Job description

Job Title: Quality & Regulatory Manager
Salary: £55,000
Reporting to: Senior Leadership Team
Location: Kent, UK

Role Purpose

This role is responsible for leading and maintaining robust quality, food safety, and regulatory compliance systems within a food manufacturing environment. The post holder ensures ongoing compliance with legal obligations, customer requirements, and third‑party certification standards, while supporting continuous improvement across the business.

The role also contributes at a senior level, working collaboratively to drive operational excellence, risk reduction, and a strong quality culture.

Key Responsibilities

Quality, Food Safety & Compliance

Lead and maintain accredited food safety and quality standards, ensuring ongoing audit readiness.
Own and manage food safety systems, including HACCP-based plans, food defence, and food fraud controls.
Develop, maintain, and continuously improve the Quality Management System (QMS).
Lead traceability exercises, incident management, and product withdrawals or recalls when required.
Manage supplier approval, monitoring, and risk assessment for ingredients, packaging, and services.
Produce and maintain product and material specifications.
Ensure quality-related induction, training, and awareness activities are delivered across the business.
Plan and complete routine quality activities including internal audits, hygiene audits, calibration, and verification checks.
Oversee complaint management, root cause analysis, and corrective actions.
Work cross-functionally to embed quality and food safety awareness at all levels.

Leadership & Improvement

Lead and develop the quality function, ensuring team capability, compliance, and engagement.
Support product development, process changes, and operational improvements from a quality and food safety perspective.
Drive continuous improvement initiatives focused on efficiency, waste reduction, and risk management.
Monitor food safety culture and emerging risks.
Establish forums or committees to encourage communication and engagement on quality matters.

Regulatory Compliance

Maintain up-to-date knowledge of applicable food legislation and regulatory requirements.
Ensure product labelling and related information meet legal and certification standards.
Manage compliance data, submissions, and statutory returns using relevant systems and platforms.
Act as the primary contact with external regulators, auditors, and certification bodies.
Monitor upcoming legislation and support timely implementation.
Develop and improve systems, policies, and procedures to support regulatory compliance and due diligence.

General Responsibilities

Act as a visible advocate for quality, food safety, and compliance across the organisation.
Advise senior leaders on quality and regulatory matters, providing practical solutions.
Lead relevant external audits.
Contribute to senior leadership discussions and strategic planning.
Promote a positive culture focused on safety, accountability, and continuous improvement.
Maintain accurate records to support compliance and due diligence.

Person Profile

Personal Attributes

Positive, solutions-focused, and resilient under pressure.
High standards with a right-first-time mindset.
Confident, approachable leader with strong professional credibility.
Comfortable operating in an SME environment with a broad business perspective.
Leads by example with integrity, accountability, and continuous improvement focus.

Skills & Experience

Strong knowledge of recognised food safety and quality standards.
Proven experience in a quality or technical leadership role within food manufacturing.
In-depth understanding of HACCP and food integrity systems.
Health & safety qualification at management or supervisory level.
Experience in low-risk food production environments (higher-risk experience advantageous).
Audit experience, including internal and external audits.
Food hygiene qualification at an appropriate level.

Does this sound like your next role? If so, please apply or reach out to jack.thomson@drnewitt.com