Quality Food Safety Assistant; Lab

QFS Departmental Assistant (Lab-Based Role)

Location:

Kettering
Salary: £14.50 per hour
Duration: 12-Month Fixed Term Contract

Hours:

Monday to Friday - 37.5 hours per week.

Interaction Recruitment are currently supporting our client with the recruitment of a QFS Departmental Assistant to join their laboratory-based Quality & Food Safety (QFS) team at their Kettering manufacturing site.

This is an excellent opportunity to work within a food manufacturing laboratory environment, supporting a dynamic Quality team in maintaining the highest standards of product safety, compliance and operational excellence.

This is a primarily lab-based role
, providing essential administrative and operational support within the Quality Laboratory and wider QFS department. Reporting to the Plant Quality Laboratory Manager (with a dotted line to the Quality Manager), you will play a key part in ensuring laboratory systems, consumables, supplier coordination and surveillance programmes run smoothly and efficiently.

The position combines laboratory-based administration with occasional factory-floor activity, including sample coordination and consumables handling.

• Manage laboratory consumables (stock control – FIFO/FEFO, ordering, storage and system updates)
• Verify, check and file Certificates of Analysis
• Coordinate surveillance plans, sample collection, storage and transport to external laboratories
• Track laboratory results and maintain system accuracy
• Support quality budget monitoring alongside Finance
• Assist with purchase orders, supplier coordination and agreements
• Support audit preparation and Quality Culture initiatives
• Collaborate cross-functionally with Production, Planning, Warehouse, Maintenance, HR and Finance teams

The ideal candidate will be highly organised, analytical and detail-focused, with strong administrative experience within a laboratory, manufacturing or regulated environment. You will be confident using Microsoft Excel and comfortable working with systems such as SAP or similar. A logical thinker with excellent attention to detail, you will be able to manage multiple priorities while maintaining accuracy in documentation and compliance processes.

You will be a strong communicator who builds positive working relationships across departments and with external suppliers. Resilient and adaptable, you will thrive in a fast-paced, lab-based manufacturing environment and demonstrate accountability, initiative and a proactive approach to supporting quality standards. Commercial awareness and the ability to monitor budgets and supplier performance will be advantageous.

• Previous administrative experience (essential)
• Experience with in a laboratory, food manufacturing or regulated environment (desirable)
• Strong Microsoft Office skills (Excel essential)
• Good analytical and organisational skills
• Clear and professional communication skills
• Ability to collaborate across departments
• Comfortable working in both laboratory and factory environments

• £14.50 per hour
• 12-month fixed term contract
• Monday to Friday working pattern - 37.5 hours a week
• Valuable experience within a food manufacturing laboratory environment
• Supportive and collaborative team culture

Please apply today for immediate consideration.

INDKTT