Quality Assurance Manager

Founded in 2003 by Dong Hyun Kim, his mission was simple, to make fresh and flavorsome sushi and bento available to everyone. Almost 20 years later Wasabi have 40 successful branches across London, other UK major cities and New York. The journey continued in 2019 with the launch of Wasabi Home Bento exclusively into Sainsburys. After several years of great success there, the grocery business expanded launching into Tesco in September 2022. Wasabi has now firmly established itself as the No2 chilled ready meal brand and a driver of significant market growth. And we’re just getting started. The leadership team have set out their 5 year strategy which encompasses company growth, franchise and international expansion.

Our menu is renowned for its distinctiveness, freshness and flavour. The cold food range of sushi, pokes and salads are made fresh daily in our branch kitchens and our hot bento, noodle bowls and soups offer an indulgent and comforting alternative to our broad and democratic demographic.

​As we prepare for our next phase of growth and innovation, we have an incredibly exciting opportunity for a Quality Assurance Manager to join our Technical Team based in Park Royal.

The Role:

To help lead and inspire a culture of food safety and continuous improvement by providing professional support and assist in the management of food safety, food quality, health & safety and legal compliance, in all operations taking place at the Wasabi Central Production Unit.​ Ensuring the CPUs compliance to required external standards such as the BRC. To lead, manage, mentor and train the quality assurance team in the Central Production Unit. 

Key responsibilities:

• Routinely review and challenge technical and operational practises within the Central Production Unit (CPU) to identify areas of continuous improvement. ​
• Drive and inspire a food safety and quality culture within all areas of Technical and CPU​
• Audit and monitor environmental and food production standards such as hygiene practice, GMP (good manufacturing practice), temperatures, raw materials, operational process & product quality, taking appropriate corrective actions where they do not meet required standards. ​
• Ensure completion of all required internal auditing on a regular basis e.g. glass & plastic, GMP (good manufacturing practice), CCP (critical control point) and allergen etc. Ensuring that audits undertaken are to the require standard and ensuring corrective actions taken by those responsible for closing out non-conformances raised is appropriate.  Document and report the findings from the audit to all relevant operational managers and senior management. ​
• Ensure calibration tests & record on monitoring equipment are in place. ​
• Manage routine sampling plans (microbiological testing and food surveillance for e.g.) analysing and evaluating results and leading root cause investigation into failure with appropriate operational and hygiene teams as required and verifying corrective actions taken. ​
• Facilitate root cause investigations into customer complaints with appropriate operational teams, verifying corrective actions taken. ​
• Manage, mentor and train the quality assurance team in Central Production Unit, including executing effective training plan for new and current staff e.g. new starter site induction food safety training. ​
• Advise technical and operational teams on corrective actions required as a result of monitoring activities.​
• Liaise with the supplier assurance team where non-conformances are required for suppliers to the CPU.​
• Working with various department e.g. operation, hygiene and engineering team and provide professional support ensuring they operate towards the BRC (British Retail Consortium) standard. ​
• Participate as an active member of the HACCP and food defence team.

Our requirements:

• ​Strong knowledge of food safety and quality systems, preferably within a short shelf life chilled food business. 
• ​Knowledge of global auditing systems (ISO or BRC for e.g) is required. 
• ​Strong management & leadership skills.
• ​Strong attention to detail and a logical approach to working with practical problem solving and decision-making skills. 
• ​Ability to review large amounts of information.  
• ​Excellent communication skills – written and verbal.
• ​Experience of working in partnership with operational teams to drive change in production areas. 
• Comfortable and able to challenge where​required​at all managerial levels including peers & superiors to create a culture of continuous improvement within a manufacturing facility.

  In Return we provide:

  • A great working environment
  • Pension scheme
  • Target Bonus
  • Refer A Friend Scheme
  • Free Sushi or hot food (vegan options available)
  • 50% discount in our Branches
  • Employee Assistant Programme
  • Long Service Awards
  • Wagestream - a financial wellbeing benefit that lets you access your pay as you earn it in real time and manage savings
  • Life Assurance
  • Cycle To Work
  • Free on-site parking
  • A variety of discounts (shopping, food & drink, entertainment and health & fitness) through Perkbox and
  • The opportunity to develop your skills within a growing company.

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  Our people make us who we are. If you're looking for an exciting challenge and this sounds like the job for you please apply today as we can't wait to hear from you.

   

  COME ROLL WITH US!