Quality Assurance Technician

Northampton Business Directory; Crick; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading pet food manufacturer is seeking a Quality Assurance Technician to join their technical team in Crick. The role involves conducting audits, managing non-conforming materials, and ensuring compliance with food safety standards. Candidates should have a GCSE or equivalent, as well as knowledge of HACCP principles. The position offers a salary of £16.82 per hour and additional benefits including enhanced parental leave and a pension plan.

Benefits

Hourly salary of £16.82

Enhanced maternity/paternity/pawternity

Free parking

Free electric car charging

Discounted products

Free hot drinks

Medicash Plan

Overtime

Qualifications

• GCSE or equivalent standard; numerate and literate.
• Basic Computer literate for standard office practices.
• Health and Safety - level Two.
• Food hygiene - level Two.

Responsibilities

• Conduct production line and operator compliance audits.
• Management and investigation of non-conforming materials.
• Ensure compliance of blended kibble finished products.

Skills

Numerate and literate

Basic Computer literacy

Understanding of HACCP principles

Non-conformance reporting techniques

Understanding of basic food safety

Education

GCSE or equivalent

Job description

The Company:

IPN is an innovative, well-established, and award-winning pet food manufacturer, employing over 850 people across our UK sites. Our family of brands include Harringtons, Wagg, Barking Heads & Meowing Heads, AATU, Blink, Butchers, Classic Cat and a selection of partner brands that trust us to produce food on their behalf. Our kitchens in Thirsk, Kinmel and Crick produce dry, wet, and baked foods which are enjoyed by dogs and cats all over the world.

The Role:

We are looking for a Quality Assurance Technician to join our technical team in Crick. This is a permanent position working 40 hours per week, Monday - Friday (14:00 - 22:00).

Key Accountabilities:

• Conduct production line and operator compliance audits
• Conduct area and paperwork compliance checks, escalating any issues or trends identified
• Management and investigation of non-conforming materials and products (hold / quarantine process)
• Conduct composition checks on blended kibble finished products to ensure compliance to specification
• Daily calibration of water activity equipment
• Management of retained sample storage
• Carry out NIR analysis on defined raw materials and finished product samples
• Ensure that a safe working environment exists for all colleagues and that as a minimum the department meets the standards set out in the safety, health and environment policy

Additional Accountabilities:

• Collection and collation of product samples (finished product retained / DEFRA samples)
• Conduct goods in checks on packaging deliveries, including raising non-conformance report with supplier where applicable
• Customer complaint investigations
• Conduct / support traceability exercises
• Prepare samples for finished product quality panels
• Conduct refresher training for operational staff (CCP's, average weight control)
• New product first production run audits / sign-off

Knowledge, Skills and Experience

• GCSE or equivalent standard; numerate and literate
• Basic Computer literate for standard office practices
• Health and Safety - level Two
• Food hygiene - level Two
• CCP training including HACCP principles for Manufacturing
• Internal Audit Process; Understanding and Experience
• Allergen Awareness; Understanding of risk
• GMP; Knowledge of techniques
• Non-conformance reporting techniques
• Microbiological awareness - understanding of basic food safety
• Basic legal labelling practice
• Basic weight legislation

Benefits:

• Hourly salary of £16.82
• Enhanced maternity/paternity/pawternity
• Pension: NEST Employee contributions 4.5% / Employer contribution 3.5% - salary sacrifice
• Other Benefits: Free parking, free electric car charging, discounted products & free hot drinks.
• Medicash Plan
• Overtime
• You are also able to choose a non-contractual flexible benefits, such as being able to purchase heavily discounted pet food.