Quality Assurance Manager

Next Generation Pet Foods; Toowoomba Regional; On-site; AUD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Salary plus superannuation

Job summary

Next Generation Pet Foods is seeking a Quality Assurance Manager for our Wilsonton, Toowoomba facility. You will own the QMS, lead external audits, drive CAPA and continuous improvement, and develop the site quality team in a fast-paced production environment.

You will collaborate with Production, Maintenance and Warehouse to ensure GMP, HACCP and food safety compliance, while championing a strong quality culture across the site.

Qualifications

• Qualifications in Food Technology, Food Science, Quality, Microbiology or related discipline.
• Quality Assurance experience in food manufacturing or regulated environment.
• Strong knowledge of BRCGS or other GFSI food safety standard.

Responsibilities

• Maintain and improve the site's Quality Management System.
• Lead audits and certifications (BRCGS, PFIAA etc.).
• Develop and support the site Quality team and interact with operations to improve quality and food safety.

Skills

Quality leadership

Stakeholder management

Auditing

Problem solving

Documentation

Education

Food Technology / Food Science / Quality / Microbiology degree

Tools

QMS

Job description

Quality leadership opportunity in food manufacturing

Next Generation Pet Foods is looking for an experienced and proactive Quality Assurance Manager to join our manufacturing team at our Wilsonton site in Toowoomba.

This hands-on leadership role will suit someone who enjoys being close to manufacturing operations and can confidently lead quality, food safety and compliance in a busy production environment.

In this role, you will take ownership of our Quality Management System, lead audit and certification activities, support and develop the site Quality team, and work closely with operational leaders to continually improve quality and food safety performance.

About Us

Next Generation Pet Foods is part of EBOS Group Limited and is dedicated to enhancing the health, happiness and wellbeing of pets. Quality and product integrity are central to every stage of our process, from ingredient selection through to finished product.

Our Toowoomba manufacturing facility produces a range of pet food and treat products. We are looking for someone who can combine strong quality expertise with a practical, collaborative approach to manufacturing.

About the Role

As Quality Assurance Manager, you will be responsible for the implementation, maintenance and continuous improvement of the site's Quality Management System (QMS), ensuring ongoing compliance with BRCGS, PFIAA and applicable food safety standards.

You will be a key point of contact for quality and food safety across the facility, working closely with Production, Maintenance, Warehouse and other operational teams to ensure our processes and products consistently meet regulatory, customer and internal requirements.

The position includes preparing for and leading external certification audits, managing non-conformances and CAPAs, maintaining controlled documentation, and driving a strong GMP and food safety culture across the site.

Key Responsibilities

• Maintain and continuously improve the site's Quality Management System
• Lead preparation for BRCGS and other external audits and certifications, acting as a key site contact during audits
• Maintain compliance with BRCGS, PFIAA, HACCP, VACCP, TACCP and applicable food safety requirements
• Develop, review and maintain controlled quality and food safety documentation
• Monitor manufacturing processes to ensure they remain controlled and compliant
• Lead investigations into non-conformances and deviations and ensure effective Corrective and Preventive Actions (CAPA)
• Analyse quality data and trends to identify risks and opportunities for improvement
• Lead internal audits, inspections and compliance reviews
• Promote and maintain high standards of GMP, hygiene and food safety
• Coordinate and deliver quality, GMP and food safety training
• Provide leadership, guidance and support to the site's Quality team
• Work collaboratively with operational teams to resolve quality issues and drive practical improvements
• Report quality performance, risks and compliance status to management
• Report on site-wide quality status with the capability to define what effective reporting looks like, identifying the trends and metrics that genuinely move the dial, and applying a strategic lens to what is working, what is not, and where effort should be focused
• Champion continuous improvement and a proactive food safety culture

These responsibilities reflect the key quality, compliance and leadership requirements of the role.

About You

We are looking for someone with strong technical quality knowledge who can also build effective relationships on the factory floor.

You will be comfortable challenging practices when required, but equally capable of coaching and supporting employees to understand why quality and food safety requirements matter.

Ideally, you will bring:

• Qualifications in Food Technology, Food Science, Quality, Microbiology or a related discipline
• Quality Assurance experience within food manufacturing or another regulated manufacturing environment
• Strong working knowledge of BRCGS or another GFSI-recognised food safety standard
• Strong knowledge of HACCP and GMP
• Understanding of VACCP and TACCP
• Experience preparing for and participating in external certification or customer audits
• Experience managing non-conformances, root cause investigations and CAPA
• Internal auditing experience
• Strong documentation and QMS management skills
• Excellent attention to detail and problem-solving capability
• Strong communication and stakeholder-management skills

The confidence to influence quality and food safety behaviours across all levels of a manufacturing operation

Experience supporting, coaching or leading other Quality team members

Quality documentation, sampling and testing, WHS knowledge, and experience in a fast-paced production environment will also be highly regarded.

What We Offer

• Competitive Salary + superannuation, depending on experience
• Permanent, full-time position
• Based at our Wilsonton, Toowoomba manufacturing facility
• A hands-on role with the opportunity to genuinely influence site quality and food safety
• Support from an established operational and leadership team
• Opportunity to work within Next Generation Pet Foods and the wider EBOS Group
• A business where quality, safety and continuous improvement are central to our operations

Why This Role?

This is an opportunity to take genuine ownership of Quality Assurance within a hands-on manufacturing environment.

You'll have the scope to lead audits, strengthen systems, develop people and work directly with Operations to improve the way we do things - rather than quality simply being a desk-based compliance function.