Quality & Compliance Manager

The Quality & Compliance Manager will be responsible for leading and maintaining robust quality and compliance systems across Zeus UK's distribution network. This role is focused exclusively on quality, compliance, and audit readiness, ensuring that all sites operate in line with BRCGS standards, ISO integrated management systems, and regulatory requirements.

A key element of the role is ensuring Zeus UK remains fully compliant with all relevant packaging, environmental, and trade regulations, including Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), UK Timber Regulations (UKTR), EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), Plastic Packaging Tax, and Packaging Waste/PRN schemes. The role will also proactively monitor legislative changes, assessing their impact on the business and advising senior management.

The role will additionally provide direct support to Sales and Commercial functions, ensuring that all tenders, customer audits, and compliance-related enquiries are underpinned by accurate and robust quality and regulatory information.

As the business continues to expand, this role will provide oversight across two core distribution sites, with the potential to extend to additional locations. The post holder will act as the subject matter expert on compliance, ensuring that Zeus UK achieves and maintains the highest standards of quality assurance, regulatory compliance, and continuous improvement.

Key Responsibilities

Quality Management & Compliance

• Lead and manage the Integrated Quality Management System (QMS) across all distribution sites.
• Ensure full compliance with BRCGS for Storage & Distribution and ISO standards (9001, 14001, 45001, and any others within scope).
• Act as the Lead Auditor for internal audits, ensuring audit schedules are maintained and executed to standard.
• Oversee all external audits (ISO certification, BRC audits, customer audits) and drive successful outcomes.
• Develop, implement, and maintain quality policies, procedures, and documentation to ensure ongoing compliance.
• Monitor and report on compliance KPIs, initiating corrective and preventive actions where required.
• Ensure product traceability, documentation integrity, and adherence to regulatory requirements.

Regulatory Compliance

• Ensure Zeus UK's full compliance with environmental and trade regulations, including:
  • Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR)
  • UK Timber Regulations (UKTR)
  • EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR)
  • Plastic Packaging Tax
  • Packaging Waste and PRNs
• Monitor upcoming legislative and regulatory changes, assessing their impact on Zeus UK as a packaging distributor.
• Act as the company's key contact for external regulatory bodies, certification schemes, and industry groups.
• Provide guidance to senior leadership and operational teams to ensure regulatory obligations are understood and met.

Commercial & Customer Support

• Support the Sales and Commercial teams by providing accurate and timely compliance and quality information for customer tenders, RFQs, and contract negotiations.
• Collaborate with account managers to ensure that customer requirements for certifications, accreditations, and sustainability reporting are consistently met.
• Participate in customer audits or visits as the compliance representative, ensuring a strong and credible quality message is communicated externally.
• Maintain a library of compliance documentation, certificates, and policies to support tender submissions and customer requests.

Continuous Improvement

• Champion continuous improvement initiatives, embedding a culture of compliance and quality excellence across the business.
• Provide expert guidance to site teams on process optimisation, root cause analysis, and corrective actions.
• Benchmark quality and compliance performance across sites and share best practices.

Leadership & Collaboration

• Act as the compliance lead and point of contact for site teams, senior management, customers, and auditors.
• Provide training, coaching, and support to operational staff on quality and regulatory requirements.
• Build strong working relationships across functions to ensure compliance standards are fully integrated into daily operations.
• Represent Zeus UK in customer and regulatory interactions relating to compliance and quality.

Key Skills & Experience

• Proven experience in a quality and/or compliance management role within distribution, logistics, or packaging.
• Strong working knowledge of BRCGS for Storage & Distribution and ISO integrated management systems.
• Lead Auditor qualified (ISO 9001, or equivalent), with hands-on audit experience across multi-site operations.
• Sound knowledge of packaging-related legislation, including EPR, UKTR, EUDR, Plastic Packaging Tax, and PRNs/Packaging Waste obligations.
• Experience supporting commercial functions with compliance documentation, tenders, and customer audits.
• Demonstrable experience of managing multi-site quality systems and regulatory compliance.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to influence and engage at all levels.
• Excellent IT skills, including QMS tools, ERP/WMS systems, and MS Office.
• Outstanding communication skills (verbal and written).

Qualifications

• Degree (or equivalent) in Quality Management, Compliance, Supply Chain, or a related discipline (preferred).
• ISO 9001 Lead Auditor qualification (essential).
• Additional ISO auditor certifications (14001, advantageous.
• BRCGS training/qualification (preferred).