Head of QA - Veg

Job objective

Factory standards compliance: Responsible for ensuring accepted standard are maintained, systems custodian for the pack house.

Product, process controls: Responsible for consistency around implementation of processes, continuous reinforcement and developing solutions that are sustainable for food safety, legality, authenticity, and quality. Ensure full customer and food safety compliance.

Your tasks and responsibilities

• Ensure that laid down Quality management systems are always adhered to within production unit to guarantee that the product conforms in terms of quality, safety, integrity, authenticity, and legality.
• Chief custodian of the pack house audit matrix and pack house audit reviews, understanding the requirements for audits and customer visits and ensure timely and accurate closure of all audit findings and be able to undertake adequate preparations for customer visits audits.
• Ensuring that the package house is well equipped with required QA working tools including effective cleaning equipment, traceability aids, conforming measuring devices.
• Complete timely review of the food safety QA manual and be the trigger person for all site driven QA manual reviews.
• Participate in all site audits both field and pack house with a clear understanding of required food safety and social compliance standards.
• Ensure all hygiene and cleaning resources including detergents and equipment, personnel are fit for purpose and available for effective use.
• Prime custodian and training lead champion responsible for all pack house training, training matrix and training need analysis.
• Familiarize with all customer factory standards and act as the contact person for all factory standards compliance.
• Custodian for the site micro standards and complete full review and investigation of any micro standard deviations reported.
• Familiarize with all customers finished product and raw materials specifications and act as the prime contact person for all finished product and raw material specifications.
• Effective circulation, use and update of finished product specifications in line with existing codes of practice and customer requirements.
• Guiding pack house production to ensure that the production process yields products that consistently satisfy expected customer quality attributes.
• Complete a detailed root cause analysis of all customer complaints and claims with timely feedback on the action plan.
• Responsible for all pack house labels control discipline
• Actively engage in new product development, feedback and data analysis including gas data for continuous improvement, retain and maintain NPD data including NPD tracker.
• Manage, track and keep up to date stock of all NPD packaging.
• Ensure HACCP reviews all new products including creation and review of existing process flow

Your profile

• Bachelor’s degree in food science, Quality Assurance, Agriculture, or a related field
• 5- 10 years’ experience in Quality Assurance or a similar role, preferably in a pack house, food production, or agricultural setting.
• Certification in Quality Management Systems (e.g., ISO 22000, HACCP, BRC, or FSSC 22000) is highly desirable.
• Training in food safety standards, social compliance, and pest prevention is an added advantage.
• Strong knowledge of food safety, social compliance, and hygiene standards.
• Competency in root cause analysis, corrective action planning, and continuous improvement processes.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal abilities to interact with customers, teams, and stakeholders.
• Leadership and team coordination abilities to guide QA teams and training initiatives.
• Ability to work under pressure and meet strict deadlines.
• Mature, credible, and comfortable in dealing with company executives at all levels.
• Able to get on with others and be a team-player. Motivates self and others to achieve team objectives.
• Must be skilled in using MS office, Outlook, Excel, Word, Internet, and email.
• Due to the nature of the business, must be able to work to tight deadlines and in a fast-paced