Quality Assurance Manager - Airline Catering

Gate Gourmet; Melbourne; On-site; AUD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Free onsite parking

Public transport access

Career development opportunities

Flexible work arrangements

Job summary

Gate Gourmet, a Gate Group company, is the world’s largest independent provider of catering and provisioning services to the airline industry. We are seeking a QA Manager to lead and manage QA systems, ensuring compliance with global and regional food safety standards, including ISO 22000 and Halal certifications, and drive continuous improvement across QA processes.

You will oversee two sites with a QA Coordinator reporting directly, support the Unit Manager daily, and promote a strong food

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Food Science/Technology, Biology, Chemistry or related discipline.
• 3–5 years of experience in Quality Assurance and Food Safety.
• Previous experience as QA Manager in a similar environment.
• Project management experience is valuable.
• Recent HACCP and/or ISO 22000 certification (within 3 years).
• Auditor training (internal or external) advantageous.
• Strong communication and stakeholder relationship skills.
• Experience in food safety and quality assurance is essential.

Responsibilities

• Develop, implement, and improve food safety and quality management systems with cross-functional teams.
• Coordinate daily QA activities to meet objectives and standards.
• Drive QA KPIs across ANZ region and report to senior leadership.
• Conduct internal and supplier audits and manage non-conformances.
• Liaise with authorities on food safety regulatory matters.
• Ensure compliance with regulatory, certification, and customer requirements.
• Investigate customer complaints and implement corrective actions.
• Monitor and report product quality and service performance to customers.
• Deliver effective food safety training to all employees.
• Lead QA and food safety meetings (HACCP, ISO 22000, Halal).
• Participate in management meetings and regional QA discussions.

Skills

Quality Assurance

Food Safety

Auditing

Project Management

Stakeholder Management

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Food Science/Technology or related field

HACCP and/or ISO 22000 certification

Job description

Quality Assurance Manager - Airline Catering

Gate Gourmet, a Gate Group company, is the world's largest independent provider of catering and provisioning services to the airline industry. With a proud 95-year history, we support more than 300+ Aviation carriers across over 68 countries serving over 700 million passengers in the sky annually. Our operations combine culinary excellence with stringent food safety and production standards, enabling us to deliver high-quality, reliable catering solutions to over 680 million travellers annually. We bring together global expertise and local passion to deliver fresh, safe, and high-quality meals that elevate every travel experience. Our people are the foundation of our success. We foster a culture of teamwork, respect, and continuous development, creating an environment where everyone can grow and succeed.

The Opportunity: In this role as QA Manager, you will lead and manage the site’s Quality Assurance (QA) systems, ensuring compliance with global and regional food safety and quality standards. You will play a key role in maintaining ISO 22000 and Halal certifications while driving continuous improvement across QA systems, processes, and practices. Reporting to the Regional QA Manager (Oceania) and supporting the Unit Manager on a daily basis, you will provide leadership and guidance to the team, promote a strong food safety culture, and ensure compliance with all relevant standards and requirements. You will oversee two sites with the support of a Quality Coordinator direct report. This is a full-time, onsite position based in Tullamarine Melbourne Airport.

To succeed in this role, you will bring strong communication and interpersonal skills, working collaboratively with regional stakeholders and internal teams to build effective relationships and achieve shared objectives.

Your Key Responsibilities:

• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to develop, implement, and improve food safety and quality management systems.
• Coordinate daily QA activities to ensure operational objectives and quality standards are consistently achieved.
• Drive food safety and quality KPIs across the Australia and New Zealand (ANZ) region and present and report performance to senior leadership.
• Conduct internal audits and supplier audits, facilitate customer audits of our sites, and manage non-conformance closure.
• Liaise with government authorities on food safety compliance and regulatory matters.
• Ensure compliance with regulatory, certification, and customer requirements.
• Work with Account Managers and relevant stakeholders to investigate customer complaints, implement timely corrective actions, and resolve deviations from required standards or performance expectations.
• Monitor, analyse, and report product quality and service performance to customers.
• Ensure effective food safety training is delivered to all employees.
• Lead and document QA and food safety meetings, including HACCP, ISO 22000, Halal, and compliance meetings and forums.
• Participate in shift briefings and management meetings as required.
• Contribute to regional QA and food safety discussions across Asia Pacific and the Middle East.
• Coordinate the collection and submission of samples for microbiological testing.
• Carry out daily floor inspections to monitor compliance with food safety, quality, and operational requirements, ensure immediate corrections, and provide on-the-spot coaching to operations.

About You:

• A minimum bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Food Technology, Biology, Chemistry, or a related discipline.
• At least 3 – 5 years of experience in Quality Assurance and Food Safety.
• Previous experience in a Quality Assurance Manager role within a comparable operational environment.
• Project management experience will be highly regarded.
• Recent HACCP and/or ISO 22000 certification, obtained within the past three years.
• Internal or external auditor training will be advantageous.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills, with the ability to engage effectively with internal and external stakeholders.
• Demonstrated experience in food safety and quality assurance is essential.

Why Join Gate Gourmet?

• An excellent opportunity to develop your career with a global industry leader that offers strong internal career progression pathways.
• A fast-paced and dynamic environment where your work directly supports major domestic and international airlines.
• The convenience of free onsite parking and easy access to public transport.
• Exposure to complex, high-volume operations, with genuine opportunities to progress into senior leadership roles locally and internationally.

What Gate Gourmet Will Offer You!

Gate Benefits: Join a global organisation undergoing an exciting transformation, with opportunities to contribute to our continued growth and expansion into diverse markets.

• Opportunities for career advancement and professional development.
• Exposure to regional leadership and collaboration with international teams.
• Flexible work arrangements.
• A supportive, collaborative, and inclusive team culture.
• Free onsite parking and convenient access to public transport.
• An engaging work environment that continues to evolve and grow.
• Access to challenging and rewarding career opportunities across our global network.

At Gate Gourmet, we believe every employee deserves strong leadership, competitive remuneration, and meaningful opportunities for career development. We are committed to empowering our people, recognising their contributions, and providing the support they need to reach their full potential.