Senior Quality Assurance Technologist

At RCL FOODS we see and do things differently, we think bigger, work smarter and as a team collectively work towards achieving our purpose, to Grow What Matters

Our Talent Team is on the hunt for Senior Quality Assurance Technologist's for their Baking Division. The role will be based in Durban and Polokwane and will report into the QA & Food Safety Manager.

The incumbent will be responsible for managing the daily QA activities of bakeries and to support the achievement of agreed Quality and Food Safety goals and objectives. Enforce compliance to company policies and procedures relevant to the maintenance of third party and customer standards. The Senior QAT will be expected to act as QA & FS Manager when needed.

• Manage all activities related to Quality and Food Safety at sites.
• Implementation and maintenance of FSSC 22000.
• Implementation and maintenance of Quality Management System.
• Implement and maintenance of COE directives.
• Implementation and maintenance of customer requirements.
• Managing of suppliers.
• Managing external service providers (Pest Control, Cleaning, PPE, etc).
• Ensure final product quality and safety standards are adhered to.
• Support QAT's in management of Food Safety Teams
• Support QAT's in conducting Food Safety, Quality and Management review meetings.
• Ensure all labour, testing, consumable and equipment maintenance costs remain within budget.
• Effective control of non-conforming product.
• Manage daily activity of direct reports but not restricted to; task assignment, leave scheduling, initial approval of overtime, purchasing, efficient deployment of resources and initial contact for disciplinary issues.
• Manage the training, development, and performance of direct reports.

Quality Assurance (but not limited to):

• To implement and maintain relevant Quality Management systems including customer requirements.
• To manage all activities related to QMS, Customer requirements and relevant interested third party.
• To manage all activities related to releasing of final and raw products. external testing.
• To identify relevant national legislation relevant to Baking business and implement effectively.
• Ensure the implementation and application of the appropriate policies, procedures, test methods (PRP'S, QMS) to achieve and maintain third party and customer standards.
• To drive activities related to resolving the Non-conformance issues to support the reduction of Inventory costs.
• To provide technical support to resolve customer complaints and implement corrective actions to prevent re-occurrence.
• To support the manufacturing, Quality, and supply Chain Teams by providing feedback on factors adversely affecting product quality or manufacturing efficiency and investigating the root cause of these issues.

Food Safety (but not limited to):

• Implement and maintain Food Safety systems based on FSSC 22000 and Customer requirements (general and formal trade).
• Identify relevant food safety team members and appoint them where necessary.
• Manage the training needs of Food Safety Team Members.
• To ensure adherence to monthly food safety, Quality, and annual management review meetings program. To ensure minutes comply to set standards.
• Manage customer complaints by means of investigations to prevent the re-occurrence.
• Manager internal corrective action process to prevent the re-occurrence.
• Implement and manage relevant PRP's (Pest Control, Cleaning and Sanitation, GMP, etc).
• Conduct supplier audits when required.
• Conduct monthly/quarterly food safety audits and assist the relevant departments to implement effective corrective actions.
• Manage all food safety related audits (external and internal), always ensure compliance to standards.
• To effectively communicate food safety issues to our suppliers, customers, and relevant interested parties in the food chain.
• Generate monthly Food Safety and QA report, or any related report as requested.

• Must have a Degree in B.Sc. Consumer Science/Food Science/BTech Food technology.
• 5 years+ experience in food safety and QA.
• Must have experience in ISO 22000 implementation/FSSC 22000 and be a Lead Auditor.
• Experience in ISO 22000, FSSC 22000, QMS and HACCP programmes.
• Computer literate – MS Office package.
• Legislative process experience.

Knowledge and Skill:

• Proven knowledge and experience of scientific testing techniques.
• Ability to interpret results of analytical and microbiological testing.
• Good written and verbal communication – ability to deal with both suppliers and customers.
• Good numerical skills.
• Good Interpersonal skills – able to work and communicate at all levels throughout the business.
• Ability to work well as part of a team as well as under own initiative.
• Proven Leadership skills.
• Willing and capable of learning new skills.
• Be willing to travel across different sites, must have own car.