Quality Assurance Technologist - Meats & Processed Meats at Shoprite Group of Companies

About the Job

Purpose of the Job

• As a QA Technologist focused on the Meats & Processed Meats category, you will play a vital role in ensuring the quality and safety of products within the Shoprite Group. You will be responsible for managing supplier relationships, enforcing food safety standards, assisting technical development, conducting audits, and investigating and addressing customer complaints. Your expertise will contribute to maintaining the highest standards of quality, safety, and compliance within the Meat & Processed Meat category.

Job Category

Food Service

Job Objectives

• Manage supplier relationships, ensuring adherence to Shoprite's Supplier Minimum Food Safety Requirements.
• Conduct ongoing supplier management, maintenance, and liaison for compliance.
• New supplier approvals.
• Oversee the upload and maintenance of B2B Supplier Portal.
• Perform site inspections and investigations for supplier facilities.
• Administer the Food Analysis Program for the Dairy category.
• Review and vet documentation for new product launches, including FSMS, claims substantiation, and nutritional reports.
• Manage internal store auditing programs and audits of supplier finished goods at Distribution Centers.
• Collaborate and engage with authoritative bodies (EHP, NRCS, DALRRD Assignees) to ensure compliance and manage received notices.
• Support the recall process and address general queries from stores, DCs, and suppliers.
• Assist with customer complaint investigations and conduct trend analyses.
• Participate in risk assessments and contribute to risk reporting.
• Contribute to ad hoc projects related to quality assurance, food safety, and compliance.
• Required to travel locally from time to time.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Food Science, BTech Food Technology, BSc Chemistry, Biochemistry, or other relevant Nutritional Sciences, or equivalent.

Experience

• Minimum of 3 years of experience in a similar role involving Food Production and Technical Specification/Development.
• Experience in Research and Development/New Product Development within a food FMCG manufacturing/production environment, preferably in edible and/or non-edible grocery items and/or frozen and chilled perishable items.
• 1 year of Quality assurance experience with dairy products
• 1-2 years of experience working with Quality Management System

Knowledge and Skills

• Possesses commercial thinking skills to understand business implications.
• Ability to build collaborative relationships both internally and externally.
• Comfortable giving and receiving constructive feedback, fostering open and honest communication.
• Capable of independent as well as collaborative thinking and decision-making.
• Proficient in operational efficiency, effectively handling multiple tasks by working smartly and diligently.
• Strong time management skills, capable of prioritizing projects in a fast-paced, unpredictable environment.
• Strong report writing skills.
• Skilled in data analysis, and interpreting data to make informed decisions.