Food Safety & Quality Assurance Manager

Food Safety & Quality Assurance Manager

We are seeking an experienced Food Safety & Quality Assurance Manager to take full ownership of the Food Safety and Quality function within a busy meat processing and manufacturing facility.

The successful candidate will oversee the entire Food Safety/QA/QC team and will be expected to take over the technical responsibilities currently supported by an external Food Safety Consultant.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage and oversee the complete Food Safety, Quality Assurance and Quality Control function.
• Lead, manage and develop the Food Safety/QA/QC team.
• Maintain and continuously improve the company's Food Safety Management System (FSMS).
• Lead HACCP programmes, hazard assessments and food safety risk management.
• Ensure the facility remains audit-ready at all times.
• Manage external, customer, certification and regulatory audits from preparation through to close-out.
• Conduct internal audits and manage non-conformances and corrective actions.
• Manage microbiological testing and environmental monitoring programmes.
• Have a strong understanding of Listeria, Salmonella, E. coli and other microbiological risks relevant to meat processing.
• Oversee hygiene, sanitation, GMP and environmental monitoring standards.
• Manage product traceability, mock recalls and product recall procedures.
• Investigate customer complaints, quality failures and food safety incidents.
• Manage supplier food safety and quality compliance.
• Ensure compliance with applicable South African food safety, meat safety and labelling requirements.
• Develop and maintain SOPs, policies, specifications and food safety documentation.
• Provide food safety training and drive a strong food safety culture throughout the business.
• Work closely with Production, Procurement, Hygiene, Maintenance, Receiving, Stock and Dispatch.
• Provide management with regular reporting on food safety risks, microbiological trends, audit performance and corrective actions.
• Have the authority and confidence to place product on hold or stop production where a serious food safety risk exists.

Minimum Requirements

• Relevant tertiary qualification in Food Technology, Food Science, Microbiology, Biotechnology or a related discipline.
• Minimum 5 years' relevant Food Safety/QA experience, preferably within meat processing or food manufacturing.
• Previous management or senior Food Safety/QA experience strongly preferred.
• Extensive practical experience with HACCP, GMP, food safety audits and quality management systems.
• Strong knowledge of microbiology and environmental monitoring.
• Experience dealing directly with external auditors, customers and regulatory authorities.
• Experience with FSSC 22000, ISO 22000, BRCGS or other GFSI-recognised standards would be highly advantageous.
• Meat processing/manufacturing experience will be a significant advantage.
• Must be confident, technically strong, hands-on and capable of independently managing the company's entire food safety function.

This is a senior, hands-on position suited to an experienced Food Safety professional capable of becoming the company's internal technical authority for Food Safety and Quality Assurance.

Pay: R1,00 per month

Work Location: In person