A senior leadership opportunity for a decisive, high-impact Quality professional to own Food Safety, Brand Trust, Consumer Confidence, and Quality Culture across an entire FMCG manufacturing plant.
This role carries full accountability for product integrity and food safety, with the authority to stop production where required. The successful candidate will lead quality transformation, challenge entrenched behaviours, and drive rapid cultural and operational change in a unionised, high-pressure environment.
This is a hands-on, operational leadership role — suited to an individual who thrives on urgency, accountability, and visible impact.
Role Purpose
To ensure absolute conformity in product quality, food safety, processes, and behaviours, safeguarding consumer trust, brand reputation, and regulatory compliance, while embedding a strong quality mindset across all plant teams.
Minimum Experience Required
10+ years' experience in Quality & Food Safety within FMCG food manufacturing
5+ years in a senior Quality leadership role
Proven experience in:
Food Safety & Quality Management Systems
Laboratory management
Quality Control & Quality Assurance
HACCP leadership, audits, and regulatory compliance
Demonstrated success in leading change, influencing operations, and shifting culture
NON-NEGOTIABLE QUALIFICATIONS
A University Degree (BSc or BEng) is mandatory.
Accepted qualifications include:
Food Science / Food Technology
Microbiology
Biochemistry
Chemistry (Analytical or Industrial)
Biotechnology
Agricultural Science (Food processing major)
Engineering Degree (Chemical, Process, or Industrial ONLY) — must include:
HACCP Leadership
Audit Certification
FSSC 22000 Certification
Applications without a qualifying University Degree will not be considered.
Key Responsibilities
Food Safety & Product Quality
Own Food Safety and Finished Product Quality for all products released to market
Ensure zero-compromise compliance with HACCP, FSSC 22000, ISO, GMP, PRPs, and regulatory standards
Lead consumer complaint investigations, root cause analysis, and long-term corrective action
Optimise plant laboratory capability (technical expertise, training, standards, and output)
Quality Leadership Across the Value Chain
Embed quality ownership into operations, shifting accountability to production teams
Drive process capability, variability control, and quality visual management
Lead internal and external audits as improvement and performance levers
Ensure quality is integrated into all operating procedures, projects, and plant initiatives
Champion risk assessment and "Build-in Quality" across new products, equipment, and productivity projects
Change Management & Culture Transformation
Lead rapid cultural turnaround in people, operations, safety, and standards
Challenge the status quo and drive behavioural change across a unionised workforce
Build and sustain a high-performance quality culture
Coach and upskill leadership teams, frontline managers, and operators
Develop and lead a high-impact Quality leadership team
Performance, Cost & Governance
Own Plant Quality KPIs, reporting, and improvement action plans
Manage Quality department budget and drive cost optimisation without compromising integrity
Contribute to overall plant performance strategy as part of the Industrial Management Team
Ensure strong governance, audit readiness, and compliance discipline
Key Competencies & Leadership Profile
Strong decision-making authority and ability to operate under pressure
Confident, credible, and unafraid to challenge the status quo
Proven change agent with a transformative leadership style
Strong problem-solving, risk management, and analytical capability
Highly effective stakeholder manager across production, R&D, supply chain, and commercial teams
Comfortable leading in a unionised, operationally intense environment
Driven by urgency, accountability, and results
Passionate about consumer safety, brand trust, and quality excellence