Senior Quality Manager

Senior Quality Manager

Permanent Position

Location: Northwich

Industry: Pharmaceutical / Food Laboratories & Manufacturing

Salary: Negotiable

As the guardian of the customer, in the role of Senior Quality Manager you'll shape and drive our Quality Management System (QMS), ensuring it not only meets but exceeds expectations. From maintaining accreditations to leading audits and driving continuous improvement, this is a hands-on leadership role that blends strategic vision with operational impact. As important are the relationships you forge with key stakeholders across our business.
Key Responsibilities
In this role you will:
- Manage the QA and laboratories functions, which includes teams based on various sites to ensure that objectives and KPIs of the QMS are aligned with the company strategy.
- Engage with all levels of the business including the Board.
- Provide reports to the business on quality via routes such as Management Review and Monthly Quality meetings to ensure that all stakeholders are kept informed of trends and challenges, and that the business can make decisions effectively and efficiently.
- Manage all budgets and cost centres for activities relating to quality assurance, quality control/ testing and compliance.
- Be the Quality lead for all NPD and R&D
- Plan and co-ordinate the quality audit programme including taking the lead in receiving external audits (corporate, regulatory and customer) and making sure that an adequate internal/ supplier audit schedule is deployed. Provide responses to audit reports and ensure timely implementation of CAPAs and action lists where required.
- Ensure that all laboratory activities meet statutory, business and customer requirements (e.g. including COSHH, risk assessments, safety and housekeeping standards etc) and that all product is within specification, including managing the batch release process.
- Provide support, guidance and training on matters relating to QA, QC and compliance to stakeholders within the organisation, including teams in operations, engineering, sales and marketing and procurement.
- Lead on investigations into quality critical events such as customer complaints, deviations, recalls/withdrawals and audit findings, working closely with manufacturing/engineering/commercial teams to identify and correct issues.
- Develop KPIs, systems and processes to report and act on quality performance trends. Analyse and benchmark performance to identify areas for improvement in line with business priorities.
- Ensure all current legislation is being adhered to and staying up to date with all legislative changes to ensure these are incorporated into existing systems.
- Provide Quality input into customer and supplier onboarding processes, and customer audit processes.
- Prepare and present QMS data to key stakeholders as required by external accreditations and the SHEQ governance procedures.
What sort of person are we looking for?
We are looking for someone who can bring the following skills and experience:
- An engaging and personable individual who is equally comfortable delivering positive and challenging messages.
- Calm, confident, and solution-focused.
- Proven leadership in quality and laboratory management, ideally across multiple manufacturing sites.
- Experience in the Food and Pharma sectors, with knowledge of standards like GMP (ICHQ7), BRC, ISO 22000, Halal, Kosher, UFAS, knowledge of ISO 9001 and ideally integrated management systems such as ISO 45001.
- Hands-on expertise in external audits, certification bodies, and quality systems.
- Strong data analysis and IT skills, with the ability to present at board level.
- HACCP & GMP experience is essential.
- Certified external auditor.
- Knowledge of ISO 14001 and ISO 17025 would be advantageous.
Job Benefits
Our people have always been at the centre of the company's success and in return for their hard work and commitment, in addition to a competitive salary, we offer a generous benefits package including:
- 37 days holidays per year, inclusive of Bank Holidays
- Roll over of up to 5 days and salary sacrifice additional holiday purchase scheme
- an additional paid day off each year to volunteer for a good cause in the local community
- Excellent contributory Pension scheme up to 9% company contribution
- Life insurance
- Private Healthcare
- Support for professional fees
- A degree of hybrid working will be available to the right candidate, recognising that site presence is critical to the success of this role.