Quality Assurance Manager
Gilbert Street Kitchens is a growing food manufacturing company specialising in chef-prepared ready meals, foodservice components and handheld products for retail, private label and foodservice clients across Australia.
We are seeking a proactive and experienced Quality Assurance Manager to champion food safety, quality, and compliance across our site. This role is ideal for a confident leader who thrives in a fast-paced production environment and is committed to building a strong quality culture.
As the Quality Assurance Lead, you will oversee food safety and quality programs, develop and delivery training to strengthen teams, support audits, and work collaboratively with operations to uphold high standards of HACCP, BSI and quality compliance. You will champion a strong quality culture and play a vital role in maintaining certification, customer requirements, and our Food Safety Management System.
About the role
· Drive a positive food safety and quality culture across the site through education and engagement.
· Monitor performance against food safety and quality KPIs and deliver improvement initiatives.
· Oversee and verify daily HACCP records to maintain complete traceability and alignment with food safety requirements.
· Identify, escalate and investigate food safety and quality issues.
· Identify training and development needs to support continuous improvement and deliver training on protocols and best practice.
· Oversee and maintain the company's food safety management system.
· Investigation and resolution of customer complaints and NCRs regarding food quality and safety.
· Perform GMP audits and raise identified improvement actions with senior leadership team to support continuous improvement.
· Maintain and develop SOPs and key documentation.
· Oversee QA responsibilities for NPD projects and trials.
· Ensure QA tasks, checks and records are completed accurately and on time.
· Verify corrective actions and assess their effectiveness.
· Assist with product investigations, reports and customer responses.
· Monitor supplier performance and issue NCRs as required.
· Support all validation and verification activities within the Food Safety Management System.
· Solution driven.
· Hands on role.
About You
· Proven experience in a QA role, with strong knowledge of QMS systems, HACCP, GMP, and audit processes.
· Formal qualifications in Food Technology, Food Science, or a related discipline.
· Minimum of 5 years' experience within the Food industry.
· Strong understanding of Australian food regulations.
· Experience in quality control testing of fresh and frozen products including packaging assessments.
· A proactive approach to problem-solving, corrective and preventative actions.
· Excellent verbal and written skills, adaptable for technical and non-technical stakeholders.
· A strong sense of responsibility, accountability and ownership of outcomes.
· Ability to think ahead, show initiative and deliver efficient, safe and client-centred outcomes.
· Consistent, reliable performance with a commitment to high standards.
· A team-focused approach and ability to build positive internal and external partnerships.
· Ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment and champion continuous improvement.
· Skilled in internal auditing, technical investigations and report writing.
· Demonstrated understanding of GFSI standards and HACCP requirements in food processing.
This role offers an opportunity to make a significant contribution to the production team contributing to the growth and success of the business. If you are a proactive and results-driven professional with a passion for quality assurance, we encourage you to apply!
With thanks, previous applicants need not apply.
Screening questions
* Permanent working rights in Australia
* Minimum five (5) years' experience in the role
* Experience in food or beverage industry