Food Safety & Quality Systems Manager | Merthyr Tydfil

ROLE PURPOSE:

To manage, maintain and continuously improve the site’s Food Safety and Quality Management Systems, ensuring compliance with customer, legal, and third-party standards. The role will lead site HACCP, TACCP, and VACCP processes, manage technical documentation, and act as a key contact during audits and visits. The role also contributes to promoting a strong food safety culture and deputises for the Technical Manager in office-based technical matters.

Role Responsibilities

• HACCP Lead: Chair and maintain the HACCP team, ensuring the site’s HACCP plan is current, validated, and fully implemented.

• TACCP & VACCP Lead: Manage the site’s threat and vulnerability assessments, ensuring site controls are robust, effective, and reviewed annually or when changes occur.

• Risk Assessments and Product Validations: Lead and review food safety and quality-related risk assessments and product validations in line with site, customer and legislative requirements.

• SOP & Policy Management: Responsible for the creation, review, and updating of all relevant technical SOPs, policies, and documentation in line with business, customer and legislative needs.

• iAuditor System Management: Review the site’s iAuditor system including scheduling, creating, uploading and reviewing of audits by the team. Oversee the site’s iAuditor platform; scheduling, uploading, reviewing, and closing out audits.

• Technical SharePoint Management: Maintain and update technical documentation and resources on the site’s SharePoint platform.

• Food Safety Culture Plan: Assist with leading and implementing the site’s Food Safety Culture Plan, including organising initiatives, surveys, training, and follow-ups.

• Internal Audit and Traceability Schedules: Create, manage, and report on the site’s internal audit and traceability schedule, ensuring timely completion and close-out of non-conformances.

• Audit & Visit Preparation: Lead the system preparation and representation for third-party, customer, and regulatory audits and visits.

• Deputising for Technical Manager: Provide cover for the Technical Manager in office-based technical issues when required.

• Site Calendar Management: Maintain the site technical calendar, tracking audits, visits, testing requirements and other technical events and assisting the QA team with sample management.

• People Management: Line management of the Food Safety & Quality Systems Coordinator including performance development, training, and Kallidus (PDP) process management.

• Degree in Food Science, Food Technology, or equivalent, with strong knowledge of food safety and quality assurance.

• Experience in a food manufacturing environment within a technical/QA systems role.

• Proven expertise in food safety compliance, customer standards (e.g., Tesco, M&S), and audit management.

• HACCP Level 3 (minimum), ideally Level 4, with demonstrated HACCP team leadership experience.

• Strong knowledge of food safety legislation, standards (BRCGS, FSA, FSSC, etc.), customer codes of practice and internal auditing.

• Experience leading TACCP/VACCP assessments.

• Proficient in document management systems (ideally SharePoint) and audit management software (iAuditor or similar).

• Strong organisational skills and attention to detail.

• Effective communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to manage, develop and engage others

• 25% Discount in our Butcher Shop.

• Employee Discount Platform – All Kepak employees are entitled to access to the WrkIt platform, which offers significant discounts and cashback with hundreds of brands.
• Refer a Friend Scheme – Get up to £500 for successfully referring a friend or family member to Kepak Group.
• Free Car Parking – Our Kepak site has a dedicated staff car parking facility which is free to use for all of our colleagues.
• Subsidised Canteen – Our on site canteen is serving multiple hot food options during the day.
• Long Service Awards – We recognise, acknowledge and award the dedication and valuable contribution of long serving employees.
• Bike to Work Scheme – You can buy a bike and safety equipment through a salary sacrifice scheme which reduces your taxable income – meaning you pay less tax!
• Training and Development– we are committed to helping you grow in your career, from structured onboarding, regular training (online and in-person), and clear paths for career progression.
• GroceryAid Employee Assistance Program – Providing emotional, practical and financial support for all Kepak colleagues.