Compliance Lead

Location: Southend Salary: Up to £45,000 Hours: Monday to Friday, 37.5 hours per week

The Role

We are looking for an organised, diligent and proactive Compliance Lead to take responsibility for ensuring the business operates in line with all relevant legislation, regulatory requirements, industry standards and customer expectations within the food and packaging industry.

This is an important role within the business, taking the lead on compliance management, internal and external audits, maintaining compliance systems and documentation, and monitoring changes in relevant legislation and industry requirements.

You will also be responsible for managing customer and supplier complaints, coordinating investigations, identifying root causes and ensuring appropriate corrective actions are implemented through to satisfactory resolution.

Working closely with colleagues and management across the business, you will help maintain high standards of compliance, quality and continuous improvement.

Key Responsibilities

Compliance & Regulatory Management

• Ensure the business maintains compliance with all applicable legislation, regulations, industry standards and customer requirements.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of relevant food and packaging industry legislation and regulatory requirements.
• Monitor changes in legislation, regulations and industry standards, ensuring appropriate actions are implemented.
• Maintain, review and update compliance policies, procedures, records and supporting documentation.
• Work with relevant departments to ensure compliance requirements are embedded throughout the business.
• Identify compliance risks and areas of non-conformance, ensuring appropriate corrective and preventative actions are taken.

Internal & External Audits

• Plan, coordinate and manage internal and external audits.
• Ensure the business is fully prepared for customer, regulatory, certification and third-party audits.
• Coordinate the preparation and provision of documentation and evidence required for audit activities.
• Record and monitor audit findings, non-conformances and corrective actions through to completion.
• Work collaboratively with managers and departments to ensure audit actions are completed within agreed timescales.

Customer & Supplier Complaints

• Manage and coordinate investigations into customer complaints.
• Liaise professionally with customers regarding complaints, investigations and corrective actions.
• Manage supplier complaints and quality or compliance concerns.
• Work with suppliers to investigate issues, establish root causes and agree appropriate corrective actions.
• Monitor complaint trends, identifying recurring issues and opportunities for improvement.
• Maintain accurate records of complaints, investigations, outcomes and corrective actions.

Continuous Improvement

• Support the ongoing development and improvement of the Company's compliance and quality systems.
• Promote a strong culture of compliance, quality and accountability throughout the business.
• Provide guidance and support to colleagues and managers on compliance requirements.
• Escalate significant compliance risks or concerns to senior management where appropriate.

Required Skills & Experience

The successful candidate will have:

• Excellent organisational skills and exceptional attention to detail.
• A diligent, focused and methodical approach to work.
• Strong administrative and record-keeping abilities.
• The ability to interpret and apply policies, procedures, legislation and regulatory requirements.
• Experience or the ability to manage internal and external audits effectively.
• Excellent communication skills, with the confidence to liaise professionally with customers, suppliers, auditors and colleagues at all levels.
• Strong problem-solving and investigative skills.
• The ability to manage competing priorities and work to deadlines.
• Good IT skills, including Microsoft Office applications.

Desirable Experience

• Knowledge of regulatory compliance and certification requirements for packaging materials, including food contact requirements, BRCGS, HACCP and ISO 9001.
• Previous experience in a compliance, quality assurance or audit-related position.
• Experience managing customer and supplier complaints.
• Experience conducting root-cause investigations and managing corrective and preventative actions.

Personal Attributes

We are looking for someone who is:

• Diligent, conscientious and highly organised.
• Focused, methodical and detail orientated.
• Proactive, with the ability to work independently and use their own initiative.
• Professional and confident when dealing with customers, suppliers and external auditors.
• Comfortable challenging constructively when compliance standards are not being met.
• Trustworthy, able to maintain confidentiality and exercise sound judgement.

What's in it for You?

• Salary: Up to £45,000 per annum.
• Bonus: Individual monthly bonuses awarded to employees who demonstrate extra commitment, drive and enthusiasm.
• Working Hours: Monday to Friday, 37.5 hours per week, with flexible working hours (e.g. 8:00am–4:00pm).
• Annual Leave: 34 days per year, including Bank Holidays.
• Pension: Company pension scheme, with 5% of gross monthly salary and a 3% company contribution.
• Life Cover: Three times your annual salary.
• Parking: Onsite parking available.