Quality Assurance Technologist

RCL FOODS; Pretoria; On-site; ZAR 400 000 - 550 000; Full time

Job summary

A leading food manufacturer in Pretoria West seeks a Quality Assurance Technologist to oversee QA staff, ensure compliance with food safety standards, and handle quality control inspections. The ideal candidate will have at least 3 years of experience in food processing and a qualification related to food technology. This permanent position offers the chance to contribute to a dynamic team focused on quality and safety.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 3 years experience in food processing FMCG.
• At least 2 years experience in a QAT position.
• Worked in a baking environment.

Responsibilities

• Manage QA staff and train them effectively.
• Verify and calibrate food safety equipment.
• Conduct daily cleaning verification inspections.
• Handle customer complaints and log in the system.
• Conduct internal and external audits.

Skills

Food processing experience

Quality assurance skills

Management of QA staff

Calibration of food safety equipment

Education

Related qualification in food technology

Job description

Closing Date 2026/01/24

Reference Number RCL260114-1

Company RCL Foods

Job Title Quality Assurance Technologist (QAT) - Pretoria West Bakery

Functions Operations/Manufacturing

Job Type Classification Permanent

Location - Town / City Pretoria West

Location - Province Gauteng

Location - Country South Africa

Job Description

At RCL Foods, we believe in growing what matters. As a leading food manufacturer, our mission is to nourish people with a diverse portfolio of trusted brands and products. We prioritize innovation, sustainability, and the development of our employees.

Minimum Requirements

A minimum of 3 years food processing (FMCG) experience and related qualification

A minimum of 2 years experience in QAT position

Requirement to have worked in a baking environment

Duties & Responsibilities

Managing of QA Staff

Complete Bestime of staff daily. Bestime and/or any other time clocking system is sign off for the month must be done on the 1st day of every month, unless it falls on a weekend, then it will be done on the Monday.

Working hours - 07h00 - 16h00

Managing staff overtime (no one is allowed to work more than 10hrs overtime a week and 40hrs per month). Pre-approval must be requested prior to overtime worked).

No worker is allowed to work 7 consecutive days. QAT’s to alternate on Saturdays. The one working on a Saturday is not allowed to conduct cleaning SOP verification on a Sunday.

• Compiling and sharing staff work schedule
• Managing staff leave and replacements (if applicable)
• Developing staff
• Evaluating staff (4 1)
• Managing staff training
• Managing staff discipline

Calibration of Food Safety Equipment

Verify that food safety equipment like pH meter, thermometer, scales, etc. Calibration status is current and up-to-date

Verification of Food Safety Equipment

Verify that food safety equipment is verified as per schedule (scales daily, thermometers weekly, etc.)

Micro

• Ensure micro schedule is adhered to
• Routine sampling of product, water, ice (if applicable), surface swabs, drain swabs, hand swabs, air plates, etc.
• Ensure water chemical analysis as per SANS 241 is yearly conducted.
• Ensure ncrs are raised for out of spec results, investigated, actioned and closed out.
• Identify deleterious micro trends, conduct a thorough investigation, action and close out gaps
• Conduct Allergen verification tests (FACTS) and claim verification tests. This is to verify that there was no cross contamination during production and that your controls in place is effective.
• Ensure shelf life tests are done during NPD trials.

Customer Complaints

Ensure customer complaints are logged on live tracker on MS Teams (all fields on tracker must be completed)

Hygiene Inspections

Conducting daily cleaning verification inspections as per agreed timeslot

Attending bi-weekly pest control meetings.

Compile meeting minutes and share it with the team.

Pest Control

Arrange for silo treatment and cleaning as per schedule.

Ensuring bi-weekly fogging is scheduled.

Ensuring bi-weekly spot/surface treatment is scheduled and adhered to.

Ensuring ceiling treatment is done at least every second month

Attending weekly pest control meetings.

Compile meeting minutes and share it with the team.

Sending out weekly pest control tracker to management

Keeping a tracker with all PCO recommendations and the closed-out of it.

Traceability Inspections

Conducting traceability inspections prior to start-up and during production on RM, WIP, packaging material, final products, etc.

Mock Recalls

Conducting mock recalls as per customer requirements (WW, Starbucks, QSR, etc.)

Forward and backward traceability as per internal schedule (weekly/monthly)

Mass Balance as per internal schedule (weekly/monthly)

Process & Product Control

Ensuring that production processes and products comply with internal, customer and legal requirements.

Internal Audits

Ensure internal audits are done as per internal schedule

Assisting with monthly Internal Audits

External Audits

Presenting and managing external audits

Compiling and driving action plan on external audit ncrs

Ensure that external audit ncrs are addressed and closed out

Also close it out on the FPI system

Ensure ncrs are logged on SHEQX system and closed out

Service Provider Audits

Intersite Audits

Participate in weekly site Gemba walks.

Keeping a tracker on the non-conformances raised during the Gemba walk and drive the close out of ncrs.

Attending bi-weekly feedback meeting on progress.

Updating of System

Ensure all system documentation is reviewed and updated as per document control procedure and frequency (with the SHERQ Team)

Ensure amended and/or new documentation is approved, published and distributed to relevant role players

Ensure new docs is update on the “Master List of Documents” by SHEQ department

Ensure SHEQ department update “Change Register”

Validation Studies

Assist with validation of PRP and CCP’s if there were any changes (Current validation studies is valid until there is a change in process, layout, equipment, etc.)

CCP (Metal Detection Validation Study)

OPRP (Sorting and Sieving Validation studies)

Allergen validation studies

Cleaning validation studies

Product and Process Control Food Safety Inspections

• Daily factory inspections
• Verification of start-up checks
• Quality control inspections (Based on quality contract)
• CCP & OPRP verifications
• Verification of adherence to processes
• GMP inspections
• Verify that QC Monitors are doing their inspections timeously and report any deviations

NPD (Trials & Launch or Upgrade Samples)

Assist with trials

Completing feedback forms for WW

Ensure shelf life verification is done

Ensure frozen trials are done

Ensure product “production records” are compiled, published and distributed

Ensure trial samples are send to WW Technologist as per schedule

Assisting NPD with quality contracts

Ensure FPI specs are compiled and uploaded on FPI

Ensure FPI specs are maintained after it was handover from the NPD team.

QC Records

QC Records must be reviewed and signed off within 48 hrs.

New and / or amended documents must be submitted to Senior QA Technologist and/or QA Manager for approval

Change request on QC records must be initiated and submitted to for document control

All old revisions must be removed before issue of new documents

QC Tasting (Organoleptic Evaluation)

Schedule in place for product and QC to conduct tasting

Taste panel document must be completed by conducting a review against quality contract.

Tasting is conducted on start and end of life of products, customer complaints, extension of products. QC samples sent to WW (must be approved by QA, NPD) and new product launch samples

Tasting is done on dayshift and/or night shift

QAT to attend QC tasting on an ad hoc basis

Food Safety Management Review Meeting

Contribute to the preparation and presenting of yearly Food Safety Management Review Meeting

Food Safety Meetings

Weekly meetings with your team

Assisting with the monthly food safety meetings as per the set agenda and template.

Raise concerns and/or provide feedback on QFS progress at daily Ops meetings (if Senior QAT is not available).

Schedule meetings with management and HOD’s on QFS progress

Reporting

Internal Weekly Reports (Example: Quality Report, Quality Dashboard)