Quality Assurance Manager

Gelato Messina; Sydney; On-site; AUD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Lunch provided daily (Italian)

On‑site gym

Staff discounts on all products

Free gelato

Job summary

Gelato Messina is seeking a Quality Assurance Manager to lead food safety and QA across our manufacturing operations from Messina HQ in Marrickville. This hands‑on role covers audits, allergen management, labeling compliance and continuous improvement in a busy production environment.

You will work with production and product development to maintain high standards, manage our Approved Supplier Program and deliver practical safety training to teams. Experience with export compliance is a plus.

Qualifications

• Tertiary qualification in Food Science, Food Technology or related discipline.
• Solid experience in quality assurance within food manufacturing (1–3 years).
• Strong knowledge of HACCP and FSANZ/Food Standards Code, NSW legislation.
• Experience managing external food safety audits and export compliance processes.
• Attention to detail and clear communication across the business.

Responsibilities

• Lead internal and external audits (NSW Food Authority, Halal, third‑party audits, DAFF export compliance).
• Maintain and improve the food safety program per NSW Food Act and standards.
• Develop, review and maintain HACCP plans across production operations.
• Oversee allergen management and product labeling compliance with FSANZ.
• Manage microbiological and chemical testing programs, including in‑house lab and external labs.
• Investigate non‑conformances and incidents, implement corrective actions.
• Collaborate with Product Development for ingredient specs and supplier requirements.
• Oversee Approved Supplier Program and label approvals for plain English allergen labeling.
• Deliver practical food safety training to production, warehouse and operations teams.

Skills

QA in food manufacturing

HACCP knowledge

Audit management

Export compliance

ERP systems

Education

Bachelor's degree in Food Science/Technology

Tools

LIMS

Job description

At Gelato Messina, we take what we make seriously. From gelato and chocolate to intricate patisserie, we're particular about our ingredients, our processes and thequality of everything that leaves our kitchen.

We're looking for aQualityAssurance Manager to lead our food safety andqualityfunction at Messina HQ in Marrickville.

This is a hands-on, autonomous role for someone who knows their stuff, enjoys solving problems and understands that good food safety practices need to work in a busy production environment, not just look good on paper.

We're a family-owned business with high standards and a fairly relaxed approach to everything else. We work hard, have a good laugh and take pride in doing things properly.

The role

You'll take responsibility for food safety,qualityassurance and regulatory compliance across our manufacturing operations.

It's a broad role, covering everything from audits and HACCP to supplierquality, allergen management, product labelling and export compliance. You'll work closely with our production and product development teams to make sure our standards are maintained as the business continues to grow.

What you'll be doing

Lead and manage internal and external audits, including NSW Food Authority, Halal, third-party food safety and DAFF export compliance.

Maintain and continuously improve our food safety program in accordance with the Food Act 2003 (NSW), FSANZ Food Standards Code and applicable NSW food safety requirements.

Manage our Approved Arrangement for dairy exports.

Develop, review and maintain HACCP plans across our production operations.

Oversee allergen management and ensure appropriate controls are in place.

Manage microbiological and chemical testing programs, including our in-house laboratory and external testing providers.

Investigate non-conformances, food safety incidents and customer complaints, and implement effective corrective actions.

Work with our Product Development Manager on ingredient specifications, raw materialqualityand new product requirements.

Manage our Approved Supplier Program.

Review and approve product labels for compliance with FSANZ requirements, including Plain English Allergen Labelling (PEAL).

Deliver practical food safety training to production, warehouse and operations teams.

Build a strong food safety culture through clear processes, good communication and a practical, hands-on approach.

What we're looking for

You'll need to be confident working independently, comfortable making decisions and able to balance regulatory requirements with the realities of food manufacturing.

Ideally, you'll bring:

A tertiary qualification in Food Science, Food Technology or a related discipline.

Solid experience inqualityassurance within food manufacturing, ideally 1 - 3 years.

Strong working knowledge of HACCP, the FSANZ Food Standards Code and NSW food safety legislation.

Experience managing external food safety audits, with the confidence to take ownership of the process.

Experience with export compliance and Approved Arrangements, or the ability to quickly develop expertise in this area.

Strong attention to detail, sound judgement and the ability to communicate effectively with people across the business.

It would also be great if you have:

Experience with Halal certification and assurance programs.

Experience managing allergens in a complex, multi-allergen manufacturing environment.

Familiarity with ERP systems for product specifications and master data management.

The good stuff

Lunch is provided every day, usually something home-cooked and Italian

There's a free gym on site

You'll get generous discounts on everything we make, plus plenty of free gelato

If you're an experienced QA professional who likes being close to the action, takes pride in getting things right and wants to make a genuine contribution to a growing food business, we'd love to hear from you.