Since 1985 Wye Valley Brewery, based in Herefordshire, has been producing the very best cask ale beers. Today using the finest ingredients, they produce beers in cask, keg, and have recently opened their new bottling and kegging lines. They are looking to recruit a Quality Manager with good technical process knowledge in either brewing/beverage or food with good communications and organisation skills to join the team.

Main function of the job:

• Maintain high quality standards throughout the process
• Manage all aspects of quality assurance/control as a key member of the production management team
• Maintain and improve on SALSA accreditation and associated quality systems
• Proactively lead quality investigations and improvements
• Manage laboratory function
• Gain a thorough understanding of all brewery operations and systems

Principal responsibilities

Laboratory:

• Manage day to day running of analytical and microbiological laboratories
• Supervision of laboratory team
• Out of specification result analysis and action
• Develop recording and reporting systems (trends, reports, meetings)
• Implement new techniques and instrumentation (bitterness analysis, new equipment)
• Implement in house yeast propagation
• Provide laboratory holiday cover
• Identify and maintain relevant industry proficiency schemes e.g. BAPS, ICLS
• Maintain lab equipment calibration and maintenance schedules
• Maintain records and standards for housekeeping
• Maintain stocks of consumables, identifying best value for money
• Manage laboratory budget
• Assist in planning and design of new laboratory

Maintaining the Quality Management System:

• SALSA lead
• Host audit and maintain accreditation
• Maintain QMS in line with SALSA requirements
• Host quality meetings
• Manage site HACCP system as HACCP Team Leader
• Review and maintain supplier management system
• Organise due diligence testing
• Maintain COSHH database
• Host external audits
• Keep up to date on changes in relevant legislation
• Maintain product specifications
• Organise taste training and routine tasting sessions
• Internal auditing – SALSA, hygiene, GMP
• Quality improvement investigation and planning

Skills and experience:

• Managing BRC/SALSA, HACCP, FEMAS
• Sound understanding of GMP
• Assessing, maintaining, improving beer quality
• QA/QC experience – min 3 years
• Technical brewing knowledge or willing to learn
• Internal auditing
• Laboratory experience
• Process improvement
• Management experience – capable of managing people
• Good computer skills

Applications from candidates already eligible to work in the UK only please

For more information please contact Julie Carling at The Carling Partnership
Julie.carling@carlingpartnership.com
+ 44 1483 893 100