Quality and Food Safety Manager

Quality and Food Safety (QFS) Manager

Every product we make carries the trust of the families who choose it. Join our Auckland manufacturing team as Quality and Food Safety (QFS) Manager and be the leader who protects that trust, every single day.

Based in Auckland, this is a 6-month fixed-term opportunity starting February 2027. Joining the Plant Leadership Team, you will set the quality direction for the site, lead the QFS team and keep our licence to operate strong, ensuring uncompromising food safety and consistent quality in everything we deliver.

This is a highly visible, high-impact leadership role. You will turn standards into everyday habits, make risks visible early, and bring teams together to solve problems at the source, building a culture where quality belongs to everyone.

Your responsibilities will include, but are not limited to:

• Lead, coach and develop the site QFS team, building capability, engagement and accountability.
• Set a clear QFS direction for the site and steer the Factory Quality Business Plan in line with Danone global QFS priorities.
• Ensure an effective Quality and Food Safety Management System that meets regulatory, customer and Danone requirements, including FSSC 22000, HACCP and GMP.
• Protect the site licence to operate by maintaining certifications and leading internal, external, customer and regulatory audits.
• Lead risk assessment, non-conformity management, root cause analysis and CAPA to eradicate recurring issues.
• Oversee finished product quality, product release, the plant laboratory and timely, effective resolution of consumer complaints.
• Build quality into every site project, trial and launch through robust risk assessment and change management.
• Monitor, report and act on QFS KPIs, driving continuous improvement through data and strong PDCA.
• Lead the Dan-IWS Quality Pillar, including the Quality Pillar PDCA and Finished Product Quality daily management.
• Grow a strong Culture of Quality across the plant through the iCare programme, keeping the consumer at the centre.
• Manage the QFS budget and identify cost-efficient ways of working without compromising quality integrity.
• Champion the WISE Health and Safety programme and our commitment to a zero-harm workplace.

You are a credible, pragmatic quality leader who is equally confident on the factory floor and at the leadership table. You combine strong technical judgement with the ability to simplify complexity, influence at every level and turn standards into practical, everyday habits.

Decisive, resilient and people-centred, you raise issues early, make fact-based calls under pressure and take pride in developing others. You thrive in a fast-paced manufacturing environment and always put the consumer first.

Ideally, you will have:

• A tertiary qualification in Food Science, Food Technology, Microbiology, Biotechnology or a related field.
• Background in infant formula, dairy, food or other FMCG manufacturing (advantageous).
• Proven experience in Quality within food manufacturing or a regulated environment, including people leadership.
• Strong knowledge of QFS management systems and standards such as FSSC 22000, ISO, HACCP, GMP and PRPs.
• Experience leading audits, risk-based problem solving, root cause analysis and continuous improvement.
• Confidence with data and digital tools such as Power BI, LIMS and SAP.
• Clear, open and timely communication, with strong coaching and training skills.
• The ability to work independently, make sound decisions and manage shifting priorities.