Well established company based in East London are looking for a qualified and experienced Quality Assurance Manager who will play a crucial role in ensuring the safety, quality and compliance of products. Their primary responsibility is to develop, implement and manage quality control systems and processes to meet industry standards, regulatory requirements and customer expectations.
Qualifications, Experience, Competencies and Attributes:
Bachelor's degree in food science, Dairy Science, Microbiology, or a related field as a minimum requirement
Post graduate qualification preferred
Minimum of 5 years' experience in quality assurance and management within the food or dairy manufacturing industry
Sound knowledge and experience working with Quality Management Systems, including FSSC, ISO and GMP
Strong knowledge of food safety regulations, quality control standards, and HACCP principles
Excellent leadership and team management skills
Analytical and problem-solving abilities
Strong communication and interpersonal skills
Detail-oriented with a commitment to product quality and safety
Ability to find better ways of working, continuous improvement
Computer literate with Intermediate Excel
Focus on targets and quality to achieve results
Able to motivate and lead others to meet results
Accuracy and attention to detail
Planning, organising and prioritising skills
Quality Control Systems
Develop, implement, and maintain quality control systems and procedures to monitor and control the production process, from raw material intake to finished product packaging
Regulatory Compliance
Ensure the company complies with all relevant food safety and quality regulations, such as FDA, USDA, HACCP and any other applicable standards. Stay updated on changing regulations and adapt the company's practices accordingly.
Quality Audits
Conduct internal and external quality audits, ensuring that the dairy manufacturing facility adheres to established quality and safety standards. Address any non-conformities and implement corrective and preventive actions.
Product Testing
Oversee the testing of products for quality attributes, including sensory evaluation, chemical composition, microbiological safety, and shelf-life analysis.
Product Releases
Oversee the external testing and release of products and report timeously
Maintain external laboratory relationship
Pathogen Management
Identify, monitor and mitigate pathogenic risks in production processes and products
Work closely with the sanitation team to monitor the effectiveness of cleaning and sanitation processes
Develop and implement environmental monitoring programs for the production area to detect potential contamination sources
Documentation
Maintain accurate records and documentation related to quality control processes, test results and regulatory compliance
Ensure all documentation are organized and readily available for audits
Supplier Quality
Collaborate with the supplier quality department to ensure that raw materials and ingredients meet quality standards and specifications
Continuous Improvement
Identify opportunities for process improvement and work on enhancing product quality and operational efficiency
Implement Lean Six Sigma or other improvement methodologies as needed
Training
Train and educate employees on quality control procedures, safety measures, and good manufacturing practices. Conduct regular training and awareness programs to instil a culture of quality within the organization
Incident Management
Develop and implement procedures for handling product quality issues, recalls and customer complaints
Investigate root causes and implement corrective actions
Communication
Maintain open lines of communication with other departments, including production, research and development and sales, to ensure that quality requirements and customer expectations are understood and met
