Lead Auditor

Lead Auditor / Factory Support

Location: Doncaster

Working pattern: Monday–Friday

Travel: Frequent UK travel, with occasional European travel

Salary: Competitive plus company Benefits

Reports to: Head of Quality & Compliance

Make a difference through quality, compliance, and continuous improvement

Are you an experienced auditor with a strong eye for detail and a passion for maintaining high standards?

We are looking for a Lead Auditor / Factory Support professional to join our Quality & Compliance team in Doncaster. This is a varied role combining supplier auditing, internal systems auditing and hands-on support to our factory teams.

You will play an important role in ensuring our suppliers and sites meet the standards expected by SARIA, while helping our teams continually improve quality, technical and compliance performance.

What you will be doing

As Lead Auditor / Factory Support, you will:

Plan and conduct internal and external supplier audits against SARIA standards and relevant accreditation requirements.

Assess supplier and quality management systems and identify areas for improvement.

Arrange audits with suppliers and site representatives, including all necessary pre-audit preparation.

Prepare audit questionnaires, gather supporting information and develop effective audit checklists.

Conduct audits covering quality, technical, Health & Safety and environmental requirements, where appropriate.

Produce clear and accurate audit reports and manage follow-up activities.

Work with suppliers and internal teams to ensure corrective actions are implemented and closed out effectively.

Carry out internal systems audits against relevant standards.

Support factory personnel with quality, technical and audit-related issues.

Assist with training and development of factory personnel where required.

Ensure up-to-date raw material specifications are obtained and maintained for each site.

Build strong working relationships with suppliers, customers, site teams, and colleagues across the business.

What we are looking for

We are looking for someone who is confident working independently, communicates effectively and can build positive relationships at all levels.

You will ideally have:

Previous experience conducting internal, supplier and/or systems audits.

Experience auditing against BRC standards and/or Feed Industry standards.

A recognised Lead Auditor qualification, or Lead Auditor certification in ISO 14001 and/or ISO 45001.

A Level 3 HACCP Certificate.

Good IT skills, particularly Microsoft Word and Excel.

A good understanding of Health & Safety, environmental standards and auditing requirements.

The ability to make appropriate decisions and use your own initiative.

A self-motivated and proactive approach, with the ability to work effectively both independently and as part of a team.

Strong communication and interpersonal skills.

Experience or knowledge of the meat/slaughter industry and animal by-products would be advantageous.

A role with variety and impact

This is not a role where you will simply complete an audit checklist and move on.

You will have the opportunity to work across our operations, engage directly with suppliers and site teams, identify opportunities for improvement, and help ensure that our quality and compliance standards are consistently maintained.

You will work closely with our Group Technical/Quality Manager, Technical Team, Raw Material Team, Commercial Managers, Site Teams, suppliers, and customers, giving you a broad view of the business and the opportunity to make a real impact.

What you will bring

We are looking for someone who is:

Analytical – able to assess information objectively, identify risks and recognise opportunities for improvement.

Confident – comfortable conducting audits, challenging where necessary and communicating with people at all levels.

Organised – able to plan audits, manage documentation and follow actions through to completion.

Practical – able to understand the realities of factory operations and provide constructive support to site teams.

Driven – motivated to maintain high standards and continually improve performance.

Essential requirements

Due to the level of travel involved, you will need a full UK driving licence and a valid passport. The role involves frequent UK travel and occasional European travel.

Ready to take the next step?

If you are an experienced auditor looking for a varied role where you can combine quality, compliance, supplier management, and factory support, we would love to hear from you.

Apply today and join our Quality & Compliance team in Doncaster.

SARIA is committed to providing equal opportunities and creating a workplace where everyone is treated with dignity and respect. We are committed to maintaining high standards of health, safety, quality, and environmental performance across our business