Quality Assurance Manager

CS Executive Group; Sydney; On-site; AUD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

CS Executive Group in Sydney Hills District NSW seeks an experienced Quality Assurance Manager with a practical microbiology background to oversee quality systems, regulatory compliance and QC laboratory operations within a manufacturing environment.

Reporting to the NSW Quality Manager, you will lead a small QA/QC and microbiology team, drive continuous improvement, manage TGA GMP inspections and host customer audits to ensure high-quality products for major consumer brands.

Qualifications

• 3+ years in a TGA GMP-regulated manufacturing environment.
• Practical microbiology experience.
• Experience leading quality systems, audits and CAPA.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop the QA/QC and microbiology team.
• Maintain and improve the Quality Management System (QMS) and regulatory compliance.
• Coordinate internal and external audits and inspections (TGA GMP).
• Manage deviations, CAPA investigations and change control.
• Oversee microbiology testing, environmental monitoring and lab investigations.
• Collaborate with manufacturing, technical and commercial teams to sustain quality.

Skills

Quality Assurance

TGA GMP

Microbiology

Audits

Leadership

Education

Science degree (Chemistry / Microbiology / Biochemistry)

Job description

CS Executive Group – Sydney Hills District NSW

CHEMSKILL is the specialist scientific and technical recruitment division of CS Executive Group, an Australian-owned recruitment consultancy specialising in executive, professional, scientific and technical appointments. We partner with organisations across the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, chemical, food, personal care and manufacturing sectors, connecting talented professionals with leading Australian businesses.

THE COMPANY

Our client is part of a large, diversified Australian manufacturing group with extensive capabilities across contract manufacturing, packaging and related services. The business provides end-to-end solutions to some of Australia's most recognised consumer brands.

Its Personal Care operations encompass product development, formulation, innovation, manufacturing, packaging and commercialisation across a broad range of categories, including skin care, hair care, body care, colour cosmetics, oral care and sun care.

We are seeking an experienced Quality Assurance Manager to join this well-established contract manufacturing business, based at its northern site in Sydney.

THE OPPORTUNITY

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced Quality Assurance Manager with a practical microbiology background to take responsibility for quality assurance, regulatory compliance and QC laboratory operations within an established manufacturing environment.

Reporting to the NSW Quality Manager, you will lead a team of approximately five across QC, QA and microbiology functions, ensuring the ongoing effectiveness of quality systems, compliance with TGA GMP requirements and delivery of high-quality products to customers.

With well-established quality systems and procedures already in place, the focus will be on maintaining high standards of compliance, leading regulatory and customer audits, supporting the microbiology laboratory and driving continuous improvement.

Key responsibilities include:

• Lead and maintain the site's Quality Management System, ensuring ongoing compliance with TGA GMP requirements, quality policies, SOPs and regulatory standards.
• Manage TGA GMP inspection readiness, including internal audit programmes, regulatory inspections, audit findings and corrective actions.
• Lead, coordinate and host customer quality audits on behalf of contract manufacturing clients, ensuring professional engagement, timely responses and effective closure of findings.
• Manage the onsite QA/QC and microbiology team, providing technical guidance, leadership and operational support.
• Oversee microbiological testing, environmental monitoring, cleaning validation and laboratory investigations.
• Manage QC laboratory activities, including raw material testing, product quality assessments and coordination of specialised testing with external laboratories.
• Lead investigations into deviations, out-of-specification results and customer quality complaints, including root cause analysis and implementation of corrective and preventive actions.
• Oversee product quality reviews, documentation, change control and quality-related training across manufacturing operations.
• Maintain applicable quality certifications and standards, including ISO 22716, BRC, HACCP, ACO and RSPO.
• Work collaboratively with manufacturing, technical, commercial and customer-facing teams to promote a strong quality culture and continuous improvement.

ABOUT YOU

You will be an accomplished Quality Assurance professional with strong TGA GMP manufacturing experience and a practical background in microbiology, ideally gained within pharmaceutical, personal care, cosmetics or related regulated manufacturing environments.

You will bring the technical credibility to lead regulatory inspections and customer audits, together with the interpersonal skills to engage confidently with customers, auditors and internal stakeholders.

Importantly, you will have previously worked in microbiology and subsequently developed broader quality assurance expertise, enabling you to effectively oversee both QA systems and microbiology laboratory operations.

Ideally, you will bring:

• A tertiary qualification in Chemistry, Microbiology, Biochemistry, Pharmaceutical Science, Pharmacy, Biotechnology or a related scientific discipline.
• Demonstrated experience in a TGA GMP-regulated manufacturing environment – essential.
• Practical microbiology experience, ideally gained through previous employment as a Microbiologist or Senior Microbiologist within pharmaceutical, personal care or cosmetics manufacturing/testing.
• Proven experience managing quality systems, GMP compliance, SOPs, internal audits, deviations, CAPA and regulatory documentation.
• Demonstrated experience preparing for and managing TGA inspections, including regulatory audit readiness and corrective action management.
• Experience leading or supervising QA/QC and/or microbiology laboratory personnel.
• Sound knowledge of microbiological testing, environmental monitoring, laboratory investigations and cleaning validation.
• Experience hosting customer audits, managing quality complaints and communicating effectively with external stakeholders.
• Strong leadership, organisational and problem-solving skills, with the confidence to make sound quality decisions.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with a professional, collaborative and commercially aware approach.
• Experience with ISO 22716, BRC, HACCP, ACO, HALAL or RSPO standards will be highly regarded but is not essential.

This position would suit an experienced QA Manager or a technically strong QA/QC professional with established leadership experience who is seeking broader responsibility within a reputable manufacturing organisation.