Job Description

Company Overview:

Pets Choice is a leading pet food manufacturer whose industry knowledge spans over 135 years. Based in Blackburn, Lancashire, the Pets Choice portfolio of brands offers a variety of products for pets and wild animals under its brands; Webbox, Bob Martin, TastyBone, Meatiful, Spike's, Hatchwells, aniMate, WildThings, Feathers & Beaky and Vitakraft. Each brand offers a unique insight into animals from dogs to ducks and produces high-quality products that cater to a wide variety of consumer needs.

As a trusted partner, Pets Choice provide private label goods including extruded food, wet food and retorted trays, and baked fresh meat treats. The business also offers additional services such as packaging design, fulfilment and logistics.

With a broad range of capabilities and distribution channels worldwide, Pets Choice are proud to be a major supplier to the UK grocery, independents and pet speciality sectors

About the Role:

Reporting to the Head of Quality & NPD, the Feed Safety & Compliance Manager will hold responsibility for the implementation, adherence and continuous improvement of the sites feed safety standards. They will be responsible for developing and implementing feed safety protocols, conducting regular inspections and audits and ensuring all safety procedures are followed at all times.

The Feed Safety & Compliance Manager is responsible for ensuring that all operations meet or exceed regulatory, safety and quality standards. This role leads the development, implementation, and maintenance of feed safety programs, including HACCP, GMPs and internal quality systems. The manager oversees audits and works cross-functionally to ensure consistency and compliance across facilities.

The Feed Safety & Compliance Manager plays a critical role in risk management implementation, verification of hygiene standards and incident response. They champion a culture of safety and regulatory excellence, ensuring the company delivers safe, high-quality pet food that meets consumer expectations and legal requirements.

Role responsibilities include:

Ensure compliance with all applicable regulatory requirements Monitor changes in feed regulations and proactively update internal policies to maintain compliance. Ensure compliance to relevant feed safety and hygiene regulatory standards and guidelines Maintain and update all feed safety programs including HACCP, recall procedures and GMPs Developing and implementing feed safety protocols and procedures throughout the full end-to-end manufacturing process Lead hazard analyses, preventive control reviews and validation of process controls Oversee environmental monitoring, allergen control and cross-contamination prevention programs where applicable Work closely with the Quality & Systems Manager to develop and manage Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), Work Instructions and quality manuals Oversee the integrity of documentation and records required for regulatory and certification compliance Support implementation of quality management systems (QMS) and ensure continuous improvement Lead internal audits and oversee third-party audits for ISO, GMP, Trading Standards and GFSI schemes (BRC) and customer requirements Preparing reports on feed safety audits, incidents and inspections Serve as the primary contact for regulatory inspections and follow-up actions Develop and execute corrective and preventive action (CAPA) plans. Manage feed safety related product investigations, deviations, non-conformances and consumer complaints Lead product recall or withdrawal processes when needed Conduct root cause analyses and implement preventive measures Establishing emergency procedures and protocols for handling feed safety breaches Lead and manage an effective HACCP team Develop and deliver feed safety and GMP training programs to colleagues Promote a proactive feed safety culture across all departments Ensure cross-functional teams understand and follow compliance expectations Collaborating with management and colleagues to identify potential feed safety risks and solutions Create internal reporting metrics to drive feed safety standards Maintaining audit ready standards at all times, working to BRC requirements

Skills, experience and qualifications required:

Must have excellent organisational and communication skills Strong analytical skills with the ability to analyse data and identify trends or areas for improvement 5+ years of experience in food or feed safety, quality assurance or regulatory compliance, preferably with pet food or animal feed Strong knowledge of HACCP, GMPs and related feed safety regulations and standards Experience with audits (regulatory, third party, internal) and CAPA management Auditing experience or lead auditor qualification Strong understanding of ingredient safety, traceability, and supplier verification Ability to interpret and apply feed laws Proficiency with technical documentation and QMS Good IT skills including PowerPoint, Excel and Word Dedicated to promoting a culture of feed safety Ability to train staff in feed safety procedures Strong problem-solving and decision-making skills Working collaboratively with the ability to work cross-functionally and influence without authority Strategic thinker with attention to detail and execution focus Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic manufacturing environment Strong ethical judgment and commitment to food safety and quality Detail-oriented with excellent problem-solving and analytical abilities Sound judgment under pressure, especially during audit or recall situations

Salary

Competitive Salary

Hours of work:

Monday to Friday- 37.5 hours

Benefits

25 days holiday plus bank holidays Staff discount on Pets Choice products On-site parking Referral programme Company events Health & Wellbeing Programme
Job Type: Full-time

Experience:

Food & Feed Safety: 3 years (required) Quality assurance and Regulatory Compliance: 3 years (required) Auditing: 3 years (required)
Work Location: In person