Quality Analyst - Micro

Wilmar Sugar; Canterbury; On-site; NZD 65,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Company superannuation

Medical insurance

Employee health and wellbeing program

Free parking

Fully equipped gym access

Job summary

NZ Sugar, part of Wilmar International, operates the Chelsea Refinery in New Zealand and is seeking a proactive quality professional to join the Quality team. You will handle microbiological testing, environmental monitoring, and laboratory operations to uphold quality, safety and GLP compliance across refinery and packing processes.

The role involves supporting investigations, audits and continuous improvement while collaborating closely with Operations and other stakeholders in a manufacturing

Qualifications

• A tertiary qualification in Microbiology, Food Science, Chemistry or related discipline.
• Experience in a microbiology or analytical laboratory environment.
• Experience in food manufacturing or food industry sector.
• Knowledge of quality and food safety systems (e.g., FSSC 22000, ISO 9001).
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills.
• Ability to interpret data, identify trends and communicate findings.

Responsibilities

• Perform microbiological analysis of raw materials, in-process samples and finished products.
• Conduct environmental monitoring programmes and report results.
• Maintain laboratory equipment, calibration and verification activities.
• Ensure laboratory operations meet GLP standards.
• Support investigations into out-of-specification results and corrective actions.
• Contribute to internal audits and quality system improvements.
• Provide timely analysis and technical support to Operations and other stakeholders.
• Participate in continuous improvement initiatives and project work.

Skills

Microbiology

Analytical skills

Data interpretation

Quality systems

Education

Microbiology/Food Science/Chemistry degree

Tools

Laboratory equipment

Job description

Jora New Zealand will close on 9th September 2026. Thank you for being with us, we are cheering you on as you continue your career journey.

NZ Sugar is an iconic New Zealand business with a proud 140-year history.

As part of global agribusiness leader Wilmar International, we combine deep technical expertise with innovation to produce some of New Zealand's most loved products, including the iconic Chelsea Sugar range.

Our Chelsea site is a complex, continuously operating food manufacturing and refining facility where quality, safety and operational excellence underpin everything we do. From product quality and food safety to process improvement and sustainability initiatives, our people play a critical role in shaping the future of our business.

The Opportunity

We are looking for a proactive and detail-oriented quality professional to join our Quality team and play a key role in ensuring the quality, safety and compliance of products manufactured at our iconic Chelsea Refinery.

Reporting to the Quality Assurance & NPD Manager, you will be responsible for microbiological testing, environmental monitoring, laboratory operations and quality support across our refinery and packing operations.

This is an excellent opportunity for someone who enjoys hands‑on laboratory work, problem-solving, continuous improvement and working closely with operational teams in a manufacturing environment.

Key responsibilities include:

• Performing microbiological analysis of raw materials, in-process samples and finished products
• Conducting environmental monitoring programmes and reporting results
• Maintaining laboratory equipment, calibration and verification activities
• Ensuring laboratory operations meet Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) standards
• Supporting investigations into out-of-specification results and corrective actions
• Contributing to internal audits, verification activities and quality system improvements
• Providing timely analysis and technical support to Operations and other stakeholders
• Participating in continuous improvement initiatives, troubleshooting and project work

About You

To be successful in this role, you will ideally have:

• a tertiary qualification in Microbiology, Food Science, Chemistry or a related discipline
• experience working in a microbiology or analytical laboratory environment
• experience within the food manufacturing or food industry sector
• knowledge of quality and food safety systems, ideally FSSC 22000, ISO 9001 or similar
• strong analytical and problem‑solving skills
• the ability to interpret data, identify trends and communicate findings effectively
• excellent organisation, planning and time‑management skills
• a passion for quality, food safety and continuous improvement.

What's in it for you?

As well as a competitive salary, NZ Sugar is proud to offer a number of fantastic benefits, including the following:

• Company superannuation
• Medical insurance
• Employee health and wellbeing program
• Free parking
• Free access to our fully equipped gym, tennis court and personal trainer

Please note: All successful applicants will be required to undertake a pre‑employment medical assessment, including drug and alcohol testing.

If you're passionate about quality and food safety and want to join a business with a strong reputation and a supportive team culture, we'd love to hear from you.