Work at Stokes

Quality Assurance Manager

We are looking for an experienced and passionate Quality Assurance Manager who is hands-on and is a factory-based Quality Assurance professional with an appetite for working in a growing vibrant business.

As Quality Assurance Manager you will be responsible for the quality, safety, legality, and the quality of the product range from a factory perspective, as well as managing compliance against sections of the Quality Management System pertaining to the factory operations.

Reporting to the Senior Technical Manager your key responsibilities will include: –

• To carry out customer complaint investigations, determining the root cause, corrective actions and preventive measures and responding to the customer (where required) in a timely manner.
• To ensure that factory and site audits are completed to schedule, including those relating to: GMP, product quality, hygiene, fabrication, glass & hard plastic, CCP, allergens, etc.
• To ensure that out of specification test results are investigated, with corrective actions implemented to remedy and prevent recurrence.
• To identify, record, communicate, investigate and assist with the correction of non-conformances. Appropriate implementation of preventive measures is of paramount importance.
• Assumes overall responsibility for the HACCP plan, monitoring compliance with critical control limits, pre-requisite programmes and validation.
• Manage the contracted Pest Control Provider (PCP) contract in terms of the visit schedule and actions arising from visits.
• Actively strive to simplify quality systems where possible, to enhance data capture accuracy.
• Through audit and coaching, ensure that factory related QMS policies and procedures are implemented and always followed.
• Assist with the maintenance of physical traceability in the warehouse and factory environments, testing the recall/mass balance procedures to ensure their continued effective operation, efficiency, and practicality.
• Responsible for the Quality Assurance function within the business, managing its team members accordingly.
• Ensure that raw material (ingredients and packaging) assessments are conducted to schedule.
• Responsible for ensuring that analytical equipment is available for all product and environmental tests, including managing repairs and replacements when required.
• Provides direct management to subordinates (Quality Assurance Assistant).
• Provides deputising cover for the Technical Manager.

The ideal candidate will have the following qualities and experience: –

• Experience from a similar role within food manufacturing.
• Possess strong administrative skills along with a high level of accuracy and attention to detail.
• Confident with Microsoft Office, in particular Word and Excel.
• Able to work in a busy and often fast paced environment, often required to move between and priorities tasks with ease.
• Possess good communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Is a team player and displays an enthusiastic and can-do attitude.

Remuneration Package

• Salary dependent on experience
• Company contribution pension.
• 22 days holiday plus bank holidays.
• Birthday off as an additional day’s holiday.
• Life Insurance.

If you have previous experience in a similar role within food manufacturing and are looking for a challenging opportunity within a growing company, we want to hear from you.  Apply now by sending your CV and covering letter to [email protected].

Production Operative - with progressive opportunities

As an ambitious team of individuals, we take pride in what we do and are firm believers in Taste, Quality and Responsibility.  We have some exciting opportunities for PRODUCTION OPERATIVES to join the team to support our continued growth.

General Description of Duties and Responsibilities:-

• Assist in the manufacture of Stokes Sauces products to the correct formulisation and specification, whilst adhering to the companies’ policies and procedures.
• Assist to operate the production line machinery; the machinery includes, the cooking line, cold filling line, capping machine, sachet line, bucket line and/or the labelling line.
• Assist in setting up the production line machinery for production recipes.
• Carry out pre-checks and cleaning tasks on the production line.
• Manual handling includes weighing and loading of raw materials into vessels and stacking finished goods onto pallets.
• Conduct quality control checks and complete paperwork records.
• Assist in size changeovers.
• Operate a clean as you go approach.

Required Experience & behaviours:-

• Excellent attention to detail, timekeeping and reliability are essential.
• A good team player with a ‘can do attitude’ are essential.
• Literate and numerate to a standard which allows for accurate record keeping.

Hours, Pay & Benefits:-

• Working hours 37.5 hours per week on a rotating shift pattern of 5.45am – 2.00pm and 2.00pm – 10.000pm.
• Starting hourly rate of pay is £10.42 per hour.
• Annual leave is 22 days plus Bank Holidays and an extra day’s holiday for your Birthday, contributory Company Pension, Life Insurance and staff discount.