Position Summary
Reporting to the Chief Operations Officer, the Quality Assurance Manager will lead quality assurance operations, oversee quality control activities across the supply chain, manage audits and compliance processes, supervise quality teams, and ensure adherence to local and international food safety and export standards including GlobalG.A.P., HACCP, BRC, phytosanitary regulations, and customer-specific requirements.
Key Duties & Responsibilities
- Quality Assurance & Food Safety Systems: Develop, implement, and maintain quality assurance systems, food safety procedures, and quality standards for avocado maturity, size, colour, firmness, appearance, weight, ripeness, and overall product consistency.
- Supply Chain Quality Control: Oversee quality control activities across sourcing, harvesting, packing, storage, transportation, and export processes. Conduct routine inspections of incoming produce and monitor post-harvest handling to reduce bruising, spoilage, contamination, and product losses.
- Compliance, Audits & Certification: Ensure compliance with local and international food safety and export standards. Lead internal quality audits and coordinate external inspections by regulatory authorities, certification bodies, and export clients.
- Customer Complaints & Corrective Actions: Investigate quality complaints from customers and export partners, conduct root cause analysis, and implement corrective and preventive actions to reduce recurrence.
- Team Leadership & Training: Supervise quality assurance inspectors and quality control staff, assign duties, monitor performance, and train farm workers, packhouse teams, and inspectors on quality standards, hygiene, food safety, and handling procedures.
- Reporting, Traceability & Continuous Improvement: Maintain accurate quality records, inspection reports, traceability documentation, and certification records. Analyze quality performance data and drive improvements to reduce waste, improve product consistency, increase export acceptance rates, and support sustainability and traceability initiatives.
Qualifications & Experience
- Bachelor’s Degree in Food Science, Quality Assurance, Microbiology, or a related field.
- At least 7 years’ experience in a quality assurance role within the food processing industry.
- Strong knowledge of quality control procedures, testing methods, regulatory requirements, and food safety standards.
- Experience with quality management systems, laboratory systems, audits, and export compliance is an added advantage.
