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
