home & Tech, Cycle to Work, and SMART Pension
• 33 days’ annual leave with the option to purchase extra
• Holiday Discounts via our online retail platform
• Access to enhanced retail discounts online and in-store
• Free product handouts across our sites, so you can sample and enjoy our delicious products first hand
• EV charging points – available at selected sites

Health & Wellbeing:

• 24/7 access to Grocery Aid for free financial, emotional, and practical support
• Physical Wellbeing Hub – free on-demand exercise classes, gym discounts
• Free diet & nutrition advice with access to thousands of healthy recipes
• Online wellbeing support – from mindfulness to lifestyle resources
• Financial wellbeing tools – including mortgage calculators, budgeting tools, and financial aid

Career Growth & Development:

• Access to a personalised online learning platform (LMS)
• Formal and informal training opportunities tailored to your role
• Performance Development Plans and regular Career Conversations
• Company Mentoring Scheme  to add depth and really support your career journey
• Recognition through Club Compleat rewards

Community & Culture:

• 2 paid volunteering days per year to give back to causes that matter to you
• Charity initiatives and fundraising events
• Team socials to connect and celebrate together
• Employee networks & support groups – including Women @ Compleat
• New baby gift for new parents

What You Should Know About How We Recruit

At The Compleat Food Group, we believe great teams are built on difference. We create an inclusive, respectful environment where everyone feels safe, supported, and are able to be themselves at work.

We’re proud to be an equal opportunities employer and are committed to Fairness, Equity, Inclusivity, and Respect. If you need a reasonable adjustment at any stage of our recruitment process, just let us know, we’ll support you — confidentially and with care.

We hire the best people for our roles, not the same people. Whoever you are, wherever you’re from, we focus on what you do and the impact you could make in our business. Our recruitment process is fair, accessible, and designed to give everyone an equal chance.

You’ll also find benefits that support people at every life stage, plus active internal networks — including Women @ Compleat, LGBTQIA+, and Neurodiversity