QA Technician - 5 month contract

Real Pet Food Company; Gold Coast City; On-site; AUD 34,000 - 48,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Anniversary day off

Product discounts

Volunteering days

Novated leases

Rewards program

Parental leave

Job summary

Real Pet Food Company is seeking a QA Technician for our busy Yatala manufacturing site on a 4-month fixed-term contract, Monday to Friday, 6am–2pm, to cover staff holidays. You will ensure QC processes align with GMP/HACCP standards and support product quality tests across raw materials, in-process, and finished goods.

As part of our wet meat processing environment, you will calibrate lab equipment, monitor micro programs, and assist with audits and investigations to uphold our award-winning

Qualifications

• Requires food/science/microbiology/chemistry or lab qualifications.
• Knowledge of GMP/HACCP principles.
• 2+ years in a food or FMCG manufacturing environment is preferred.
• Intermediate computer literacy with MS Office.

Responsibilities

• Conduct routine and non-routine product quality tests in line with GFSI & HACCP.
• Perform visual inspections of colour, consistency and aesthetics; monitor finishes.
• Manage micro-monitoring program for finished products.
• Sample, test, approve and label raw materials, packaging and promotional materials.
• Conduct in-process and finished goods sampling and testing.
• Coordinate sending samples to external labs as required.
• Calibrate and maintain lab equipment; maintain data trends.

Skills

Root Cause Analysis

Quality Assurance

Attention to detail

Education

Food/Science/Microbiology/Chemistry or Laboratory qualifications

Tools

Excel

Word

Outlook

GMP/HACCP

Job description

• Great Industry Experience - Holiday Leave Cover

• Penalty Rates and Overtime

• Skilled 491 and Graduate Visa holders Welcome to Apply

We are excited to be looking for an enthusiastic QA Technician to join our dynamic team at our busy Yatala Manufacturing site for our Monday-Friday, 6am-2pm for a period of 5 months to cover staff holidays.

This role is responsible for ensuring timely and effective implementation of our policies, procedures, and activities involved in assuring the quality of our award-winning manufactured products.

Real means fresh ingredients and fresh methods. We'll never stop expanding, innovating, and trying new things. We are competing in every pet category and channel creating favourite brands such as Ivory Coat, Billy & Margot, Fussy Cat, Nature’s Gift, V.I.P. Petfoods, Nature’s Goodness, Farmer’s Market & Love ‘Em!

Our Yatala site is a 'wet' manufacturing site where we process raw meat, so you must be comfortable working in and animal protein.

Key Responsibilities:

Quality Testing and Monitoring

• Conduct routine and non-routine product quality tests in keeping with GFSI Standards and HACCP;

• Conduct visual inspection, monitoring product colour, consistency and aesthetics;

• Perform routine micro monitoring program for finished product

• Sampling, testing approving and labelling raw materials, packaging and promotional materials

• Sampling and testing in-process product and finished goods

• Collecting and sending samples to external labs for testing as required

• Performing in-house environmental micro testing, maintaining databases and identifying trends

• Calibrating and maintaining lab equipment

Reporting, Auditing and Investigating

• Preparation of routine and non-routine reports

• Assist with investigations of customer complaints

• Manage the routine micro monitoring program for finished product

• Assist/coordinate training relating to food safety, and QA

• Assist with internal and external food safety audits

• Maintain and improve systems, procedures and record keeping systems

Cleaning and Hygiene

• Monitor and verify cleaning and sanitation effectiveness across production zones

• Conduct hygiene audits and environmental swabbing

• Work closely with the hygiene team to ensure compliance with GMP and allergen control standards

• Support continuous improvement in hygiene practices and site cleanliness

• Ensure hygiene-related non-conformances are addressed and closed out promptly

About you:

This is a 4 month fixed term contract. To be considered for this role we would love it if you had:

• Food/Science/Microbiology/Chemistry or Laboratory qualifications

• Knowledge of GMP/HACCP

• 2 years + experience in a food or FMCG manufacturing environment

• Technical understanding of Quality and Food Safety including Root Cause Analysis

• Intermediate computer literacy – Excel, Word, Outlook

• Excellent verbal and written skills

• A curious nature with high decision-making skills, eye for quality and courage to stand alone

• Drive to make a difference through influencing others

What We’re About

Welcome to RPF, where we believe in keeping it Real.

Since 1994, we have been Australia and New Zealand’s pioneers in fresher dog and cat nutrition. Our story is one of passion for a better way to care for pets, a belief in fresher nutrition, and an unwavering commitment to delivering this to pet parents and pets worldwide.

We're dedicated to fostering authentic partnerships, encouraging real ambition, and providing real career opportunities for our employees to make a difference.

Real means fresher ingredients and fresher methods. We'll never stop expanding, innovating, and trying new things. We compete in every pet category and channel, creating favourite brands such as Ivory Coat, Nature’s Gift, V.I.P. Petfoods, and Love ‘Em & Fussy Cat!

Since the establishment of RPF, we have grown to over 900 people across Australia and New Zealand, China, Southeast Asia, and Europe.

With the pet industry growing rapidly (a $15 billion industry!) and pets becoming increasingly important in our lives and homes, this is a unique opportunity to be a part of our remarkable growth story and advance your career.

Why Join Us?

Do work that matters. We’re pioneering in a new area of pet food, always striving for fresher. We’re restless, creating a better life for our pets.

Make an impact and change the game. You won’t be another ‘cog in the wheel’ here. We give full trust and autonomy for you to do your best work – and to make a real difference. Do you have a great idea for a new product or system improvement? We’re all ears!

Growing and global. We’re growing fast! We now have a global presence across APAC and Europe regions, and we’re only getting started! Work with a pack of awesome, genuine people who are passionate about what they do.

Grow your career with us. We’re big believers in lifelong learning. You’ll be given access to LinkedIn Learning, plus opportunities for internal mobility and leadership training to fast-track your career.

Pets are part of our family: Access our Pawrental leave when you adopt a new cat or dog, pet carer, and compassionate leave.

Generous perks including a day off for your anniversary, product discounts, volunteering days to help the community, novated leases, a rewards program, and parental leave!

What’s Next?

If you're ready to unleash your potential and make a real difference in the booming pet industry, then we want to hear from you!

Should you be successful for an interview you can expect:

• An initial phone screen followed by 1 face-to-face interview at a minimum including a site visit

• A request for 2 references

• A Pre-Employment Medical

We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. Diversity’s not a buzzword here, it’s in our DNA. Diverse perspectives shape our culture and make our work better. That’s why we’re committed to building inclusive teams that represent a variety of backgrounds and skills. If you need any reasonable adjustments, accessibility assistance, or would like to note which pronouns you use at any stage of our hiring process, just contact us at accommodations: [e-mail]. We look forward to hearing from you.