Quality Assurance Manager - Meat Markets at Shoprite Group of Companies

Job Objectives

• Design and develop the Quality Assurance Program / System by implementing the food safety requirements within Meat Markets.
• Maintain and continuously improve the Quality Assurance System.
• Manage and investigate compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and standards.
• Devise risk assessments in alignment with the principles of Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP), for legal compliance with food safety procedures and Plant ZA Export Certification accreditation maintenance.
• Monitor production control functions to ensure that standard operating procedures are adhered to.
• Work with the Purchasing Department in resolving raw material quality problems and setting of raw material specifications with suppliers.
• Oversee the quality control aspects of raw materials and finished products.
• Assist in setting quality standards to ensure that production is maintained at such standards.
• Review and report on principle causes of quality loss and non-conformance.
• Drive and report on internal and external audits to upper management.
• Understand the product channels and markets relevant to the business.
• Recommend and champion new technologies and best practices which support strategic objectives.
• Safeguard facility and product compliance.
• Train current and new staff on the quality, hygiene, food safety processes and procedures.
• Evaluate product recalls.
• Continuously review and assess training needs of staff, collaborating with learning and development in formulating training needs assessments and delivering relevant training as required.
• Maintain effective communication lines with regulatory and governing bodies.
• Evaluate compliance-related matters related to packaging and labelling.
• Advise on product safety and composition requirements.
• Research and stay abreast with new or updated regulations, laws, standards and other official enactments that may be applicable to the meat plants.
• Establish Service Level Agreements for external service providers and maintain contractual agreements.
• Monitor risk management controls.
• Provide guidance on microbiological controls within the Meat Plants.
• Manage all internal and external laboratory processes to ensure product quality and consistency.
• Source, service and calibrate instruments and equipment for quality control.
• Ensure appropriate disposition of returned materials and respond with corrective actions to customer complaints.

Qualifications

• Grade 12 / Matric – (essential).
• Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Food Technology or a related field - (essential)

Experience

• +4 years' experience in a Quality Assurance Management capacity within a Meat Plants, Fresh Meat Produce, or similar, managing the design, development and delivery of quality assurance frameworks, policies, procedures, and guidelines - (essential).
• Solid understanding of end-to-end meat production operations from animal arrival, processing, packaging and distribution - (essential).
• Solid experience of statutory requirements, applying and monitoring relevant laws, regulations and best practices in relation to customers and FMCG - (essential):
• Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP).
• ISO standards, specifically FSSC22000.
• Proficiency in MS Office 365 with strong Excel skills and reporting capability – (essential).