Technical Quality Manager

About TRIP

TRIP’s mission is to create calm in the everyday chaos, offering next-generation wellness products to power your lifestyle and nurture mental wellbeing. Co-founders, husband and wife team Olivia and Daniel discovered plant-based wellness after a transformative personal experience and decided to launch TRIP to bring uniquely delicious functional drinks and supplements to millions of people globally.

Since launch, TRIP has become the world’s leading wellness drinks brand. It was named by Alantra as the fastest-growing FMCG business of the last 16 years, ranked the 4th fastest-growing company by The Sunday Times for two consecutive years, and is now the largest privately owned carbonates brand in the UK.

Our multi-award-winning drinks and supplements are now available in over 35,000 stores globally, including all major UK Retailers, Erewhon, Soho House Global, Target, Carrefour, Monoprix, Albert Heijn and many more.

Our vision is to become the global leader in calming drinks and supplements. Synonymous with calm. Committed to becoming the defining brand for a generation, there has never been a better time to join our incredible team!

Why apply?

This role has a global scope, and travel to our manufacturing partners here in the UK as well as the USA will be an exciting part of the role and a crucial part of introducing more customers to TRIP’s portfolio of wellness products. You will use your technical expertise and strong knowledge of the stage-gate process to build and implement the correct infrastructure needed to ensure we scale efficiently and effectively as we become the biggest wellbeing brand in the world.

The Role

We are looking for an enthusiastic and experienced Quality Technical Manager to provide technical leadership and expertise to the TRIP team. You will manage the safety, quality and legislative requirements of the current range ensuring our high-quality product standards are met and our brand reputation is upheld. You will manage the integrity of our products through close collaboration with our current suppliers.

With at least 5 years’ experience, preferably for a challenger brand or in a start-up in the soft drinks category. You must be passionate about Food Safety and Quality and be excited to be a part of a fast-paced environment.

Key responsibilities:

• Manage our 3rd party supplier management, keeping our Governance policies and quality standards up to date.
• Manage the technical relationship with all incumbent and future suppliers of TRIP, through the end to end supply chain.
• Drive quality improvements through collaboration with product & supply as well as our suppliers.
• Be an active member of our innovation team playing a key role in our NPD process to ensure new products and processes meet the legislative and quality requirements to succeed.

Product Quality Management

• Be the quality guardian - managing our quality control programme internally with our Product Technologist and with suppliers by conducting regular panels to monitor product quality across the range.
• Be the ‘go to’ expert in complaint investigations and when faced with challenges (quality, supply, raw materials, packaging and process) supporting suppliers in root cause analysis and prevention of re-occurrence actions.
• Support our customer care team with your expert knowledge and manage customer complaint investigations.
• KPI reporting and root cause analysis for any quality issues highlighted through QC or complaints.

Supplier Management

• Manage KPIs to ensure continuous improvement of quality and standards with suppliers through regular contact and quarterly reviews.
• Report KPIs back to the business on a monthly and quarterly basis.
• Drive quality improvements with suppliers based on analysis of complaints and QC data.
• Work with suppliers to perform root cause analysis on any issues and ensure that corrective actions are followed through in the agreed timescale.
• Perform regular risk assessments of suppliers and take appropriate action to support our due diligence.
• Review positive release procedures and intervene as required.

Innovation

• Work cross functionally to support the sourcing of new suppliers and ingredients.
• Manage our supplier approval procedure to ensure new suppliers are engaged for new business.
• Work with our Product Managers to agree product specifications, quality standards and shelf life for new products.
• Oversee product trials and launches.
• Develop the team’s understanding of legal, quality and allergen topics to help them challenge and drive improvement in this area.
• Proactively seek out opportunities to improve quality, recipes, processing techniques and marketing claims - presenting risks where appropriate by continuously learning about food, trends, processing and legislative changes.

Governance

• Develop, manage and continuously review the governance strategy, food and quality standards for the business.
• Ensure products are compliant with EU & UK regulations.
• Conduct regular reviews of product integrity and ensure that all on-pack claims and statements can be substantiated.
• Support the wider team with new claims to ensure that we are true to our values without misleading or being disingenuous.
• Review and update product specifications on a regular basis as part of our due diligence.
• Ensure that our food safety and due diligence programmes are carried out by managing these aspects of our supply chain.
• Implementation of HACCP throughout the supply chain.
• Manage relationships with Trading Standards and Food Standards Agency.

Crisis Management

• Own the Crisis Management procedure and awareness alert system, conduct regular tests with suppliers and act as Crisis Co-ordinator in the event of an incident.
• Provide accurate information in a timely manner to the leadership team and close corrective actions to prevent reoccurrence.

About You

‘Must Have’

• 4-5 years' technical experience in a food manufacturing or branded business with Technical responsibility.
• Knowledge of the soft-drinks category (or similar) would be ideal otherwise a drive to learn and embrace a new product area.
• Excellent food legislation knowledge and experience managing and implementing HACCP, BRC and other retail standards.
• Comfortable with both the big picture and getting stuck into the detail as required.
• A skilled operator when managing stakeholders who has the confidence to influence at all levels.
• Ability to get the best from our suppliers by exercising a collaborative, professional, courteous and fair approach.
• Highly organised and thorough with a strong attention to detail.
• Excited about technical innovation and scientific advancements in ingredients and packaging technology.
• A passionate foodie and soft-drinks lover.
• Strong communicator.
• A firm team player who likes to get their hands dirty.
• Flexible and understand the ever changing needs of the business.
• Results and solution orientated.
• Confidence to manage your own time and prioritise your workload.
• Resourceful and curious.
• Good with numbers and have commercial acumen.

What we give YOU!

Location: Bright and spacious office 1 minute from Notting Hill Gate station.

Salary: DOE

Pension Plan: 3% employer contribution, 5% employee contribution

Holiday: 24 days plus your birthday off

TRIP product discount and Friends + Family codes

Community Day: One day per year to undertake charitable volunteering of your choice

Benefits:

Mental Wellbeing:

• Free 1:1 therapy with SelfSpace
• Calm App membership

Exercise & Health:

• Private healthcare with Vitality (includes 50% off Virgin Gym membership)
• Diet: Complimentary breakfast and snacks
• Sleep: Monthly Dream Drops CBD Oil allowance

Working from Abroad Policy: Up to 2 weeks per year, in a maximum of two blocks.

Sabbatical: Six weeks after two years of service.

Dog-Friendly: Light, bright office with a friendly atmosphere.

Team Culture: Four office days per week, regular socials, and events.