Job Description

Employment Type

Full-time Permanent (Temp to perm)

Job Purpose

The Food Safety & Quality Assurance Officer is responsible for maintaining and monitoring food safety, quality, hygiene, and legality standards within the soft fruit packhouse. The role ensures that all packed products meet legal requirements, customer specifications, and third-party assurance standards, with particular focus on

high-risk fresh produce

,

short shelf-life control

, and

chilled-chain integrity

.

Key Responsibilities

Food Safety & Quality Control (Soft Fruit Specific)

Monitor food safety and quality throughout

receiving, storage, packing, labelling, and dispatch

of soft fruit. Carry out

in-process and finished product quality checks

including appearance, defects, bruising, mould, pests, foreign bodies, and pack integrity. Verify

temperature control

of fruit, chillers, packhouse environment, and dispatch vehicles. Ensure compliance with

retailer specifications

, customer codes of practice, and product quality standards.

HACCP & Risk Management

Support and maintain the

HACCP system

for soft fruit packing operations. Monitor Critical Control Points (CCPs) and Operational Prerequisite Programmes (OPRPs), including: Temperature control Foreign body prevention Allergen cross-contact prevention (where applicable) Cleaning and hygiene controls Report, investigate, and document non-conformances and deviations. Assist with root cause analysis and corrective and preventative actions (CAPA).

Hygiene, GMP & Environment

Monitor

Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP)

across the packhouse. Conduct routine

hygiene inspections

, including staff hygiene, PPE compliance, handwashing, and zoning controls. Verify cleaning schedules, chemical use, and sanitation effectiveness. Support pest control monitoring and corrective actions.

Shelf-Life, Traceability & Legality

Support shelf-life monitoring and quality retention checks. Verify

traceability and mass-balance records

from field intake to finished product. Ensure correct

labelling

, date coding, grower codes, and country of origin information. Assist with mock recalls and traceability exercises.

Audits & Customer Standards

Support site compliance with

BRCGS

, retailer audits, and customer visits and internal audits,daily compliance checks. Assist during Environmental Health Officer (EHO) inspections if required. Ensure audit actions are tracked and closed within agreed timescales.

Documentation & Record Keeping

Maintain accurate and auditable food safety and quality records. Complete production, quality, temperature, and hygiene documentation in real time. Support document control for procedures, work instructions, and specifications.

Training & Food Safety Culture

Support induction and refresher training for packhouse operatives on: Food safety and hygiene Quality awareness Product handling and defect recognition Promote a strong

food safety and quality culture

within a multicultural workforce.

Continuous Improvement

Identify trends, recurring defects, and opportunities for improvement. Support continuous improvement projects to reduce waste, complaints, and quality failures. Assist with seasonal start-up, peak-season control, and end-of-season close-down activities.

Health, Safety & Welfare

Work in accordance with site health & safety policies at all times. Report hazards, near misses, and unsafe practices immediately. Ensure safe working practices in chilled and high-throughput environments.

Skills & Competencies

Essential

Strong understanding of

fresh produce food safety and quality control

. Knowledge of

HACCP, GMP, and UK food safety legislation

. High attention to detail with a methodical approach to inspections and records. Ability to work under pressure in a fast-paced, seasonal environment. Confident communicator able to challenge poor practices appropriately.

Desirable

Four years experience in

soft fruit or fresh produce packhouse operations

. Familiarity with

UK retailer specifications

(e.g. supermarket standards). Internal auditing experience. Experience working with short shelf-life products.

Qualifications

Essential

Level 2 Food Safety & Hygiene Certificate.

Desirable

Level 3 Food Safety & Hygiene. HACCP Level 2 or Level 3. Internal Auditor qualification. Qualification in Food Science, Food Technology, or a related discipline.

Experience

Previous experience in a

quality, food safety, or technical role

within a fresh produce or food packing environment. Experience working in

chilled environments

and high-volume packing operations is advantageous.

Working Conditions

Packhouse-based role in chilled temperatures. Requires standing, walking, and regular movement throughout production areas. May include early starts, late finishes, weekend work, and peak-season overtime.

Personal Attributes

Proactive, observant, and solutions-focused. Calm and assertive when dealing with food safety or quality issues. Committed to high standards and continuous improvement.
Job Types: Full-time, Temp to perm
Contract length: 8 months

Pay: 24,420.00-40,000.00 per year

Benefits:

Company pension On-site parking
Ability to commute/relocate:

Stafford ST18 9DH: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (required)
Experience:

quality control fresh produce: 3 years (required)
Location:

Stafford ST18 9DH (required)
Work Location: In person