Senior Quality Control Associate; SQCA

Job Title: Senior Quality Control Associate.
Department: Quality Control.
Reporting to: QA Manager / Quality Director.
Working Hours: 37.5 hours/week (flexible).
Holiday Entitlement: 25 days + bank holidays.
Location: Carlisle - Scottish Borders.

Hilltop Leaf Limited is a UK-licensed importer, storage provider, and distributor of Cannabis-Based Products for medicinal use (CBPMs), operating in full compliance with the MHRA and Home Office regulatory frameworks. Hilltop Leaf maintains a robust Pharmaceutical Quality System, covering procurement, release, storage, distribution, transportation, documentation, vendor assurance, complaints handling, deviations, CAPA, recalls, and change management.

You will manage and maintain the Quality Management System (QMS) and ensure inspection readiness, supporting the Head of Quality Control and the Responsible Person for MHRA‑licensed activities.

• Manage quality systems and support external/internal audits, MHRA, and Home Office inspections.
• Support regulatory licence approvals.
• Manage Change Controls, Incidents, Deviations, Complaints, CAPAs, and Risk Assessments (Owner/Approver).
• Execute Internal Audits to schedule.
• Support vendor programme, including audits.
• Support Qualification & Validation activities as an Owner.
• Support generation of Quality Metrics and performance against KPIs.

• Perform sampling per approved sampling plans.
• Conduct checks/approval of incoming and in‑house materials (drug product, drug substance, consumables, reagents).
• Perform in‑process control checks during manufacturing.
• Develop/perform environmental monitoring programmes.
• Manage outsourced analytical testing, sampling, and result oversight.

• Ensure import supply chain compliance with regulatory standards and MHRA expectations.

• Write documentation including protocols, reports, presentations, procedures, forms, and policies.

• Promote a culture of quality and compliance.
• Deliver QMS and GxP training.

• Review and approve finished batch records.
• Perform delegated GMP release under the Manufacturer’s Specials licence.
• Approve release under the Wholesaler Distribution Authorisation (GDP) licence.

• Enhance QMS activities relating to product testing and release.
• Drive continuous improvement across the company.