Description Product Safety: Establishing product safety procedures: Developing and documenting the processes to ensure product safety, including hazard analysis, preventive controls, and corrective actions. Supporting mock recall/withdrawal exercises: Assisting in the planning and execution of mock recall/withdrawal exercises to evaluate the effectiveness of the recall plan and identify areas for improvement. Ensuring compliance with legal requirements: Staying informed about and adhering to all relevant safety laws and regulations, including those related to food safety, labeling, and packaging. Staying up to date on changes to standards and regulations: Continuously monitoring changes in industry standards and regulations related to product safety, quality, and labeling. Overseeing product safety testing: Develop and maintain the testing process to verify products meet standards, including microbiological testing, chemical analysis, and physical inspections. Analyse the test results and identify trends. Leading the HARA Team: Leading the Hazard Analysis Risk Assessment Team through ensuring a systematic and preventative approach to product safety by identifying, controlling, and monitoring potential hazards throughout the production process. Product Quality: Supporting developing and implementing product safety and quality requirements: Assisting with the development and implementation of product safety and quality requirements. Developing and maintaining quality standards and inspection plans for raw materials, packaging, and finished products. Creating and updating quality control procedures and work instructions. Participating in the development and review of product labeling to ensure accuracy and compliance. Overseeing the inspection and testing of raw materials, packaging, and finished products: Managing quality control checks at various stages of production, from incoming materials to finished goods. Supporting investigations when quality issues are identified: Assist in investigating customer complaints, product defects, or deviations from quality standards, including root cause analysis and corrective and preventive actions (CAPA). Calibration and verification responsibility: Overseeing the calibration and verification of measuring equipment to ensure accuracy and traceability. Traceability exercises: Conducting exercises to trace materials and products throughout the supply chain, ensuring the ability to quickly identify and isolate any potential issues. Overseeing the quality process (intake to dispatch): Having end-to-end responsibility for quality throughout the entire production process, from receiving raw materials to shipping finished goods. Team Management: Supervising, training, and motivating staff: Managing the performance and development of the quality team, providing guidance, training, and motivation. Assigning workload: Distributing tasks and responsibilities among team members based on their skills and expertise. Conducting performance reviews: Evaluating employee performance, providing feedback, and identifying areas for improvement. Identifying training needs: Determining skills gaps and providing necessary training to ensure the team has the knowledge and skills to perform their duties effectively. Collaboration: Working closely with other departments: Partnering with production, engineering, purchasing, and other departments to ensure quality throughout the product lifecycle. Collaborating with Vendor Performance Manager: Working with VPM to ensure the quality of incoming materials and components. Product authenticity and legality collaboration: Working with relevant teams to ensure products are authentic, legally compliant, and meet labeling requirements. Continuous Improvement: Identifying areas for improvement: Using data analysis, customer feedback, and other sources to identify opportunities to improve quality processes, products, and services. Implementing improvements: Lead or participate in cross-functional teams to implement quality improvements to enhance quality and efficiency, including process improvements, new technologies, and best practices. Tracking Key Performance Indicators (KPIs): Monitoring metrics to measure the effectiveness of quality initiatives (scoreboard) and track progress towards quality objectives. Assisting with internal audits: Participating in internal audits to identify areas for improvement in quality processes and systems. Requirements Education & Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field (Food Science, Engineering, Quality Management, Business Administration, or Science). Experience: 7 years of experience in a Quality Leader role or similar. Preferred certifications: HACCP, ISO 9001, BRCGS for Packaging, or other industry-specific certifications. Technical Skills: Deep understanding of Quality Management Systems (QMS) and ISO 9001. Expertise in HACCP (if applicable). Knowledge of product safety regulations and recall management. Proficiency in quality control, testing, calibration, and traceability systems. Skills in root cause analysis and CAPA management. Strong data analysis and reporting skills. Competency in Microsoft Office Suite and ERP systems. Soft Skills: Strong leadership and communication skills. Excellent problem-solving and decision-making abilities. Meticulous attention to detail and organisational skills. Strong interpersonal skills and a commitment to continuous learning.
