Leitung Qualitätsmanagement

Gittis Naturprodukte GmbH; Puch bei Hallein; On-site; EUR 70,000 - 80,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Fully covered company accommodation

Excellent public transport connections

Free company parking

Healthy snacks and employee discounts

Job summary

Gittis Naturprodukte GmbH in Austria (Puch bei Hallein, near Salzburg) is seeking an experienced Head of Quality Management & Food Safety to lead QM, QA, R&D and labs. You will drive regulatory excellence and cross-functional collaboration to safeguard product quality and consumer safety.

The role offers a leadership position with high autonomy, direct impact on processes, and the chance to shape quality culture across the organization.

Qualifications

• University degree in food technology, chemistry or related field.
• Several years of experience in quality management and audits.
• Knowledge of GFSI standards (ideally IFS) and audit practice.
• Experience dealing with authorities and internal/external audits.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop QM, QA, R&D and laboratory teams.
• Ensure compliance with GMP, HACCP, IFS and related standards.
• Act as central contact for authorities, auditors, customers and suppliers.
• Plan, coordinate and conduct audits and track actions.
• Integrate customer quality requirements into products and projects.
• Drive continuous improvement and quality culture.
• Lead change initiatives with Production and Engineering.
• Monitor KPIs and manage deviations and validations.

Skills

Quality management

Auditing

Regulatory compliance

GFSI knowledge

Leadership

Process optimization

Analytical skills

German & English

Education

University degree in food technology

Job description

As Austria's leading manufacturer of baby food, specializing in cereal porridges, snacks and muesli, we are looking for an experienced leader to join our site in Puch near Salzburg.

HEAD OF QUALITY MANAGEMENT & FOOD SAFETY (M/F/D)

Immediate start possible | Full-time

Shape quality, food safety and continuous improvement in a key leadership role

In this position, you will take overall responsibility for Quality Management, Quality Assurance, R&D and our analytical chemistry and microbiology laboratories. You will combine regulatory excellence with practical leadership, process improvement and close cross‑functional collaboration.

YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES

• Lead and develop the Quality Management, Quality Assurance, R&D and laboratory teams, including the analytical chemistry and microbiology laboratories, ensuring high performance, effective organization and continuous capability development across the function.
• Ensure compliance with legal and regulatory requirements, internal quality standards and relevant IFS requirements, including GMP, HACCP, Food Fraud and Food Defense.
• Act as the central point of contact for authorities, external auditors, customers and suppliers on all quality and food safety matters.
• Plan, coordinate and conduct system, authority, customer, supplier and internal audits, and ensure timely follow-up of agreed actions.
• Ensure customer quality requirements are effectively integrated into products, processes and projects in close collaboration with Project Management and other stakeholders.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives that strengthen product quality, food safety, operational efficiency and the quality culture across the organization.
• Play an active role in new projects and lead quality‑related change initiatives in close collaboration with Production, Engineering and other departments.
• Monitor quality performance through relevant KPIs, identify trends and initiate corrective or preventive measures.
• Assess and approve deviations and nonconformities, maintain SOPs, work instructions and test plans, and coordinate validations.
• Coordinate and oversee validation activities to ensure compliance, consistency and product quality.

YOUR PROFILE

• University degree in food technology, food chemistry, biotechnology, chemistry, microbiology or a comparable scientific discipline.
• Several years of relevant experience in quality management within the food industry, combined with proven
• Sound knowledge of a GFSI-recognized standard, ideally IFS, and practical experience with food safety and quality systems.
• Experience in dealing with authorities and in preparing for and conducting internal and external audits.
• Proven ability to optimize processes, lead projects and successfully manage change.
• Strong analytical, communication and decision‑making skills, with the confidence to set priorities and ensure implementation.
• Solution‑oriented, structured and hands‑on leadership approach.
• Good written and spoken German and English.

WHAT WE OFFER

• A responsible leadership position with the opportunity to actively shape and further develop quality management, food safety and laboratory operations.
• High level of autonomy and direct impact on product quality, consumer safety and operational performance.
• Employment in a successful Austrian family‑owned company with short decision‑making paths and close cross‑functional collaboration.
• Annual gross salary of about EUR 75,000, depending on qualifications and relevant experience.
• Candidates based outside the Salzburg region are supported with fully covered company accommodation.
• Excellent public transport connections and free company parking.
• Healthy snacks and employee discounts at selected partner companies.