Lead Quality Expert - External Manufacturing QA

dsm-firmenich; Delft; On-site; EUR 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Space to grow

Culture prioritizing safety and well-being

Flexible work environment

Job summary

A leading food technology company in Delft is seeking a Quality Manager to own the quality agenda for assigned External Manufacturers. You will drive strategy execution, conduct risk assessments, and ensure audit-ready compliance while leading improvements to protect food safety. The ideal candidate has a Master’s degree in food technology and over 8 years of experience in the food industry, particularly in Quality Management Systems. This role offers a flexible work environment that encourages growth and accountability.

Qualifications

• Minimum 8 years of experience in the food industry with Quality Management Systems.
• Ability to set priorities and define agendas aligned with business needs.
• Experience working in cross-functional teams.

Responsibilities

• Maintain strong partnerships with External Manufacturers (EMs), ensuring adherence to standards.
• Lead root cause analysis for quality issues impacting EMs.
• Manage onboarding of new EMs and new production lines.

Skills

Strategic thinking

Collaboration

Engagement with stakeholders

Quality Management Systems

Root cause analysis

Proactive team player

Fluency in English

Education

Master’s degree in food technology or a closely related field

Job description

Own the quality agenda for assigned External Manufacturers. Drive strategy execution, rigorous risk assessments, and audit-ready compliance. Lead improvements that reduce defects, accelerate releases, and protect food safety. Collaborate with R&D, Supply Chain, and partners to deliver high-quality products on time, every time, across a scalable EM network worldwide footprint.

Your key responsibilities

• Quality Leadership & Compliance: Maintain strong partnerships with EMs, ensuring adherence to DSM-Fir standards, customer specifications, and regulatory requirements, including HALAL and Kosher.
• Issue Resolution & RCA: Lead root cause analysis and corrective/preventive actions for quality issues impacting EMs.
• Project Management: Manage onboarding of new EMs, new production lines, and new products; consult on QA criteria (SQM, PCQI) and stage gates in project management.
• Operational Quality Activities: Oversee complaint follow-up, product release, audits of EMs and warehouses, and establish Quality Agreements.
• Risk Assessment & Approval: Execute Q&FS risk assessments within MOC-T processes, integrating internal QA systems to approve new EMs.
• Performance Monitoring & Communication: Conduct periodic EM performance reviews and collaborate effectively with internal teams, customers, and external auditing bodies.

We offer

• A space to grow by encouraging and supporting curiosity and an open mindset.
• A culture that prioritizes safety and well-being, both physically and mentally.
• The opportunity to work for a company where sustainability is core to our strategy and purpose.
• A flexible work environment that empowers people to take accountability for their work and own the outcome.

You bring

• Master’s degree in food technology or a closely related field.
• Minimum 8 years of experience in the food industry with Quality Management Systems.
• Strategic thinker with the ability to set priorities and define agendas aligned with business needs.
• Strong collaborative mindset and ability to engage effectively with stakeholders at all levels.
• Proven experience working in cross-functional teams; proactive team player who can also work independently.
• Fluent in English; additional languages are considered an advantage.