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.

The Role

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.

Key Responsibilities

• 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

Ideal Candidate Profile

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.

Requirements

• Previous administrative experience (essential)

• Experience within 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

What’s On Offer

• £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

Contact information

Angela Bailey