Technical Assistant

Technical Assistant

• Annual Salary: £28,000 - £30,000
• Location: Harrogate
• Job Type: Full-time

We are seeking a dedicated Technical Assistant to provide essential technical and quality assurance support across our business. This role is crucial in ensuring all products and processes comply with legal, customer, and company requirements. The ideal candidate will be meticulous in managing technical specifications, documentation, and quality systems, supporting both routine and project-based activities.

Day-to-day of the role:

• Respond to internal and external requests, completing customer specifications, and acquiring necessary documentation and certifications.
• Conduct internal, GMP (monthly), and glass & hard plastic audits (monthly, rotating auditors).
• Investigate customer complaints and manage Sedex responsibilities.
• Participate in the HACCP Team and manage the audit programme, ensuring completion and maintaining/updating audit documents.
• Support all external audits and implement corrective actions for non-conformities.
• Update documents for new equipment and facilitate launch documentation.
• Maintain Kosher, Organic, and RSPO certifications, including audits and ongoing compliance.
• Manage swabbing and environmental monitoring programmes.
• Write and maintain QMS procedures, work/cleaning instructions, and product specifications/recipes.
• Support document control, pest control, and annual QMS tasks (mock recalls, traceability).
• Conduct training and maintain supplier and raw material approvals/specifications.
• Carry out food safety culture surveys and maintain calibration schedules.
• Oversee shelf life testing and provide ad hoc QA cover as required, including daily QA and factory checks, AW and organoleptic testing on all products, and managing incoming raw material certificates of conformity/analysis.

Required Skills & Qualifications:

• Experience in QC/QA departments within a food manufacturing or similar environment.
• Knowledge of Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP).
• HACCP/Hygiene qualifications and Health & Safety training are advantageous.
• Audit experience (internal, supplier, or third-party).
• Commitment to continuous improvement and digitisation of processes.
• Excellent attention to detail and prioritisation skills.
• Strong communication and relationship-building abilities at all levels.
• Ability to work independently and take full ownership of tasks.
• Well-organised, proactive, and a team player.
• Experience with quality standards, food safety, and technical documentation is desirable (training provided if necessary).
• IT proficiency, especially with document management systems.
• Degree in Food Science or similar.