• 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.