Quality Officer

Walter Findlay; Bathurst; On-site; AUD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Walter Findlay Ltd is seeking a hands-on Quality Officer for our Kelso operation. You will ensure batches meet safety, compliance and customer specifications, while working on the production floor, in the lab and in the QA lab.

Reporting to the International Quality Systems Manager, you’ll drive daily QA activities, support audits (BRCGS/HACCP), manage test data and certificates, and help keep the site audit-ready with proactive improvements.

Qualifications

• Experience in a quality assurance role within food manufacturing.
• Strong knowledge of food safety, GMPs and HACCP principles.
• Proactive communicator with attention to detail and team orientation.

Responsibilities

• Conduct daily production floor quality checks and assist on issues.
• Run the QA lab including viscosity testing and retention samples.
• Perform environmental monitoring, water sampling and sanitation checks.
• Coordinate external testing, review results and issue Certificates of Analysis.
• Place product holds and support rework evaluations.
• Maintain Corrective Action Register and assist with customer complaints.
• Support audits (BRCGS, Halal) and customer information requests.
• Share quality updates at weekly staff and management meetings.

Skills

QA focus in food manufacturing

GMPs & food safety principles

Attention to detail

Effective communicator

Team player

Education

College/Technical qualification in Food Safety

Tools

MS Office (Word, Excel, Outlook)

SharePoint

Inventory management systems

Job description

Do you take pride in knowing every batch leaving the plant is safe, compliant and exactly what the customer ordered? We're looking for a hands‑on Quality Officer to be the go‑to quality person at our Kelso plant – someone who's just as comfortable on the production floor as they are in the lab and behind a computer.

Walter Findlay Ltd is a proudly family‑owned business spanning five generations. As we continue to grow, our Kelso Batter and Crumb Operation is central to our success – and quality is at the heart of everything we make there.

About the Role

Reporting to our International Quality Systems Manager, based in Idaho, you'll lead the day‑to‑day delivery of quality assurance and food safety across our batter and crumb plants. You'll make sure product is made, tested and released to specification and to BRCGS, Halal and customer standards – and help keep the site audit‑ready every day. This isn't a desk‑bound role: you'll be out on the floor working alongside Operations, Warehouse and our Technical Team, with a real voice in how we improve our quality systems. This is a Monday to Friday role with 6am starts one or two days per week (which days are flexible) and a 7am start on the remaining days.

What You'll Be Doing

• Carrying out daily production floor checks, monitoring GMPs and jumping in with hands‑on support when issues arise
• Running the QA lab – viscosity testing, retention samples, data entry and keeping the lab organised and audit‑ready
• Completing environmental monitoring, water sampling and sanitation checks
• Coordinating external testing, reviewing results and issuing Certificates of Analysis
• Placing product holds, supporting rework evaluations and managing ingredient shelf‑life extensions
• Managing the Corrective Action Register and helping investigate customer complaints
• Supporting BRCGS, Halal and customer audits, customer information requests and new product trials
• Sharing quality updates and training at weekly staff and management meetings

What You'll Bring

• Experience in a quality assurance role within a food manufacturing environment
• A solid understanding of food safety, quality principles and Good Manufacturing Practices
• Confidence using MS Office (Word, Excel and Outlook), SharePoint and inventory management systems
• A sharp eye for detail and the confidence to raise issues early – no surprises
• Clear, respectful communication and a genuine team‑player attitude

Bonus points if you have experience with HACCP and Food Safety Management Systems, GFSI audit schemes such as BRCGS, developing or training GMP and food safety programs, or a college or technical qualification.

Why Join Us?

Food safety matters here – and so do our people. Join a multigeneration family business where your work directly shapes the quality and reputation of the Kelso operation. You'll be part of a supportive Quality team where ideas for doing things better are genuinely welcomed, work alongside NZ‑based senior leaders and global technical experts, and build your skills across audits, laboratory work, product trials and continuous improvement.

Closing Date:

5pm Friday 13th November