Quality Assurance & Compliance Manager

Mildura Fruit Company; Mildura; On-site; AUD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Mildura Fruit Company is seeking a senior quality leader to drive food safety, quality assurance and sustainability across its citrus packhouse operations in Mildura. You will shape compliance, audits and continuous improvement programs while collaborating with production, sales, logistics and growers.

The role leads the Quality Assurance Officer and works with the Quality Control team to maintain SQF/HACCP standards, investigate incidents, and drive quality culture across the site.

Qualifications

• Tertiary qualifications in Food Science, Agricultural Science, Environmental Science or related discipline.
• Proven leadership and ability to translate standards into everyday practice.
• Experience in Quality, Food Safety or Compliance leadership within food manufacturing or FMCG.
• Strong knowledge of HACCP, SQF, BRC or other GFSI-recognised standards.
• Understanding FSANZ, retailer standards and regulatory compliance obligations.
• Experience managing internal and external audits and corrective actions.
• HARPS, Freshcare, DAFF export programs, MICOR and SEDEX familiarity preferred.
• Strong leadership to influence stakeholders at all levels.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving and investigation capabilities.
• High attention to detail and documentation skills.
• Proactive, hands-on approach and a passion for continuous improvement.

Responsibilities

• Take ownership of the site’s Quality Management System, food safety programs and compliance framework.
• Responsible for Vendor Quality Manager and HACCP Team Leader duties.
• Maintain compliance with SQF, HACCP, FSANZ, retailer, export and customer requirements.
• Lead internal and external audits (SQF, HARPS, DAFF, SEDEX and customer audits).
• Ensure audit-readiness through documentation, verification and corrective actions.
• Oversee supplier approval and vendor management including ethical sourcing.
• Manage customer complaints, product incidents, tracebacks and corrective actions.
• Monitor product quality, specifications, traceability and compliance systems.

Skills

Leadership

Auditing

Food safety

Sustainability

Continuous improvement

Cross-functional collaboration

Data analysis

Regulatory compliance

Education

Food Science

Agricultural Science

Environmental Science

Job description

• Lead quality, food safety and compliance at one of Australia’s largest citrus packhouses—right here in sunny Mildura.

• Bring fresh ideas,strengthen auditreadiness and help shape sustainability and continuous improvementacross a fast-moving fresh produce operation.

• Join a friendly,respected and growing regional business that connects premium Australianproduce with customers around the world.

Build your career in sunny Mildura, wherea relaxed regional lifestyle, a welcoming community and one of Australia’s mostimportant horticultural regions come together. Here, meaningful work, genuineinfluence and a little more sunshine are all part of the opportunity.

Who are we?

Mildura Fruit Company brings together thecitrus produce from more than 110 growers across Sunraysia and the Riverland,packing and marketing premium Australian fruit for customers around the world. Builton deep experience and strong grower and customer relationships we continue toseek to improve and grow our business.

Why join us?

• Leadership Impact: Playa critical role in protecting and enhancing our food safety, quality,compliance and sustainability standards.
• Meaningful Work: Help deliverpremium Australian fruit to domestic and international customers whilemaintaining the highest standards of quality and integrity.
• Operational Influence: Partnerwith Production, Grower Services, Sales & Marketing, Logistics andTechnical teams to drive quality outcomes across the supply chain.
• Continuous Improvement: Leadinitiatives that strengthen food safety culture, audit performance,environmental sustainability and operational excellence.
• Great People, Shared Purpose: Join acollaborative team that takes pride in doing things well, supporting oneanother and delivering premium Australian citrus produce to customers aroundthe world.

Whatyou’ll get involved in

• Take ownership of the site’s QualityManagement System, food safety programs and compliance framework, keeping thempractical, effective and ready for what comes next.
• Responsible for the Vendor Quality Manager andHACCP Team Leader for the business.
• Maintain compliance with SQF, HACCP, FSANZ,retailer, export and customer requirements.
• Lead internal and external audits, including SQF,HARPS, DAFF, SEDEX and customer audits.
• Ensure the business remains audit-ready througheffective documentation, verification and corrective action processes.
• Oversee supplier approval and vendor managementprograms, including ethical sourcing requirements.
• Manage customer complaints, product incidentinvestigations, tracebacks and corrective action programs.
• Monitor and maintain product quality standards,specifications, traceability and compliance systems and requirements.
• Drive food safety culture, GMP standards, hygieneprograms and environmental compliance across the site.
• Lead sustainability initiatives, environmentalreporting and continuous improvement programs.
• Provide leadership, coaching andtechnical guidance to the Quality Assurance Officer and work closely with the QualityControl Supervisor and their team.
• Analyse quality, compliance and sustainability datato identify trends, risks and improvement opportunities.
• Work side by side with Operations,Production, Grower Services, Sales and Marketing and Logistics to make quality partof everyday decisions across the business.

What you’ll bring

• Relevanttertiary qualifications in Food Science, Agricultural Science, EnvironmentalScience or a related discipline
• Practical leadership style andan ability to work with people, solve problems and turn strong standards intoeveryday habits.
• Proven experience in a Quality,Food Safety or Compliance leadership role within food manufacturing, freshproduce, agricultural processing or FMCG environments.
• Strong working knowledge ofHACCP, SQF, BRC or other GFSI-recognised food safety standards.
• Sound understanding of FSANZrequirements, retailer standards and regulatory compliance obligations.
• Experience managing internal andexternal audits and driving corrective actions.
• Knowledge of HARPS, Freshcare,DAFF export programs, MICOR and SEDEX requirements will be highly regarded.
• Strong leadership skills with theability to influence stakeholders across all levels of the organisation.
• Excellent analytical,problem-solving and investigation capabilities.
• High attention to detail withexceptional documentation and organisational skills.
• A proactive, hands-on approachand a passion for continuous improvement.

Join Mildura FruitCompany and help safeguard the quality, safety and sustainability of premiumAustralian produce enjoyed around the world—all while building your career inthe sunshine and relaxed lifestyle of Mildura.