Release Manager

Danone; Auckland; On-site; NZD 95,000 - 125,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

3 pm Fridays finishes

Health and life insurance

Parental leave (gender-neutral)

Employee share plan

Incentives & annual reviews

Diverse and inclusive workplace

Job summary

Danone ANZ is seeking a Release Manager based in Auckland (Mangere), responsible for leading the release of materials and finished products to ensure quality and regulatory compliance. This 12-month fixed-term role requires strong leadership, risk management and cross-functional collaboration across manufacturing, quality, labs, supply chain and regulatory affairs.

You will champion quality controls, maintain specifications and drive process improvements while supporting audits and

Qualifications

• Must have qualification in chemistry, microbiology, food science or related field.
• Experience in a laboratory, quality assurance or food manufacturing environment.
• Team leadership, coaching or training experience.
• Knowledge of food safety, GMP, risk management and traceability.
• Understanding of HACCP principles and recall processes.
• Strong analytical skills and sound technical judgement.
• Clear communication and stakeholder-influencing skills.
• Ability to prioritise, adapt and make confident decisions.
• Independent working style in a fluid environment.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and quality-management systems.

Responsibilities

• Lead the release of raw materials, packaging materials and finished products.
• Ensure releases meet quality, regulatory, certification and market requirements.
• Own material and product control plans, testing, traceability and release compliance.
• Manage holds, non-conformances and release issues with stakeholders.
• Use data and trends to manage risk and improve outcomes.
• Strengthen release processes, controls and turnaround times.
• Maintain finished-goods specs and release documentation.
• Support audits and corrective actions.
• Lead or contribute to cross-functional quality and safety projects.
• Coach and develop the Release Team; champion safety and compliance.

Skills

Analytical skills

Stakeholder communication

Education

Chemistry/Microbiology/Food science qualification or related field

Tools

Microsoft Office

Quality-management systems

Job description

Jora New Zealand will close on 16th September 2026. Thank you for being with us, we are cheering you on as you continue your career journey.

Join our Quality and Food Safety team as Release Manager and play a critical role in protecting product quality, food safety and consumer trust. This is a 12-month fixed term opportunity.

Based in Auckland, in our Mangere factory, you will lead the release of raw materials, packaging materials and finished products across our Specialised Nutrition operations. You will ensure that only materials and products meeting approved specifications, certifications, regulatory requirements and release criteria are approved for production or released to market, including products made by third-party manufacturers.

As the leader of our Release Coordinator team, you will strengthen release controls, traceability and compliance while partnering with manufacturing, quality, laboratories, supply chain, warehousing, regulatory affairs and export teams.

Your responsibilities will include, but are not limited to:

• Ensure every release meets quality, regulatory, certification and market requirements.
• Own material and product control plans, risk-based testing, traceability and release compliance.
• Manage product holds, non-conformances and release issues with key stakeholders.
• Use quality data and performance trends to manage risk and improve outcomes.
• Strengthen release processes, controls and turnaround times.
• Maintain finished-goods specifications, release procedures and supporting documentation.
• Support audits, investigations, corrective actions and continuous-improvement initiatives.
• Lead or contribute to Quality and Food Safety and cross-functional projects.
• Lead, coach and develop a capable, engaged and agile Release Team.
• Champion safety, quality and compliance across the operation.

You are a credible and quality-focused leader who combines strong technical judgement with the confidence to make sound release decisions. You bring a practical approach to managing risk, improving processes and translating complex quality requirements into clear actions.

Collaborative and composed, you build trusted relationships across teams and communicate with clarity. You are comfortable managing competing priorities in a fast-moving environment while maintaining a strong focus on safety, quality and compliance.

Ideally, you will have:

• A qualification in chemistry, microbiology, food science or a related field, or equivalent experience.
• Prior experience in a laboratory, quality assurance or food manufacturing environment.
• Team leadership, coaching or training experience.
• Knowledge of food safety, good manufacturing and hygiene practices, risk management and traceability.
• An understanding of Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point principles, recall processes and relevant quality standards.
• Strong analytical skills and sound technical judgement.
• Clear communication and stakeholder-influencing skills.
• The ability to prioritise, adapt and make confident decisions.
• The initiative to work independently in a fluid environment.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and quality-management systems.

We truly value our Danoners and strive to make their experience exceptional by creating a positive and fulfilling environment for everyone. Our unique benefits are designed to enhance lives and provide genuine value.

• A high-performing, collaborative team culture
• Flexible hybrid working
• Thank Danone It’s Friday, with 3 pm finishes every Friday
• A diverse and inclusive work environment
• Personalised learning opportunities to set you up for success
• A competitive Total Reward package, including:
  • Health and life insurance benefits
  • 26 weeks of gender-neutral paid parental leave
  • Employee Share Subscription Plan after 12 months of service
  • Performance-related incentives and annual reviews

More about Us

At Danone, we aim to inspire healthier and more sustainable eating and drinking practices, in line with our vision, Danone, One Planet. One Health.

We operate across Essential Dairy and Plant-Based Products, Waters and Specialised Nutrition. Our headquarters are in France, we have offices in 55 countries, and our products are sold in more than 120 markets. We have been around for more than a century and are the proud owners of some of the best-known brands worldwide, including YoPRO, Activia, Aptamil and Karicare.

Danone ANZ focuses on dairy and specialised nutrition products for infants and adults and is proud to have achieved Great Place to Work accreditation in ANZ for the last five years.

Visit WE ARE DANONE to learn more about us.

DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION

We proudly affirm that we are an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. Our ambition is to foster an inclusive and diverse workplace where all Danoners can bring their uniqueness and contribute to business results.

Our commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion ensures that all qualified individuals receive fair consideration for employment.