Quality Control Manager

Quality Control Manager Stanford-le-Hope, Essex Full Time (40 hours, Monday-Friday) £65k + Bonus Join a leading fresh produce business and make quality your legacy. We are looking for an experienced Quality Control Manager to lead our QC function at our site in Stanford-le-Hope. If you're passionate about fresh produce, thrive in fast-paced environments, and enjoy leading teams to deliver exceptional quality standards, this is an exciting opportunity to make a real impact. Working closely with our Technical Manager and Operations Director, you'll take ownership of quality processes across intake, inspection, compliance and supplier management - ensuring our customers and retail partners receive the very best product every time. Your key responsibilities will include: Supplier & Grower Management Maintaining the Approved Supplier and Grower Lists Ensuring compliance with company and customer requirements Managing updates, reviews and communication with internal teamsProduct Quality & Intake Overseeing intake inspections for grapes, citrus, apples and kiwi Managing product rejections, returns and root cause investigations Ensuring concessionary product is handled correctly Supporting contingency purchases and product liability processesQuality Systems & Compliance Managing shelf-life testing and reporting Overseeing positive release procedures and grower checks Conducting stock reviews and cold store inspections Ensuring compliance with weights & measures regulations Supporting food safety, contamination controls and regulatory inspectionsTeam Leadership Leading, motivating and developing the QC team Managing recruitment, training and performance reviews Ensuring all staff follow required quality procedures and standards Maintaining accurate training and compliance recordsHealth, Safety & Continuous Improvement Ensuring compliance with the Health & Safety at Work Act Supporting audits and regulatory inspections Driving continuous improvement across QC processes and systems Contributing to operational meetings and cross-department communicationWe're looking for someone who combines technical expertise with strong leadership skills. Essential HACCP trained Experience in a senior QC or technical role within fresh produce Strong understanding of quality systems and food safety Excellent organisational and communication skills Confident using Microsoft Excel, Word and internal systems Ability to prioritise and adapt in a fast-moving environmentDesirable Experience working with citrus and grape categories Previous leadership or management trainingWhy Join? Work within a growing fresh produce business supplying leading retailers Lead an important function with real influence on product quality Opportunity to develop your leadership and technical career Collaborative, fast-paced industry environmentApply now to play a key role in delivering quality from field to shelf