Commissioning, Qualification and Validation (CQV) Manager

Overview

This role offers the opportunity to shape a world-class CQV function, ensuring safe, compliant and efficient food manufacturing operations at a leading UK facility and working in collaboration with apetito’s international businesses.

The CQV Manager will lead commissioning, qualification and validation activities for production systems, facilities and equipment across apetito’s Kitchen East food factory and the new Kitchen West manufacturing facility, ensuring commissioning is planned, coordinated and delivered in a controlled, risk-based way from supplier acceptance through to operational handover.

The role ensures operations meet applicable food safety legislation, good manufacturing practice and internal quality standards. You will implement risk-based, scientifically sound validation programmes that support consistent, safe and efficient food production, while supporting apetito’s environmental commitments and journey to Net Zero by 2040.

You will work closely with Engineering, Procurement, Technical and Quality, Production, Health and Safety and NPD, providing clear technical leadership, strong documentation discipline and a continuous-improvement mindset.

Who we are

apetito is the UK’s leading food supplier to the health and social care sectors serving more than 1,300 care homes, health care and education settings.

Our meals are expertly crafted by our dieticians and chefs, and then frozen to lock in the goodness.

Wiltshire Farm Foods, our sister company, is the UK’s largest ready meal supplier cooking and delivering over 330 different delicious frozen ready meals across the UK.

Responsibilities

• Develop, implement and maintain a CQV strategy for new and existing plant systems (equipment, utilities and processes).
• Lead commissioning, IQ/OQ/PQ and validation activities, ensuring alignment with GMP, HACCP, BRC and ISO 22000 requirements, and defining clear readiness criteria for safe handover into live production.
• Coordinate dry commissioning activities, working with Engineering, suppliers and operational stakeholders to ensure equipment, utilities, controls, safety systems and documentation are checked, challenged and progressed before product is introduced.
• Lead wet commissioning, coordinating cross-functional involvement from Production, Technical, Quality, Health and Safety, NPD and Engineering to prove process capability, product quality, food safety controls, hygiene standards, throughput and operational readiness.
• Partner with Procurement, NPD, Engineering, Technical and Production to embed CQV requirements into project plans, timelines and handover to operations.
• Review and approve validation protocols, reports and change control documentation.
• Lead risk assessments and define mitigation plans for process validation, equipment changes and new product introductions.
• Manage and coach team members in CQV practice, providing technical guidance on validation approaches, tools and best practice.
• Develop and deliver CQV training and coaching for wider site teams, promoting standard ways of working and sharing best practice across Kitchen East, Kitchen West and apetito’s wider network.
• Maintain robust traceability and data integrity to support internal audits, external inspections and customer/regulatory requirements.
• Embed sustainability considerations into CQV plans, helping to reduce environmental impact through efficient use of energy and water, waste prevention and support for circularity initiatives.
• Embrace automated solutions and new technology to improve CQV delivery (e.g., digital data capture, monitoring/traceability tools and validation lifecycle documentation systems).
• Keep up to date with food industry regulations, standards and emerging technologies, and translate them into practical CQV improvements.
• Work with Procurement and Engineering to specify requirements and support the acquisition of new equipment, ensuring CQV needs are built into selection, supplier documentation and acceptance criteria.

Coordinate with external consultants and equipment suppliers to plan and deliver qualification activities where required.

About you

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Engineering, Chemistry or a related discipline (Master’s desirable).
• 5–7 years’ experience in CQV/validation within food manufacturing, including evidence of leading CQV deliverables or teams.
• Strong working knowledge of GMP, HACCP, BRC and ISO 22000, and UK/EU food safety regulatory expectations.
• Demonstrated ability to write and execute IQ/OQ/PQ protocols for equipment, utilities and process validation.
• Experience with automation, packaging and food processing systems is an advantage.
• Strong project management, stakeholder management and documentation skills.

Competencies

• Analytical, risk-based thinking
• High attention to detail and strong documentation discipline
• People leadership and team development
• Clear communication with multidisciplinary teams
• Structured problem-solving and continuous improvement mindset
• Digital and automation mindset, with confidence adopting and embedding new tools and ways of working
• Sustainability mindset, with the ability to balance compliance, product safety and environmental impact

Working Conditions

• Site-based role, with travel to other production facilities and supplier sites that will include international travel.
• Full-time, with office and manufacturing presence as required to support projects and operations.
• Work in food production environments, requiring strict adherence to safety, hygiene and PPE standards.

Company Benefits

• Competitive salary – accredited Living Wage employer
• 25 days holiday per year, + bank holidays
• Option to purchase up to 5 additional days holiday per year
• Discretionary annual bonus scheme
• Pension scheme - employer matched contributions up to 4%
• Life assurance scheme worth at least 1x annual salary
• Subsidised canteen/ Free meals, snacks and beverages on site
• Free parking
• Free turkey or voucher at Christmas
• apetito perks scheme, including salary sacrifice options and retail discounts

Our Values

As a family-owned business, we take great pride in being a company that makes a real difference and is dedicated to creating outstanding meals to be proud of.

We develop a range of products designed to enhance health and well-being for all our customers.

We are driven by a passion for service and dedicated to feeding some of the UK’s most vulnerable people.

We proudly support British food and farming, focusing on using the best ethical and sustainable produce in alignment with our goal to reach Net Zero by 2040.

Our ethical standards are recognised by the ETI and we are an accredited Living Wage employer.Learn more about apetito’s commitment to a more sustainable future.

We embrace inclusion, empowering individuals from diverse backgrounds.

Our commitment to making a real difference extends to customers, communities, and staff and we're on a mission to build an inclusive workplace where everyone reaches their full potential