Fermentation Operations & Quality Specialist

Aotearoa New Zealand Association of Social Workers; Ōtara-Papatoetoe; On-site; NZD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Alpha Health Care (NZ) Limited in Auckland is seeking a Fermentation Operations & Quality Specialist to join a high-capacity containment fermentation facility. You will lead submerged fermentation, QA/QC activities and ensure regulatory readiness while collaborating with the Facility Manager and Quality Manager.

You will monitor equipment, maintain accurate records, and participate in production during campaigns, with a shift-based pattern and a hands-on approach across production, cleaning and

Qualifications

• Bachelor-level or higher in a relevant science or engineering discipline.
• Hands-on QA/QC or quality systems experience in fermentation or biotech.
• Experience with NP3 or risk-based food safety programmes and audit readiness.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate submerged fermentation and downstream production activities, including equipment operation and troubleshooting.
• Maintain accurate, traceable production and quality records (SOPs, batch records, logbooks).
• Perform QA/QC activities: sampling, testing, deviation investigations and CAPA.
• Coordinate NP3 verification and MPI containment inspection readiness; liaise with regulatory personnel.
• Manage raw materials, cultures, biosafety materials, and waste across fermentation and downstream processing.

Skills

Quality Assurance

Fermentation

GMP QA

Education

Food technology degree

Bioprocess / Biotechnology

Tools

NP3 verification

MPI containment

Job description

Fermentation Operations & Quality Specialist

We are seeking a capable and proactive Fermentation Operations & Quality Specialist to join our purpose-built PC2 containment fermentation facility—one of the largest facilities of its kind in New Zealand. The site operates two 3,000 L fermenters for the precision-controlled submerged cultivation of functional mushrooms, with a current focus on Ganoderma species. Reporting to the Facility Manager and working closely with the Quality Manager, this hands‑on position combines fermentation production, facility compliance and QA/QC. Production is campaign‑based. During active campaigns, you will work planned day or night shifts and, following training and competency sign‑off, lead a two‑person production shift. Between campaigns, the focus moves to quality activities, documentation and regulatory readiness.

Key responsibilities

Coordinate and perform submerged fermentation and downstream production activities, including equipment operation, process monitoring, sampling, first‑line troubleshooting and shift handover.

Maintain accurate, complete and traceable production and quality records, including SOPs, batch records, logbooks, document control and training records.

Perform and coordinate QA/QC activities, including inspection, sampling, testing, results review, deviation and non‑conformance investigation, CAPA, change control and support for batch record review.

Following familiarization with site systems, coordinate NP3 verification and MPI containment inspection readiness, including evidence preparation, liaison with verification and regulatory personnel, and follow‑up of corrective actions.

Manage raw materials, cultures and biosafety‑related materials, including receipt, storage, status control, inventory, documentation and traceability.

Support process and cleaning validation, hygiene controls, environmental monitoring and waste management across fermentation and downstream processing.

About you

A qualification in food technology, food science, biotechnology, microbiology, bioprocess engineering or a related discipline.

Practical QA/QC or quality systems experience in food, health supplements, biotechnology, pharmaceutical or fermentation manufacturing.

Experience working with NP3 or a comparable risk‑based food safety programme, including maintaining audit‑ready records, supporting verification activities and following corrective actions through to closure.

A hands‑on approach, strong attention to detail and sound judgement, with the willingness to participate directly in production, cleaning, sampling and routine facility work.

The ability to work independently after training, collaborate in a small cross‑functional team and lead a two‑person shift when required.

Flexibility to work planned day or night shifts during production campaigns and the physical ability to lift up to 20 kg safely.

Preferred Experience

• Direct experience with NP3 verification, food safety audits, corrective actions, mock recalls, supplier and CoA review, or validation documentation.
• Familiarity with MPI‑approved containment or transitional facilities, biosafety requirements or inspection readiness.
• Bilingual proficiency in English and Mandarin would be advantageous, with strong written and verbal communication skills and the ability to communicate effectively across production, quality, regulatory and technical stakeholders.
• Hands‑on experience in submerged fermentation, functional mushroom culture, bioprocessing, clean‑in‑place (CIP) systems or downstream processing.
• Experience in microbiological or analytical QC testing, internal auditing, process or cleaning validation, calibration coordination or first‑line fault finding.

What You’ll Gain

This is a rare opportunity to build on your quality experience and move into industrial production, advanced manufacturing and automation.

You will gain hands‑on experience in large‑scale functional mushroom fermentation, working with 3,000 L fermenters across preparation, process monitoring, downstream processing and quality review. Structured training will broaden your capability in process operations, equipment, quality systems, compliance, validation and troubleshooting.

In a small, collaborative team, you will take real ownership, continue developing your professional capability and see the direct impact of your work - building a strong foundation for future roles across quality, operations and technical manufacturing.

About us

Alpha Health Care (NZ) Limited is an Auckland‑based company established in 1998. We develop, manufacture and market health supplements made primarily from natural ingredients.